In the photography and intermedia program, we strive to produce artists who will become innovators. Our students develop their artistic visions from an intensive examination of histories, theories and practices. Students have the opportunity to explore lens-based media in all of its forms, including digital media, video and contemporary visual inquiry. The program encompasses all future trajectories in photography and related practices—electronic media, installation and performance, questions of dissemination and audience, the creation of alternative venues and site-specific installation. Students learn the skills and develop the insight necessary to create work high in technical proficiency and imbued with theoretical understanding. Upon graduation, successful students possess a solid understanding of visual culture and the ability to place their own work within a socio-historical context.
CURRICULUM: Bachelor of fine arts WITH AN EMPHASIS IN photography and intermedia (B.F.A.)
Basic studies requirement—12 credits
- 1040 Object Drawing*
- 1050 Drawing Studio*
- 1070 Form and Surface*
- 1080 Form and Space*
*Prerequisites for all studio art and art education majors and minors
Writing—3 credits
- 3250 Writing About Art
Art history—15 credits
- 2200 History of Art
- 2210 History of Art
- 2220 Art of Oceania and Africa or 2230 Art in Asia
- Art history elective 3000–5000 level
- Art history elective 3000–5000 level
- Suggested elective: 4370 Photography History
Photography and intermedia emphasis requirement—31 credits
- 2160 Black & White Photography I
- 3160 Black & White Photography II
- 3470 Digital Photography I
- 4470 Digital Photography II
- 2750 Video Art I
- 3750 Video Art II
- 5480 Photography Workshop (6-7 hrs.)*
- 5350 Intermedia Workshop (3-4 hrs.)*
*4 hrs in ART 5480 or ART 5350 during thesis exhibition semester.
And one of the following three courses:
- 5480 Photography Workshop (3 hrs.)
- 5350 Intermedia Workshop (3 hrs.)
- 4710 Special Topics in Photography & Intermedia
Art studio electives—21 credits
Recommended electives:
- 2450 Graphic Design for non majors
- 3560 Web Art
- 2460 Screenprint
- 2310 Sculpture
Graduation presentation—3 credits
- 4930 Graduation Preparation
Summary of Bachelor of Fine Arts with an emphasis in photography and intermedia
- Art major—85 credits
- General education—37 credits
- Total credit hours—122 credits
Students should consult the WMU catalog for the photography and intermedia program course descriptions and requirements.
Portfolio review
Applications for admission into the B.F.A. program with an emphasis in Photography and Intermedia will be due in the second week of November and March.
Curriculum: Bachelor of fine arts with an emphasis in photography (B.F.A.)
Basic studies requirement—12 credits
- 1040 Object Drawing*
- 1050 Drawing Studio*
- 1070 Form and Surface*
- 1080 Form and Space*
*Prerequisites for all studio art and art education majors and minors
Writing—3 credits
- 3250 Writing About Art
Art history—12 credits
- 2200 History of Art
- 2210 History of Art
- Art history elective 3000-4000 level
- Art history elective 3000-4000 level
Suggested Electives: One upper or lower division Non-Western Art History or ART 4370: Photo History
Photography emphasis requirement—21 credits
- 2160 Black and White Photography I
- 3160 Black and White Photography II
- 3470 Digital Photography I
- 4470 Digital Photography II
- 5480 Photography Workshop (6 hrs)
One of the following two courses:
- 5480 Photography Workshop (3 hrs)
- 4710 Special Topics in Photography and Intermedia (3hrs)
Art studio electives—34 credits
Three hours of non-western art history may be applied to the elective requirement.
Recommended electives:
- 2450 Graphic Design for non majors
- 2750 Video Art I
- 2460 Screenprint
- 2310 Sculpture
Graduation presentation—3 credits
- 4930 Graduation Preparation
Summary of B.F.A. in art with an emphasis in photography
- Art Major—85 credits
- General Education—37 credits
- Total Credit Hours—122 credits
Students should consult the WMU catalog for the photography and intermedia program course descriptions and requirements.
WMU catalog
Portfolio review
Applications for admission into the B.F.A. program with an emphasis in photography or photography and intermedia will be due in the second week of November and March.
Faculty
Facilities
Darkrooms
Our darkrooms have dual self-cleaning custom sinks equipped with unique hip-level ventilation to create safe airflow for our students. The space can accommodate small, medium, large, and mural format printing.
- Saunders LPL 67 enlargers
- Beseler 4x5 enlargers
- Omega Super Chromega D Dichro 4x5 enlargers
- Omega Super Chromega E Dichro 5x7 enlarger
- Pass through the wall circular print washer
Film processing room
- Two film loading rooms
- Two vertical film dryers
- Two processing sinks w/vents
- Archival print washers
- Separated print drying racks for RC and FB papers
The mat-cutting area
The mat-cutting area allows students to measure and cut their own large-format archival boards, clean with compressed air, retouch, and professionally prepare artwork for on and off campus exhibitions. Each student also has additional flat-file and cabinetry storage space for her or his own personal equipment and material. This area also has two light tables and a daylight print viewing station.
Lighting studio
Our photography area lighting studio can be subdivided into three working bays with wireless studio strobe heads and mono-lights. In addition to a sliding adjustable accordion overhead lighting system, we also deploy more traditional softbox and parabolic reflector-type systems that can be used with or without baffled honeycomb gridspots. The studio is equipped with enough peripheral and grip equipment to successfully outfit each bay for both table top, portraiture, and set work.
- Wall mounted muslin backdrops in black, white and gray
- Stand mounted paper roll backdrops in black, white and gray
- Copy stand for flat artwork up to 18"x24"
- 48"x48" Infinity table for table top photography
Alternative process facilities
Historic Printing Processes taught include: Cyanotype, Van Dyke, Gum Bichromate, Platinum, Collodion. Students learn various digital negative making processes.
- 4 16 X 20 UV Light Exposure Units
- 32 X 40 UV Light Exposure Unit
- Portable Darkroom, for Wet Plate Collodion Process
- Emulsion Coating Darkroom
Photography and Intermedia lab
The Intermedia lab is a 20 seat Apple computer lab with 27-inch monitors, which contain the most current versions of the full Adobe suite (Photoshop, Premiere Pro, Dreamweaver, etc), Microsoft Office and additional applicable software. Current students have access to Epson flatbed scanners, and a Minolta color laser printer.
Photography/video/sound equipment
Students have checkout access to a wide range of camera equipment, including but not limited to:
- Nikon D800, D700, D200 digital still cameras
- Canon EOS 5D digital still camera
- Nikon D5300, D5200 digital still / video cameras
- Nikon D40x digital still cameras
- Mamiya 7II film camera
- Mamiya RZ 6x7 film camera
- Sekonic L758 cine and L508 light meters
- Canon Vixia HD video cameras
- Panasonic 3 ccd video cameras
- Canon GL2 video cameras
- Audio-recording equipment
- A variety of tripods and monopods
- 8x10 and 4x5 view cameras
- Pinhole and Polaroid cameras
CFA Print Center
The CFA Print Center is a facility using Epson printers for the production of small/medium/large format ink jet printing. Students can conveniently use their ID cards to order prints. For hours and pricing visit the College of Fine Arts Technology website.
College of Fine Arts Technology website
Student Group
The Photography and Intermedia Collective is a nonhierarchical organization that seeks to further the creative development of its members and expose the community to fine art, through exhibitions and events. The organization is involved in two to three exhibitions per semester, which could range from on campus, in the state, or around the country. Often there is a common theme for the exhibit, other times; it is a diverse collection of work showing the member's personal style and artistic direction. The Photography and Intermedia Collective travels to different cities to visit museums, galleries, install shows and make connections with other students and professionals to further our futures and the future of the organization.
Learn more about the collective
Blogs
Photography and Intermedia Blog
The Photography and Intermedia blog is a resource for students that enhances the experience in the classroom. Information is frequently posted throughout the school year including; on campus exhibitions and happenings, off campus exhibitions and happenings, contemporary artist features and other information relevant to the students in the Frostic School of Art. This information is placed on the blog in the form of links to artists' websites, art galleries and museums, theorists, art movements and other information such as lab hours and equipment checkout.
Photography and Video Exchange Blog
The goal of the Photography and Video Exchange blog is offer a virtual critique of photography and video from art programs other than their own. The Photography and Video Exchange blog began as a collaboration with the students of Adriane Little and Tom Jones, Associate Professor of photography at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Since this initial exchange, several colleges and universities have participated in this exchange.
The schools that are currently participating in this exchange are: Beloit College, Boise State University, Cleveland State University, Florida State University, Marshall University, New Jersey City University, Rollins College, Sheridan / U of Toronto, University of Wisconsin, Madison, University at Buffalo, University of Arizona, University of Denver, West Virginia University, Western Michigan University and Youngstown State University.