UNIVERSITY NEWS LAST UPDATED : 10 AUGUST 2020
Four BA (Hons) Photography students have won places on Canon’s Student Development Programme after wowing judges with their project submissions.
This year’s edition of the programme will take place digitally and offers students a chance to join an intensive schedule of exclusive webinars and portfolio reviews with industry leaders, inspirational editors and Canon Ambassadors, and gain full access to the Visa Pour l’Image digital platform.
Running during Professional Week at Visa Pour l'Image International Festival of Photojournalism, the programme will offer students the chance to fully immerse themselves in the professional photography world and be inspired by new ways of thinking and seeing.
Third-year students Shaniah Archer, Ethan Miller, Laura Chen and Amanda Holdom were all selected to take part after submitting documentary style photos, ranging from portraits of the LGBTQ+ and drag community in Birmingham, to a personal experience of divorce.
Shaniah’s project documented ancient woodlands across Warwickshire that are at risk due to HS2 construction, with a focus on the Woodland Protection Camps run by anti-HS2 protesters. After hearing she had been selected for the programme, Shaniah shared her excitement about working with incredible photographers from across the world. Commenting on what she hoped to gain from the programme, Shaniah added:
“I am hoping that I gain more knowledge and insight about working professionally within the photography industry, as well as exploring new ways of working within documentary photography. Having a professional look over my portfolio will also help when applying for other industry jobs.”
The opportunity to apply for the programme arose from Birmingham City University’s partnership with Canon’s educational outreach programme. So far this has included opportunities for students to join webinars with industry professionals such as Clive Booth, who documented the work of world renowned photojournalist Sir Don McCullin. Going forward the initiative will include a number of special masterclass events and projects that give students a chance work with Canon’s latest technology.
Nathan Dua, Education Segment Manager for Canon, noted the passion behind all of the projects that were selected:
“Although each entry from BCU was different, it was clear to me that passion was the driving force behind each of the projects presented. Some were very personal, using imagery to express their own journey through life while others used their imagery to tell a story to inform and influence their viewers about specific events or cultures.
Canon is invested in the next generation of content creators, for both still and moving image, and The Canon Student Training Programme will give the students the opportunity to work with some of the biggest names in photojournalism on a one to one basis.”
As part of the programme students will be able to develop the projects they submitted and be presented with a limited edition book containing their work and other participants of the 2020 programme alumni.
Image credit: Shaniah Archer