photography

Our programme forms photographers who want to tell something with images, authors who are engaged in a world in motion overloaded with fleeting photographs. That means they continue to question the medium. Therefore, to support their study path as image makers, we offer them a range of reference and thinking frameworks to explore their own work and interests. This enriching theoretical framing aims to teach students to speak and write about their photographic work and bring it out with confidence. They delve into both the photographic tradition and its archive, as well as ideas around aesthetics, ethics and the technologies of the future to learn to think critically about documentary photography, perceptions of reality and the authentic voice of the photographer.

As students learn to observe and research in the undergraduate years, they explore photographic imagery and the technical possibilities of photography, both digital and analogue, from 35mm to technical cameras. They are introduced to various studio and print techniques, and along the way attention is paid to the possible ways of displaying work and how a photographic image can function in different contexts. The programme has a tradition of teaching and exploring how photographs can be presented in an exhibition and a book.

Once all these foundations have been laid, students in the master's degree can develop an autonomous and unique practice, guided by mentors of their choice. In addition, seminars, internships and a stimulating and caring work environment should inspire them to think more deeply about their position within documentary photography and the visual arts. With an authentic master project and thesis, they show that their vision and visual language matter and contribute to documentary photography in its many dimensions.

A significant number of our alumni are building an oeuvre as artists and documentary filmmakers, including Lieve Blancquaert, Dirk Braeckman, Eva Claus, Carl De Keyzer, Ode de Kort, Sanne De Wilde, Rebecca Fertinel, Neoza Goffin, Debby Huysmans, Helena Kritis, Lieven Lefère, Lucas Leffler, Charlotte Lybeer, Fien Muller, Joachim Naudts, Max Pinckers, Kaat Pype, Jan Rosseel, Lisa Spilliaert, Thomas Sweertvaegher, Kristof Thomas, Sybren Vanoverberghe, Gert Verbelen, Egon Van Herreweghe and Laura Zuallaert. They continue to stimulate our thinking around documentary photography, give us new insights and are asked for juries or other artistic collaborative projects.

Photography is an amazing and dynamic medium. Like any art form, it contributes to the intriguing search for an answer to the question: what is man? This programme challenges photographers to seek an answer.

KASK & Conservatorium offers English-language master programmes in the visual arts, audiovisual arts, drama and music. Each year, dozens of foreign students choose the master programmes of our faculty to continue their studies. The presence of students from different international backgrounds is an enrichment for our educational tradition and provides an added value to the training of foreign master students and Flemish students moving on from the Dutch-language bachelor programmes alike.

The programmes are organized so as to facilitate encounters between Dutch-speaking and English-speaking students in informal contexts, in seminars and courses, and even in artistic projects they start up together. There are no differences in curricula, competencies, learning outcomes or organization between the English-language programmes and their Dutch-language counterparts. English-speaking candidates holding a master’s degree in music can also go in for the advanced master contemporary music or one of our postgraduate programmes.

Don’t hesitate to contact the study and learning track counsellors with your questions.