It was good enough for our mothers, Meghan Matthews

Master in Photography and Design

Learn to visually and effectively communicate ideas and projects from a multidisciplinary approach. The Master in Photography and Design will allow you to develop the theoretical and practical skills necessary to be an innovative and creative creator of images.

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Presentation

The Master in Photography and Design approaches photography as an open discipline to create complex photographic projects, and explores its most contemporary approaches. The master’s degree emphasizes innovation, experimentation and research on photographic practice.

From theoretical and practical classes with professional photographers and international guest teachers, you will improve your knowledge and skills. During the course you will carry out real photographic projects that can be seen in exhibitions in publications, museums and galleries, such as the Fundació Vila Casas or the KBr Center – Fundación MAPFRE.

At the end of the Master in Photography and Design you will be able to carry out photographic works using this discipline to effectively express and communicate complex ideas, exploring beyond the specific limits of photography itself. You will create innovative solutions for new scenarios and methods of visualization and contextualization of images.

Studying photography in Barcelona

Barcelona is a city with very particular characteristics that make it stand out as an important metropolis and an international benchmark. It stands out for its great architectural, cultural, gastronomic value and for being the cradle of design. In addition, geographically it is also located in a unique environment and its climate is pleasant. For all this, if you are thinking about studying a master’s degree in photography and where to study photography in Europe, there is no doubt that Barcelona can be the ideal setting in which to specialize in the practice of this art.

Our school is located in the heart of Barcelona, Spain, in one of the most emblematic areas of the city and within a few metres of the harbour. And idyllic environment that favours creativity, design and creation which make Spain the best country to study photography. Elisava represents the best place to study photography for a lot of reasons. Next, you will find out some of them.

Master in photography

When assessing where to study a master in photography and which school to choose, you must keep in mind that there are currently many possibilities, given the growing demand for professionals specializing in this field. However, not all schools, universities and training centers can offer you the same photography courses.

At Elisava we have extensive teaching experience and an advanced training system. We are backed by the good results, the satisfaction of our students and the recognition of our centre as one of the most internationally recognized university design schools. Our regulated studies in Photography will allow you to achieve success and excellence in all your future projects.

Studying our master in photography in Barcelona will provide you with necessary tools to become a professional that adapts to the real needs, both present and future, that emerge from the sector. Below, we set out the fundamental objectives of the Master in Photography and Design and tell you what are the main skills you will acquire in the course of this new stage of learning.

Objectives

Carrying out a research project rigorously to make a specific and original photographic work.
Providing the necessary visual tools to be able to build a photographic project from start to finish.
Expressing ideas with a photographic project in an effective way.
Encouraging the development of critical reflection as the basis for photographic work.
Developing the technical skills of professional photography and be able to work in any professional circumstance.
Engaging with a real audience, generate challenging new narratives with changing modes of production, dissemination and consumption.
Providing multidisciplinary training in the area of photography as a tool to express concepts and ideas.

Highlights

Fieldtrip: Paris Photo

Travel to learn about contemporary trends in current photography at Europe’s largest photography trade fair. We will also visit other alternative fairs and the PCA Photographie school, networking with students and teachers. On this trip we will also visit museums and galleries such as the Center Pompidou, Jeau de Paume, MEP Paris…

Fieldtrip: Les Rencontres d’Arles

We will discover the most groundbreaking and innovative trends in contemporary artistic photography. We will visit all the official exhibitions of the festival, as well as those of the satellite programme. You will do networking and promote your projects within the framework of the festival, in addition to carrying out a small artistic intervention in Arles.

Exhibitions in museums and galleries

During the master’s degree you will have several opportunities to exhibit your photographic work in publications, museums, fairs and galleries, such as the Fundació Vila Casas, the KBr Center – Fundación MAPFRE, Fine Art Igualada, Art Photo BCN, Revela’t or the Lumínic Festival, among others.

International professionals

You will have a faculty with extensive experience in the world of photography and design. Learning alongside prestigious teachers will boost your personal and professional development.

Master in Photography and Design programme

1 Photography fundamentals

1.1 Principles of photographic composition
1.2 Visual and image perception
1.3 Visual thinking
1.4 Visual narrative
1.5 Photographic sequence
1.6 Narrative and text

2 Digital photography

2.1 Digital equipment
2.2 Color management
2.3 Digital photometry of zones
2.4 Creating light with flash
2.5 Software Edition
2.6 Photo manipulation
2.7 Advanced retouching
2.8 File and image management

3 Photographic equipment

3.1 Image processing
3.2 Camera and lenses
3.3 Extreme processing
3.4 Printing
3.5 Interior lighting
3.6 Lighting and exteriors
3.7 Lighting and environment

4 Photography in context and processes

4.1 Image, text, aesthetics, context
4.2 Photography and identity
4.3 Uses of photography
4.4 Non-conventional contexts and tools
4.5 Advertising and communication
4.6 Digital editing, tools
4.7 Representation of space
4.8 Multidisciplinary approach to photography

5 Digital design

5.1 Photography for design
5.2 Design for photography
5.3 Website Portfolio
5.4 Design on paper
5.5 Printed photograph
5.6 Design and editing for magazines
5.7 Media environments
5.8 Publications

6 Uses of photography

6.1 The professional photography market
6.2 Photography in the art market
6.3 Uses and trends in contemporary photography
6.4 Marketing, strategies, prices for photographers
6.5 Scholarships for photographers
6.6 Multimedia for photographers
6.7 Photographic interventions
6.8 Photographic exhibitions

7 Photographic project

7.1 Project management and dynamics
7.2 Photo editing
7.3 Analysis and evaluation of the project
7.4 Tutorials and seminars

If you want to know more about the Master in Photography and Design download the brochure here:

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“I think what I value the most for my studies is all the different techniques and approaches from all the teachers we had; there was such a great variety of teachers with different backgrounds teaching us, and It has completely changed me, now I’m much less afraid of approaching my projects in different ways”

Gunnlöð Jóna, Freelance

“I could say many things about my time at Elisava, but if I had to highlight something in particular, it would be the quality of the teaching staff. Not only professionally and academically, but also personally, as they were always willing to lend a hand, putting all their efforts into helping us achieve our goal”

Guillermo Fernandez, After

“My master’s degree had a huge impact on understanding myself and cleaning up and organizing the dusty and chaotic books in my head. During my studies, the idea of influencing reality and initiating meaningful conversations by addressing issues that concern me led me to explore themes of identity, home, and belonging”

Cynthia Luhr, Freelance

“Elisava was a great experience for my visual and creative development. Thanks to the direction of the master by Pedro and the faculty, I learned new visual languages, developed my own visual imaginary and learned techniques for the development of professional and personal projects that I use every day”

Dimitry Levdanski, Freelance Creative Director (New York)

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Do you want to know more about the Masters’ School?

Each academic year, students with very diverse professional and cultural profiles of more than 80 nationalities from all over the world attend their master’s or postgraduate training at Elisava. We want to promote connections and networks among students beyond the context of each master’s degree to promote the exchange of knowledge through very diverse projects: we organize interdisciplinary workshops and conferences; transdisciplinary projects with students from several master’s degrees; collaborations with companies, institutions and NGOs…

Faculty

Director

Dr. Pedro Vicente

Faculty

Pep Alcántara, Bisgrágic Álvaro De Los Ángeles Bernard Arce, Ber Arce Jose Bautista Mira Bernabeu Jordi Bernadó, Editorial Actar Matías Costa, Panos Pictures Toni Amengual Natasha Christia, Editorial Rm Marta Dahó Oriana Eliçabe, Enmedio Asociación Cultural Diego Ferrari, Central Saint Martins Gonzalo Golpe Kartin Golda-Pontgratz, Urban Public Space Iñigo Bujedo Ines Casals, Photographic Social Vision Johanna Hurtado, La Vanguardia Marcelo Issuarralde Martí Llorens, Factoria Heliográfica Inés Martinez, Macba Enric Mira Jessica Murray, Magnum Photos Elena Olcina Pol Pérez Enric Enrich, Croma-Copyrait Arianna Rinaldo, Phest Joan Tomas, Primer Plano Gallery Miren Pastor, Festival Fiebre Photobook Lorena Ros, World Press Photo Luca Tronci Joan Villaplana

Masters’ Scholarships

Do you want to study theMaster in Photography and Design at Elisava? In this section you will be able to check all the information on the annual call for scholarships, which recognize, reward and disseminate the talent and excellence of future master’s students.