Photography and portraiture – narrative image-making with Grace Gelder

Ref: SWE35490

Book now

Places available

About this course

This playful and experimental course uses text and performance-based exercises as an original starting point to generate photographic portraits and self-portraits.

Course Description

You will explore new approaches to generating photographic images, taking inspiration from texts, performative exercises and found photographs. The course will include writing and movement-based exercises as well as practical tips on taking better portraits.

After an initial sharing of work that investigates the relationships between photography, performance and documentation. Working together in groups, in pairs and individually to experiment with different prompts and ways of working. The Saturday and Sunday morning will be practical, creative time to generate, and, if desired, to edit the work, and on Sunday afternoon we will have a collective screening of the portraits with a structured space for viewing and discussing the work.

By the end of the weekend, you will leave with a set of portraits generated through these new processes that can be shared both with or without the material used to inspire them.

Course Materials

What students need to bring

  • A digital camera
  • Spare batteries and charger
  • Memory card with ample space
  • Photographs to share with the group
  • A notebook and a pen
  • Any costumes/props or fabrics that You would like to use for portraits
  • Laptop (optional)
  • USB (large storage capacity) or portable hard drive storage device (plus connecting leads)
  • bring a note of your own Adobe ID login. if you don’t already have one, please register for a free account at www.adobe.com prior to the course, and remember to bring the details with you.

Additional information

Please wear comfortable clothing on the Saturday and bring any costumes/props or fabrics that you would like to use for portraits. Please wear appropriate clothing and covered footwear (no open-toes or sandals).

Please note: Basic familiarity with Adobe Lightroom/ or Photoshop may be an advantage. You will have access to a College PC in the Photosuite for the duration of the course.

Timetable

Arrival Day - this is the first date listed above

Courses start early evening. Residential students to arrive from 4pm, non-residential students to arrive by 6.45pm.

6.45pm: Welcome, followed by dinner (included).

8 - 9pm: First teaching session, attendance is essential.

Daily timetable

Classes 9.15 - 5pm, lunch is included.

From 6.30pm: Dinner (included for residential students).

Evening working - students may have access to workshops until 9pm, but only with their tutor's permission and provided any health and safety guidelines are observed.

Last day

Classes 9.15am - 3pm, lunch is included.

Residential students are to vacate their rooms by 10am please.

(This timetable is for courses of more than one day in length. The tutor may make slight variations)

General Information

Tutors

Grace Gelder

Grace is a photographer, educator and PhD student, with a background in fine art. Her first degree is in Visual Performance at Dartington College of Art, and her Masters is in International Photojournalism, Travel and Documentary Photography at The University of Bolton, for which she studied in China. She is currently doing a PhD at Sheffield Hallam University, exploring the use of photography to communicate aspects of ICU nursing. She has designed and taught courses for Tate Britain, V&A, The Photographers Gallery, The Wellcome Collection, and her photographic work has been exhibited and published in the UK and Internationally.

Accommodation

Residential option available. Find out accommodation costs and how to book here.

Courses of interest

Reciprocal creative practices – drawing, movement, painting, writing

27 Feb 2025 to 2 Mar 2025 | West Dean
Places available
Tutor: Florence Peake |
Intermediate/Advanced
£464

Alternative photographic printmaking

24 to 27 Mar 2025 | West Dean
Places available
Tutor: Peter Renn |
Beginners/Intermediate
£533

Writing for children and young adults

21 to 23 Mar 2025 | West Dean
Places available
Tutor: Catherine Johnson |
Suitable for all
£298

Submitting your novel to agents and publishers

12 Mar 2025 | London
Places available
Tutor: Beth Miller |
Intermediate/Advanced
£125

Further study options

Take the next step in your creative practice, with foundation level to Masters in Fine Art study. 

Depending on your experience, start with an Online Foundation Certificate in Art and Design (one year, part-time), a Foundation Diploma in Art and Design made up of 10 short courses taken over two years (part-time) or advance your learning with our BA (Hons) Art and Contemporary Craft: Materials, Making, and Place (six years part-time). All will help you develop core skills, find direction in your practice and build an impressive portfolio in preparation for artist opportunities or higher-level study. See all degree and diploma courses.

Write your future with further study

If you’re looking to complete the first draft of a novel and learn about the publishing process. The two-year, part-time MA Creative Writing and Publishing is taught by professional authors and visiting industry professionals. Find out more