The photographic image is the fundamental unit of visual meaning in contemporary culture today. Whether it is contextualized within commercial media, embedded in the stream of images which make up film or video or singled out as a fine art print, the photograph’s power and ubiquity are indisputable. It is therefore our responsibility and our passion to explore this medium fully, in order to understand how the photographic image functions as a primary conduit of culture.

Within this exploration, photography is examined both as language and as craft. The language of photography addresses the use of cultural signifiers, symbols and metaphors in the content and structure of the image. Photography students are taught to “read” images in order to develop the visual literacy which will guide them in the making of their own work.