Why study photojournalism?

Come ready to face the extraordinary. Our Photojournalism BA (Hons) degree course sees students hone their innovative picture-making and shaping techniques whilst they learn from the news gathering and storytelling skills of our award-winning journalism teams. Read on to discover the motivation behind three students' work and ambition in the exciting fields of photography and photojournalism.

Photojournalists were the 'once upon a time' heroes to me

by Gianluca Barbazza, first-year Photojournalism BA student

Before the last few decades, photojournalism was a concrete weapon against the bad guys.

I grew up with my parents teaching me how an open-minded person could easily understand what's good and what's not and how helping who needs help is a fundamental concept and value.

Studying photojournalism (at London Met) to me, means this. Being an everyday hero wannabe. Chasing the bad guys and helping people.

And for all of this, I'll always be grateful to my parents.

This is a little preview of 'Parenthood' (see image carousel):

It's a project I started a couple of years ago and it's a story that aims to show and tell how parenting and habits have changed through the years and since the development of technology.

How it has affected them during their everyday routine.

"Not that my parents haven't given me any attention or something in any part of this documentary or in the past. I love them and I am so grateful for the childhood they have gifted me with. But it was really interesting looking at them during those relaxing moments through my camera and comparing their current habits and how it was back then."

Why photography?

by Alex Cimpeanu, second-year Photojournalism BA student

Because it’s chaos. Because no matter what you’re feeling now, one day you’ll want proof of that. Because a picture of you being unutterably sad will be there to remind you you’re human, on a day you’re feeling empty.

Because people and places change, and it’s unnoticeable with no proof of what they were. Because it’s nostalgic and it smells like oranges and dust. Because it’s human even at its most distressing scenes. Because it’s subjective as hell and it’s poetic, yet it needs no words. Because it’s universal.

It’s everyone’s to breathe into. It’s Amanda crying on my bed[1] and Sontag's essays and Eggleston’s ketchup and it’s kittens and pain and Bob Dylan and rainy streets and moonlit seagulls and coffee and what not. It’s light and beautiful strangers and clumsiness and tears and sunburns and rage and closeness and youth and Miller and bruises and bad beer and bicycles.

It’s tenderness and mess and it makes my heart pound. It’s the only way I can get some good timing.

It’s goosebumps and bed sheets and large windows and ruins and chocolate and stains and skin and

And what not.

Pursuing my passions

by Shaelyn Stout, third-year Photojournalism BA student

I love photojournalism because it allows me to pursue my passions as both a writer and a creative. 

This course has given me the freedom to cover news stories that interest me, practise a range of photographic genres, engage with local communities and share my work on Holloway Express. My professors have pushed me academically and creatively to learn more about the world and myself through the lens of photojournalism, and I am beyond grateful to have experienced what this course has to offer.

 

 [1]a photo by award-winning photographer Nan Goldin in Berlin, 1992

Study photojournalism at London Met

Here at London Met you'll find us extremely proud of our diverse student population. Whether you're just starting out after A levels, looking for a career change or just can't shake your interest in photojournalism, this course could put you well on the way to new adventures. Find out how we can help you put your passion into practice by visiting our Photojournalism BA course page.

You can also stay up-to-date with more news from the course and see recent student work on our student show page.

 

 

Self portrait by Alex Cimpeanu with a camera in front of their face

"I love photojournalism because it allows me to pursue my passions as both a writer and a creative."

From the 'Parenthood' series, by Gianluca Barbazza

From the 'Parenthood' series, by Gianluca Barbazza

From the 'Parenthood' series, by Gianluca Barbazza

Self portrait by Gianluca Barbazzi

Self portrait by Alex Cimpeanu

by Alex Cimpeanu

by Alex Cimpeanu

by Alex Cimpeanu

by Shaelyn Stout

Black Lives Matter, by Shaelyn Stout

Black Lives Matter, by Shaelyn Stout

Black Lives Matter, by Shaelyn Stout