The Camera: An Extension of our Eyes

Today, photography can be broadly defined. The advancement of technology means that it is at our fingertips, even from our most cherished smartphones. Essentially, photography is the art or process of taking pictures using a camera. But what is a photographer? In essence, we are all photographers. Taking photos is a great content creation service used by the public to capture different memories. Whether this is from family events, days out, graduation ceremonies, or weddings, etc, photography is a perfect way to capture tangible assets; keeping them for future generations. The key difference is that some people use photography to capture physical memories that our minds can’t, hence the camera being an extension of our eyes, and others make a living from it by using it as a form of art through creative media production. 
 
If you want to learn what life looks like from behind the camera and turn your passion into a fulfilling career, taking a media and photography degree at the University of Bolton would be a great idea. Look at some of the key reasons why people become photographers; can you relate to any?  
 
Photography as a Content Creation Service  
The world is full of man-made environments; buildings, transport, islands, homes, countries, etc. Photography can be used as an excellent creative media production technique to generate lasting memories of these environments. A legacy for future generations to see the beautiful buildings and infrastructure that humans have created. Photography also comes in several different forms, each of which would help you to cement a solid foundation for your career. But what are these forms of photography?  
 
- Portrait Photography 
- Photojournalism  
- Fashion Photography 
- Sports Photography 
- Still Life Photography 
- Editorial Photography 
- Architectural Photography  
 
Photographers Stand Out  
 
Something that media and photography degree students may already be aware of is that photographers are and must be patient people. No matter what form of photography you are taking, the process of getting the perfect shot can take time when you have the subject, camera angle, lighting, and much more to consider. This is why photographers are used to standing out in the shadows and watching; particularly when attempting to photograph natural wildlife, for instance. The process of being ‘in the shadows’ as such is because photographers aren’t often known as extroverts. Therefore, their photos are often a way of them expressing their feelings through the camera lens in the hope of being recognised for their artistic talents.  
 
Does expressing your feelings through the camera sound right for you?  A great thing about starting your career journey with a media and photography degree is that content creation services through creative media production are accessible to anyone. It can be a great way of turning your passion into a career and at Bolton, we are here to support you, that’s why we have been voted 1st for Student Satisfaction for the past five years*; Our students love life at Bolton.  
 
Content starts with a great picture! 
 
A media and photography degree can be beneficial for creative individuals who aren’t necessarily creative with the traditional paintbrush. The camera provides you with the opportunity to express your creative talent in a different way. There are various skills you can learn to pursue a successful career in a fascinating industry. Studying a media and photography degree can give you expertise in sophisticated techniques, like composition, manipulation, editing, processing, colouring and visual effects, as well as practical skills in relevant technologies.  
 
Additionally, photography enables you to exhibit your talents and develop the marketing skills you need to sell and promote it. All companies use content creation services as part of their marketing strategy, whether this is paid or organic content on social media. Ultimately, particularly with organic content, engagement is key; and you don’t see highly engaged social posts with a bad image. Therefore, the role of photographers is to create a story through their photos to attract viewers' attention.  
 
Study a Media and Photography Degree at Bolton 
 
At Bolton, we will help you develop all the creative and practical skills you need to build a successful career in media; just look at our courses and choose what is best suited to you. Our studios/ workshops and creative lecturers will give you all the support you need to learn the digital and more traditional practices in photography and creative image-making. Our supportive learning environment will enable you to build an impressive portfolio that reflects your creativity, helping your employability. Not to mention that as a media and photography degree student, you will enjoy working in our £10 million Bolton School of the Arts facilities; 
 
- Professional photographic studios  
- Dedicated video editing suites 
- Professional HD film production equipment for professional standard production 
- Specialist darkrooms  
- High-quality audio recording facilities  
- Processing rooms  
- Industry-standard computer suites  
- Digital printing and scanning facilities with over 25 enlargers and supporting equipment 

Clearing 2022: The University of Bolton 
 
Is Clearing the right path for you? Clearing 2022 is open until 19 September so if you haven’t made up your mind as to whether university is for you, that could be the perfect route to go down. There are 141 universities in the UK, and we are here to tell you why the supportive learning environment we offer at Bolton would be best for you. Our students love our small and friendly campus, and we believe that you would too. 
 
Head to our Clearing 2022 page and find out how you can secure your place at our leading Greater Manchester university that puts our students and their needs first. You will benefit from our award-winning Student Services Team, state-of-the-art facilities, and our strong links to industry; helping you secure a media graduate job after completing your studies.  
 
Want to find out more about how to apply through Clearing? Give our team a call on 01204 903030.  

Save the Dates: Study Advice Sessions 
 
Do you have questions about university? Whether this is about careers advice, course advice, student finance, student services support, or disability services, you can get all the answers you need while also getting a first-hand feel for our campus by registering for one of our on-campus Study Advice Sessions. Book your place now to secure your place.  
 
Our available dates are:  
 
- Friday 19 August – 11am to 4pm  
- Saturday 20 August – 11am to 4pm  
- Thursday 1 September – 11am to 4pm 
 
Please get in touch with our team at opendays@bolton.ac.uk if you have any questions. 
 
Come and enjoy #UniAsItShouldBe and be part of the happy Bolton family!  
 
*Complete University Guide – 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019 – Northwest