MSc Biological Photography & Imaging, School of Biology, The University of Nottingham.
Bruno Albutt
I have been a keen photographer for some time and I have wanted for some time to pursue my desire to study photography. I have been fortunate in that I have had several opportunities to travel to
various exciting places around the world. It was in these far flung places that I encountered plants, animals and landscapes that were like nothing I had ever seen before. Of course, I was keen to photograph them as much as possible.
However, it was not enough for me to take the standard tourist snapshot and then leave; I wanted to explore my subjects and take images that were good enough to hang on my wall at home.
Unlike most of the people who are on the MSc this year, I did not study biology or a related degree as an undergraduate. Whilst this has meant that some of the biological write up elements of the course have not come as naturally to myself as they have to others, it has by no means prevented me from taking part in the course.
The aspects of the Biological Photography and Imaging MSc that appealed to me the most were the various opportunities to learn about how to use several industry standard photo, video and website editing programmes. The guest
speakers who teach these specialist parts of the course are mostly professionals currently working in imaging and related fields. They are all talented at their jobs and the insights they are able to give into their respective industries are a
valuable asset to the course. After the course I will look forward to being able to use many of the ideas and skills I have learned in my future career.
Holly James
I have always had an interest in animals and the environment. Growing up we had a family Dog, but that didn’t stop me from continually pestering my Mum for a Hamster, Rabbit, Guinea Pig etc.…. the answer was always no. Alas, I had to make do with playing with Snails and Frogs in the garden! As I reached A-Level, I had to choose between a love of Art and a passion for Science. I chose Science, which eventually led me to an undergraduate degree in Zoology.
My interest in photography is more recent than many of the other students. I always enjoyed taking photos on holidays and exploring the area to see what interesting bugs and animals I could find. Reading books like Life in Cold Blood, I found myself thinking how amazing it would be to be able to take those photos, which is where my interest in photography really grew.
Going in to my final year of Zoology I was left wondering where I could go next. It was my sister who suggested looking at Masters courses. As I browsed the list, one in particular caught my eye. From reading the title of the course; Biological Photography and Imaging, I knew, this was the one for me. Reading through the course content made me even more certain that it was perfect. Without hesitating, I set about applying for the course, even before the Open Day. I was delighted when, after a few days, I had been accepted! The following week was the December Open Day. Walking down the corridor, I studied the photographs and work of previous students covering the walls. It was everything I had expected and more, the only downside was I had to wait until the following September to start!
Since the beginning of the course just six months ago, I am amazed at how much I have managed to learn about photography in such a short time. Initially I was concerned that I was less experienced with a camera than everyone else on the course. I soon found that the course teaches you everything you need to know about being a professional photographer without you even really realising it. As I learnt more aspects of photography, videography and design, my confidence with the camera improved, and with this, my photography skills grew. My knowledge and skills are still growing, and I don’t doubt I will still be learning new aspects of photography in fifty years time!
There is not long now until the end of the course, and there are so many aspects of photography I would love to try my hand at. Ultimately, I would like to incorporate my love of wildlife and animal welfare with photography, but just where this passion will take me, we will just have to wait and see!
Amy Hong
Just like everyone else in this course, I always had passion for the nature and kept quite a few pets and plants in my life. So it was no surprise that I studied applied biology in uni. However, I was not sure what exact aspect of biology interested me until I did the biological photography modules (they are the mini version of this master course) and then I decided to follow this master course.
Believe or not, I hardly touched any digital cameras before I came into the course. Most times I used ISO 400 B&W Fuji Neopan or Ilford films for some street photography with the occasional subject change of new blossoms and confused ladybirds. I was overwhelmed by changing ISO, colour temperature and use manual setting on a dSLR at the start of the course, not even mentioning about studio lighting and all the softwares. But with the practice from all those fieldtrips in the course, I can finally say that me and my dSLR work much more like partner now. Apart from the practical side of the course, I love the lecture settings. We had talks from different external lecturers: videographer who works alone side David Attenborough; science journalist who works for the National Geographic; people who can make a nice business…Every time I listen to their stories, I feel so motivated and so close to my dream.
In the future, I want to be able to take photos of amazing moments and use my photos to show people what is happening and what should we do different, contributing to conservation and science education. I want to see more of my photos hanging on the wall, like the penguin one that’s hanging inside undergraduate editing room (I took that photo when I was doing the undergrad modules). To make a living as well, maybe it would be good idea to set up a business which specialize in graphic editing of wildlife and pets footage (alongside a PhD…? Hmmm who knows).
Brigid Vinnell
Josh Holmes
I go back a long way to the beginning of my interest in imaging. I very quickly took charge of the family camera and accumulated a collection of bugs, landscapes, flowers and animals. During my early school career I was hugely influenced by a science teacher who drew daily cartoons to illustrate the curriculum and who kept a multitude of creatures in the lab. During secondary school I discovered that I had a creative side when I was introduced to image making and manipulating on Adobe Photoshop by a friend. Sometimes I was lost for hours on end in my own creative little world. Summer holidays included trips out with friends to make short films in unlikely locations.
After completing a BSc in Biological Sciences I discovered this MSc. course. The course offered the perfect combination of science and creativity for me. The variety of modules and lectures by industry experts and other visitors have an amazing motivating effect on me. The course has helped me to see all aspects of the imaging world and begin to imagine myself out there doing it. I am very much looking forward to taking charge of making my own film in the summer.
After the course I would like to gain experience as a freelance wildlife or travel photographer via assisting professionals but I am equally drawn to post-production film editing… Who knows…?
Andrew Barrett-Mold
Science and the natural world has always been a great interest of mine. From a young age I sought out whatever I could learn from chemistry, physics and biology, which eventually led me on to study oceanography at university. This undergraduate degree (and, later, masters) was perfect for me, as I managed to incorporate marine biology, chemical oceanography, physical ocean currents, archaeology and global climate cycles into my everyday studies.
As I learnt about climate change, tsunamis and coral bleaching I gradually saw how science was getting misrepresented and, not yet quite ready to specialize in just one field, I started looking for a way in to science communication that would also sate my broad interests.
Around the same time I was rediscovering my old photographic zeal. Having finally given up on a rackety old 35mm SLR and gotten a new-fangled digital camera, I was managing to get a few nice shots. This is where the Biological Photography masters comes in, as it seemed like the perfect way to develop my skills for communicating science with what was then a hobby. That, and it looked pretty fun.
Having never used image manipulating software before, I very shortly found myself in the world of photoshop and graphic design, building websites and making movies, and it was clear I had some catching up to do…
Charlie Tanner
Every kid grows up thinking ‘ i want to be a…’ – which is a sentence usually ending in something inspiring like fireman, astronaut or spy.
I was no exception, this sentence for me ending in vet, but unfortunately I was hindered by the inexplicable tendency to faint at the sight of the smallest drop of blood. A grazed knee usually ended in complete blackout, and so I decided at about 13 years old that cutting open Rufus, Hammy and Whiskers day in day out was probably not the best career to pursue.
As I grew older, my interest in animals developed into a much deeper interest in conservation and the environment, and so I ended up at the Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology (DICE) at the University of Kent, studying towards a Wildlife Conservation BSc. It was a fantastic experience, and the chance to go to Peru to study for my dissertation was a once in a life time opportunity. I spent five weeks studying the Amazon river dolphin, recording acoustics with a hydrophone to analyse whether individuals could be identified by signature whistles. They couldn’t. Despite this, I successfully graduated from DICE, and here I am now, studying Biological Photography and Imaging in Nottingham.
I’m really enjoying the course, and continue to be surprised by the array of different skills we learn every week. Hopefully at the end of the year I’ll be able to take the next steps towards combining my interest in conservation with these skills to help raise awareness of important conservation issues and initiatives through photography, videographer and design.
Joe Tuck
Growing up abroad fed my insatiable desire for the environment and biological world, surrounded by a huge array of creatures. From giant land tortoises to Bengal Tigers, there was an endless amount of inspiration! I returned to the UK to begin high school in Leeds, West Yorkshire, having to accustom to the gloom of the British weather! I, like many who end up on the Biological Photography Masters, studied zoology as an undergraduate. This was as a result of working in a veterinary practice for two years during college, corroding my desire of becoming a veterinary surgeon!
Since beginning the course we have all been on a particularly sharp learning curve! With the multitude of disciplines we cover on the course, I am enjoying them all! From photography in its’ raw form to website programming. I now feel competent to work around all of Adobe’s creative packages and know where to find the answers I seek. With talks done by industry professionals, like cameraman Gavin Thurston, I am continually inspired by those around me and have an ever increasing thirst for knowledge!
I look to use my skills in active wildlife conservation. I also want to continue my interest in underwater photography and live by the sea! I ideally want to be free-lance as soon as possible and just want to keep life interesting! This course is building foundations I’m sure will set me in good stead for a life time of of imaging. I can barely believe that one day I may be paid to do the things I am learning on this course (fingers crossed!).
Dan Maney
Since I can remember fascination with the natural world has been a dominating factor in my life. Most would say I spent far too much time as a child turning rocks and rooting through soil looking for insects. To be more specific, my interest is sparked most by reptiles, insects and arachnids.
I got my first snake at around 12 and since then I have had at least one “odd” pet. Over the years I have kept animals numbering in the hundreds (if you’re going to do something, you may as well do it properly…) and my interest really peaked with the snakes and scorpions, two groups which I find endlessly fascinating. Currently my collection sits at a modest 20 animals, tiny really!
It came as no surprise to friends and family when I chose to study Zoology at Nottingham, there was really no other degree for somebody like myself. It was here that I was able to study photography as an undergraduate (there were two modules available which built upon each other, peaking my interest), photography quickly became the most enjoyable part of the course and it combined really well with my other hobby.
Dissatisfied with science I craved something more creative which would effortlessly gel with my other hobby, whilst allowing me to dip in and out of biology freely; the photography masters was of course the ideal choice. The course is endlessly interesting (if a little tiring) and for the first time I actually feel like what I am learning is equipping me to succeed and find a career path.
The course itself is a nice marriage between photography and modern media – apart from photography (obviously!) it provides training in video production, magazine production, website production (another keen hobby of mine is webmastering/internet marketing – see one of my websites at http://www.reptileexpert.org), the course also covers a plethora of other topics which gel together well.
Future aspirations without question involve working for myself – almost certainly outside of the UK too. I feel photography and webmastering will be central to what I do – right now however I can’t tell you exactly what that will be!
Catharina Clausen
In the past I have worked as a teacher in a little school zoo in Germany and studied Coastal Zone Management in the Netherlands.
A module in Wildlife Management led me to Switzerland. There, I wrote my final thesis at a foundation focussing on water quality and river cetaceans and worked for a Public Relations Agency.
After my studies, whilst looking for a job, I worked freelance in a variety of roles.
When I bought my first D-SLR, I got involved more and more into Photography and Web-Design.
Because I wanted to improve my skills I searched for different combinations of my main interests in Conservation Biology, Photography and Web-Design – and found the study of Biological Photography and Imaging at the University of Nottingham. The University has an international reputation and that re-assured me when applying. I never expected a course like this would exist, but the description was a perfect fit!
Here, I have found exactly what I was looking for. It is the ideal combination of Technology and Science. From the microscope to the elephant, from video to studio, business plans to websites, I am content the study gives me all the knowledge to make my future dream career become true.
This course enables me to specialise on my interests and talents.
I would love to continue working self-employed, now being able to offer “the whole package” with a scientific degree to it.
Additionally, I would like to gain experience working in a team for an Environmental organisation.
I would love to continue working self-employed, now being able to offer “the whole package” with a scientific degree to it.
Additionally, I would like to gain experience working in a team for an Environmental organisation.
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