Anatomy of a Contemporary Master Course in Photography

The landscape of professional photography has changed dramatically in the 21st century. The technological progress of the past several decades has raised the expectations of the public and expanded the skill set required of a contemporary photographer. In an ever-expanding, intricately interconnected globalized world, the role of a photographer involves a deep understanding of the broader context in which it operates.

With our world seemingly growing more and more complicated, the success of a photographer is greatly based on their ability to understand the changing demands and the inner dynamics of the market. This requires a comprehensive understanding of all of its segments, and modern contemporary photography courses aim to address the vast field of adjoining skills and disciplines. We will take the Master in Photography at RM Istituto Moda e Design in Milan as an example of an advanced contemporary photography course that provides a broad skillset suited for modern times.

A changing landscape

Technological advances of recent years have stripped photography of some of its mystique. With the technology made simple and widely available through camera-equipped mobile phones and affordable, simplified digital cameras, photography has ceased to be a member’s club. This ease of use and access has changed the very nature of photography as a profession, pushing it outside of its narrow focus on technique and forcing it to rethink its purpose in the changing times.

The RM photography master is built around the understanding of the profession’s changing nature in modern times and the belief that the modern-day photographer is not a mere craftsman, but an active interpreter of our reality. With that in mind, the course strives to provide not just the technical mastery of various fields of photography, but also a profound understanding of how storytelling works in the digital age.

Practical focus

Aiming to achieve the right balance between a solid knowledge base and practical work, the course prepares future photography professionals for the challenges of the industry in two ways: by providing an expansive knowledge base not just in professional skills and techniques, but in the adjoining fields of visual design,digital technology, advertising and corporate communication, and by focusing on tangible first hand experience through real-life projects and assignments and through guidance and collaboration with respected industry professionals.

Led by Denis Curti, the Art Director of Casa dei Tre Oci in Venice and the Director of the digital magazine Black Camera, in cooperation with Rolling Stone Italia. He has curated a number of notable photography exhibitions, with decades of experience in both the creative and practical aspects of the photography business, and work has worked with international high profile photographers on exhibitions and on editorial market projects, such as Helmut Newton, David LaChapelle and Henri Cartier-Bresson.

The course is designed to provide all the necessary skills, knowledge and experience for a professional career in a broad range of photography branches, from artistic photography to photojournalism, corporate communication, advertising, and beyond. The goal is to provide both the technical expertise and the practical understandings of the profession’s inner workings.

Professional guidance

Structured as a series of ten month-long lectures, with each lecture dedicated to a specific segment and led by a select group of international photography professionals, the master course offers an abundance of practical knowledge stemming from decades of joined experience. Under the guidance of lecturers such as Erik Kessels or Philippe Seclier, the lectures provide a broad palette of experiences in various aspects of photography, both creative and practical. This is further supplemented through hands-on work with a number of method lecturers from different segments of the industry who use their vast experience to help students apply and hone their skills on real-life projects for companies and institutions. This approach assures that the students gain a first-hand account of the challenges ahead and understand the role photography plays in different segments of modern-day life.

The pace of the 21st century forces all of us to be nimble and quick to adapt to the ever-changing face of the world around us. Well-structured contemporary courses will ensure that future photography professionals are ready to not only tackle, but embrace change as the defining feature of our times.

Jennifer Hahn Masterson is a Senior Content Strategist, holding an MA degree in business communication. She is always doing her best to help her clients find their place in the ever-so-competitive business arena.