Why Study Photography at Watkins? • The only BFA program offered by a College of Art & Design in Middle Tennessee. • NASAD accreditation ensures that the program holds the highest standards for photographic education in art and design colleges. • The department has one of the finest facilities in the Region – it is a facility for creative individuals who are serious about their work and have a passion for photography. • Program emphasis is on technical expertise, developing personal expression and creativity to so that students can fulfill their desire to be a professional artist. • Small studio classes to ensure individual attention to students needs. • Faculty is comprised of award-winning, exhibiting artists. • All classes build on each other in technical proficiency, conceptual ideas and creative development. • Advanced seminars are taught by a team of faculty to help students define their skills in grant writing, artist statements, business ethics and practices, resume writing, networking with galleries and critical thinking. The faculty assists students in assessing ideas and work toward their degree project. • Degree project provides students with practical experience in producing a body of work for exhibition, including an artist’s statement, a written report and oral presentation. To request more information about our Photography program fill out our request form.

The Program
The Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree (B.F.A.) in Photography offers an exploration of personal image making and examination of contemporary and historical photographic practices and traditions. Building on imagination and creativity, faculty in the Department of Photography encourage students to experiment with different media, and through intensive critique, students learn to make aesthetic choices conceptually and technically. All photography courses provide an atmosphere of learning, exploration, discussion and critique.

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The foundation for photographic image making is the History of Photography, Beginning Black and White, and Color Photography classes. Digital Imaging and Experimental Video prepare students to embrace technology and multimedia art, while the Non-Silver Process builds an understanding of historical techniques. Studio lighting courses combine technical expertise in studio lighting with creative interpretation for commercial photographic works. Advanced Special Topics challenge students to address specific photographic genre such as documentary, landscape, human experience, experimental darkroom/camera and creating artist’s books. The Advanced Seminar and Degree Project classes are combined sections for photography and fine arts majors. These classes present an opportunity for students to exchange ideas through interdisciplinary critique and discussion.

The Department of photography offers students comprehensive photography facilities that include a 15-station print room for beginning students, individual film loading and processing rooms, a large lighting studio complete with tungsten and strobe lighting equipment, individual color printing darkrooms and black and white printing darkrooms for advanced students and a Kreonite print processor capable of a 30" wide color print. Mac computer labs with state-of-the-art computers and software are available for digital imaging and experimental video. Equipment available for student use include: light meters, tungsten and strobe lighting, medium and large format cameras, video equipment, as well as items specific to film processing and printing.

The academic strength of the photography program is reflected in its course curriculum and the background of its faculty. These instructors are professional artists with work in exhibitions and collections nationally. They are dedicated professionals committed to providing students with an atmosphere of technical expertise, experimentation, exploration, and creative problem solving.

Advisory Board
The Department of Photography is fortunate to have an advisory board of nationally known industry professionals. They share their knowledge, time and resources to ensure that the Photography program meets the artistic and technological needs of tomorrow's photographers.

The Photography Advisory Board includes the following:

Mike Borum, Chromatics Photo Imaging
Paul C. Buff, Paul C. Buff Inc. (White Lightning & Alien Bees)
Richard Newman, Calumet Photographic