:: Photography

Our photography program is renowned for its rigor and unusual diversity. You will be immersed from day one in the multi-faceted world of photographic expression—from documentary and photojournalism to fine art photography to commercial and studio work. By exposing you to a range of shooting and processing techniques, your true individual creativity will emerge.

At AIB, we encourage you to take visual and conceptual risks so that your work reflects your unique intentions, interests, and abilities. Our wide-ranging study puts you through the intellectual, artistic, and technical paces so that you will leave AIB prepared for a professional life in photography.

At AIB, you dive right into photography. An intensive Photo Foundation year introduces you to critical, conceptual, historical, and technical studies. These classes, combined with courses in the humanities, art history, and visual arts, help you approach the camera as a well-informed artist. This year lays the groundwork for your further exploration of the techniques, philosophy, and concerns of commercial/studio, documentary and fine art photography.

From that sturdy photographic base, you launch into the concentration areas that enthuse you the most. During your junior and senior years, you choose from eclectic elective options that fine-tune your skills. Although AIB is small, there is an incredible depth to our class offerings. In one year, you can learn about the lost-art of pinhole cameras and 19th century photographers, examine "photo-noir" style, and explore the web as an art form.

Of course, what is most important to us is the photographer you will someday become. Given all these influences and support, we want to see how your work evolves and matures. Junior and senior portfolio classes at AIB are demanding, consecutive year-long courses that prepare you for your senior thesis. You work intensively with faculty to build a professional-quality body of work. Your hard (and inspired) work wraps up at AIB with an exhibition and formal presentation to a jury of guest professional photographers and artists.

To help prepare you for the real world, which to us means professional skills and industry contacts, AIB's photography department offers a range of internships. Past internships have included Magnum Picture Agency (NYC & Paris), National Geographic, The Boston Globe, Annie Leibovitz Studio, the Maine Photographic Workshops, Ken Burns Films, Oxfam America, DeCordova Museum, and Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital.

At AIB you will be "mentored" by photography faculty members who represent a variety of viewpoints, techniques, backgrounds, disciplines, and approaches. They will help you train your eye as well as your mind. This vibrant cadre of burgeoning and experienced photographers and artists (which includes, of course, you), work in our state-of-the-art facilities and with equipment that provides the tools needed to realize any vision.

Photography BFA
124.5 credits

Semester One
Foundation Lecture / Lab I
Foundation Seminar I
Art in the Western World I
English Composition
Drawing Fundamentals
Intro to Photoshop for Photographers

Semester Two
Foundation Lecture / Lab II
Foundation Seminar II
General Elective
20th Century Photography
Writing & Literary Arts

Semester Three
Large Format
Intro to Documentary
Sophomore Seminar I: Concepts
Studio Elective
Art in the Western World II
Liberal Arts Elective

Semester Four
Intro to Commercial / Studio
Contemporary Trends
Digital Media I
Digital Printing I
Sophomore Seminar II: Projects
Shaping of Western Culture (or) Liberal Arts Elective

Semester Five
Color Photography (or) Color Digital
Advanced Printing (or) Advanced Printing II: Digital Processes
Photo Major Elective
Studio Elective
Liberal Arts Elective

Semester Six
Junior Portfolio
Studio Elective
Advanced Art History Elective
Math Requirement
General Elective

Semester Seven
Senior Portfolio I
Photo Major Elective
Studio Elective
Advanced Art History Elective
Science Requirement

Semester Eight
Senior Portfolio II
Photo Major Elective
Studio Elective
Social Science Elective
Liberal Arts Elective