Classes-

I know, who knew it, but apparently a photography course entails classes.
Somewhere in between lounging around coffee shops pretending you´re ‘researching’ and running around like an idiot taking pictures of drainpipes for your ‘art’, you may actually have to attend a class or two. Fear not though, for somewhere around the fifth consecutive class on post-modernism your brain should slip gently into a state of semi-coma that should easily see you through the rest of your college life, and well into old age if you´re lucky.
If, however, you do decide to remain conscious throughout the term, you may find that towards the end of the year you start wondering if it might be possible to create a visual  representation of a drainpipe without actually having a drainpipe in the picture at all; perhaps through presenting an environment traditionally socio-contextually favourable to the placement of drainpipes, but that is now totally devoid of any pipe based drainage system at all.
This in turn may lead you to question the very validity of drainage ideology itself, and finally, through a utilisation of Neo-Kantian Marxist Positivistic Positivism (Sharfengarfer, 1973), to the discovery that you do not actually exist and are in fact a figment of Roland Barthes´ imagination.
You may also discover that none of your family or friends talk to you any more.
You have been warned...

Joe Carr

Classes – May I begin by saying “you are a possibility?” Our first year of classes in DIT were memorable, to say the least. I think Tony Murray has certainly drilled his own personal philosophies on life into our heads! Ann Marie helped us with countless numbers of printing problems, whilst recommending a good DVD or two to us at the same time. Geoff desperately tried to explain important photography concepts such as “the inverse square law” whilst we all stared, dumbfounded. Finally, visual studies endlessly confused us as we tried to grasp in inner working of the mind of Barthes Mirzeoff and John A Walker. We some how managed to make it through, coming out the other end better and more educated photographers, despite a dislocated knee or two..

Great Images – I think the Flickr selection says it all! (http://www.flickr.com/groups/scanmasters)

Katie O'Neill

Photopractice
I really liked the experience of using film cameras and darkrooms for the year however it is such a tedious method in comparison to digital, which is all I had ever used, and it became really frustrating to work with ( especially when your film comes out of the fixer and it is just  inexplicably blank!). Other then the few frustrating encounters with film it is really great for slowing down my working methods and really making me think about techniques and composition etc.

Visual Studies
Although I had expected a class on critical theory relating to photography when I entered the course I wasn’t prepared for just how difficult it was going to be. In spite of this the class is really interesting, it just takes a few projects to get used to the standard that is expected of us in college.

Caroline McNally

For me student life means group projects, darkroom time and making the most of precious free time. When I asked my friends what student life meant to them the answers I got were; Bulmers for breakfast, 5 months of holidays and avoiding the mumps!

Laura McCormack

This course has SO much hard work! Long hours in the darkroom, as well as a couple of lectures and group work classes that involve “visual culture” which ranges from ANYTHING in history! The course is a pain, even for those who would ever think of dropping out (eg myself) but there are some fun times…meeting new people, gaining new friendships, messing about, being a college student! Oh I have to mention, you may noticing yourself going insane in the darkroom or in general, like I said this course, is pretty stressful, but worth it if you have the passion.

The tutors and topics covered in Visual Studies can sometimes open your mind to a style. You get to learn about such things as studio and learn how to properly use your camera if you don’t already know. You get to see all the other people in your class’s work too, which can be fun, visually stimulating. Student life in college is kind of non-existent but that’s only if you don’t make it a point to go out and have fun and be cheap like a student and get into trouble with the garda because of oh I don’t know, public nudity, while you're out with people from college. On a final note, you get to learn about theories/philosophy relevant to photography. Some of the texts given to you ARE interesting, some are not.

David Doherty

Its safe to say if we could eat photographic paper or Ilford FP4, we’d be a lot healthier looking! Being a photography student, most of your social life consists of hanging around the darkroom, struggling to find the correct contrast for your print. However, there’s a certain unspoken bond that grows between a group of people who are slowly going insane trying to get their prints right! We all kept one another going throughout the weeks by sticking together and making each other laugh..Mostly with immature jokes. “That’s what she said..” anyone? Not to mention Peter’s countless stories which continuously fascinate and entertain us all!

We’re in our own little photography bubble here in Temple Bar, separate from Aungier Street. We like to think as ourselves as the cool photography kids who need their own space. Centra Temple Bar is our second home, Im sure they’re used to seeing groups of us walking in squinty eyed after being in the dark for ours trying to find the lunch items.

Katie O'Neill

I would like to underline that the course is very intense; you have to learn how to manage time, if you don’t want to make things complicated.

There are few modules in the course I’d like to talk about:

Photo Practice – within this module you are introduced to photographic equipment - manual camera and types of lenses. Also you are introduced to a process of chemical photography - exposure and processing of film, producing prints in darkroom, and presenting your quality work.

Visual Studies – you’re introduced to Academic studying; critical thinking skills are being developed. Students are required to read and study relevant books/chapters/articles, do researches using library/National Archives and other sources, write essays using Harvard referencing style, analyze and criticize others work and make presentations.
Computer literacy Skills – you basically learn how to use programs like Microsoft Word, Power Point, edit pictures using Adobe Photoshop.

Ieva Baltaduonyte

I would like to think i have come on lots since starting DIT,
personally and professionally. The more i see my work improve the more
confident i am becoming. Its very early days yet but i'm excited about
whats ahead. If i keep pushing myself at this rate and learning as i am
right now, not only from my tutors but also my peers , then i think
i'll get where i want with my photography.

Taking on the theory side of photography was to me just as important as
picking up the camera and learning to shoot in manual. I have loved
learning about all the many aspects there are when it comes to reading
photographs and interpreting them. Through our visual studies classes
we have been introduced to some amazing writers and as a result i have
a long reading list over the summer - one i have willingly created for
myself ! Also through our lectures with Tony and Geoff we have been
introduced to some amazing photographers that i'm embarrassed to say i
didn't know about before coming here ! But thats all part of the
exciting learning path here in DIT.

I have no doubt that the road ahead is certainly going to be hard,
however i'm looking forward to the challenge in more ways than one.

Grainne Quinlan