MICHAEL school – private secondary school of advertisement Applied photography and media– art photography field of study

Instruction is focused on photographic work in all of the main areas of photography; it develops artistic talent and leads to an understanding of the creative and the technical aspects of the field. Study gradually develops and cultivates the abilities of students to express with the specific means of the photographic image. Photography is a modern visual language. Students are acquainted with the history of the media; they develop their technical knowledge, and get to know how to express with an image and how to master visual communication. Emphasis is placed on the creative side, which is inseparably connected to good advertising. In order to achieve the best results, it is necessary to master photographic technique, to understand the physical and chemical nature of photography and the newest digital technology and photography computer programs. Instruction is based on the use of best practices. Practical exercises range from the possibilities of classic methods and processes, to the newest types of digital imagery and modification through various types of computer programs working with photographic imagery. Faculty apply effective pedagogical methods supported with experiences from long-term creative experience and secondary school instruction. As a result, graduates are very well prepared to continue with university study and independent creative work. School studios are equipped with modern photographic and computer technology. Two large studios have flashing and continual lighting technology, digital metering technology, professional cameras and other modern equipment. Student have at their disposal medium and large format renowned- brand cameras, Nikon digital reflex cameras, medium and large format digital scanning backs. Students learn to develop their work, as well as to enlarge and edit through classic methods. They can scan and process negatives and slides just like digital photography on computers equipped with the newest professional programs in a new computer lab with high-powered computers and three printers. Computer processing of an image is taught from the 1st year at the school. We take great care toward artistic creation and the development of individual creative abilities. A regular open air event at the end of the year has become tradition, allowing for team work focused on selected topics including seeing it through conception and production. Students and educators regularly exhibit, participate in different shows, present their work to the expert and lay public.
The connection of creative abilities with knowledge of advertising lays the groundwork for the wise use of students in practice in a wide range of areas of professional photography, at advertising agencies, at cultural and scholarly institutes, in the editorial offices of periodicals, in exhibitions, etc. Quite logically graduates also work as independent photographers.

Doc. Mgr. Vladimír Kozlík, field of study director

ILLUSTRATION In this exhibition a selection of work from 3rd and 4th year students from the Art Photography field of study is presented, namely a selection from one practical exercise- illustration of a literary model. This theme is carried out in the 3rd year as well as in the 4th year, as a part of the practical portion of the leaving exam.