VISUAL ARTS & DESIGN – PHOTOGRAPHY – Vaal University of Technology

PHOTOGRAPHY

About Photography

The Photography programme aims to equip learners with the knowledge, skills and entrepreneurial acumen to be creative Digital Media Producers for the digital communications industry.  These could include Digital Media Productions for Private, Corporate, SMME, Public Relations and NGO clients to be delivered on digital platforms such as WWW and social media such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or TikTok.

Programme coordinators’ details

Dr. Anneke de Klerk
Room No: K001-3
Email: annekel@vut.ac.za

Dr. Anneke de Klerk completed her PhD in Visual Arts through Stellenbosch University in 2019.  She has more than twenty years’ experience teaching various practical and theoretical subjects in Photography and Multimedia on undergraduate levels and also of late, leading M-level studies. She is currently the out-going chair of the departmental research and innovation committee and is also chairs the Faculty of Research Ethics Committee for Human Sciences. Anneke is part of the team that runs the Bodutu Art Gallery.

Teaching activities: Anneke currently teaches the Advanced Diploma in Photography as well as Theory of Media Technologies 3.

Research interests: Anneke is primarily involved with creative practice research in landscape photography and experience of place. She is particularly interested in how landscape photography shapes places and how technology mediates embodied experience. She is also interested in curatorial practices and the history of South African landscape photography.

Supervision interests: Anneke is interested in supervising research projects that explore problems arising from and within creative practices. She is also particularly interested in projects that develop interaction and connections between communities and creative professions, such as photography/multimedia and tourism. She focuses on studies that delve into the interactions between humans, technologies and environments, through creative practice.

Creative projects: Anneke’s personal photographic work revolves around landscape and documentary photography, often combining the two genres.  As part of her recently completed PhD she mounted an exhibition titled ‘Telling Places’ in the Bodutu Art Gallery.

Full CV available from this link: AdeKlerk CV_2022 v2.2

Dr. Anneke de Klerk
Senior Lecturer and Programme Coordinator (Photography)

Mr. Jakob Doman
Room No: K005-2
Email: jacobd@vut.ac.za

My creative background is grounded in a combination of experience in the Commercial Advertising, Editorial and Fine Art arenas for which I have been honoured with both local (Loeries) and international (D & AD – London) and (Clio – New York) Creative Awards as well as being shortlisted for the Daimler-Chrysler Award in 2004. As a researcher, I focus my interests on the diverse fields of Formalist Aesthetics, Critical Topography, Digital Image Signal Processing, Practical Digital Sensitometry and Pragmatic Practise-based Arts Research. As an academic, by creating a synergy from these seemingly disparate disciplines, I employ a multi-faceted and holistic educational approach focused on real-world practises and outcomes that, hopefully, offers intellectual stimulation, creative awareness and contemporary relevance to students and colleagues in Media Practise.

My background is grounded in a combination of experience in the Commercial Advertising, Editorial and Fine Art arenas for which I have been honored with Loeries, a D & AD – wooden pencil (London) and a silver Clio (New York Art Directors Club) Awards. In 2004, I was nominated for the DaimlerChrysler Award for South African Creative Photography with Angela Buckland, Stephen Hobbs, Brent Meistre, Zwelethu Mthethwa, Jo Ractliffe, Guy Tillim and Andrew Tshabangu.

As an educator, I focus my interests on the diverse disciplines of smart technology, moral theology, applied aesthetics, digital image sensitometry, digital convergence and practise-based research methodologies. By creating a synergy from these seemingly disparate fields, I employ a multi-faceted and holistic educational approach that, hopefully, offers intellectual stimulation and creative awareness to students and colleagues alike.

When this fails, as it often does, I can be found taking solace behind a camera making some pictures.

Mr. Jakob Doman
Lecturer (Photography)

Mr. Sean Bogle
Room: K001-2
Email: sbogle@vut.ac.za

Sean is currently a lecturer in Photography at the Visual Arts and Design department:

Teaching activities: He is the 1^st year Diploma Photography course coordinator. Sean is primarily responsible for the teaching and facilitating of the following three subjects: Theory of Media Technologies 1, Professional Practice 1 and Media Practice 1.

Research interests: He has interests in: Visual imaging as a form of visual communication. Mixed digital media and the narrative possibilities therein with today’s many social platforms.

Supervision interests: He is involved with one M student study in the form of a sub-supervisor capacity.

Community engagement: Sean engages with visitors at the University annual open day. In the past he was involved with local camera club activities.

Creative projects: Sean loves exploring the use of vintage camera lenses (lenses from film cameras dating back to the 1970’s) with current digital cameras, in theme-based studies. He draws motivation from radio, comic illustration and films of old.

Work History: (Hide)

After completing my National Diploma in Photography (graduating in 1992) at the former Pretoria Technikon now (TUT), I was employed by the South African Defence Force as an editorial Photographer working for Paratus Magazine which later changed name to Salut, with the integration of the now new, South African National Defence Force.

During my time in the SANDF I completed my 4^th year of study (National Higher Diploma) at Pretoria Technikon (graduating in 1996). The study focused on the human-aspect of persons in uniform (this was done over the period of the Country’s first democratic elections). During this period, I had images published in the monthly periodical which had a circulation of 80 000 plus. The photography complimented and illustrated the written article which was done by a journalist. During my six years as a photographer in the SANDF I would attain the rank of Captain.

In 1998 I jointed the Photographic staff compliment at the Vaal Triangle Technicon. I taught both practical and theoretical subjects for the course National Diploma Photography. 1999 I would broaden my teaching tasks by teaching Graphic Design students basic photography skills and applications (1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd year students). I too developed and taught a short course in Photography (1999-2003) for persons not wanting to do the 3-year full time course.

I completed my B.Tech in Education Post School (2002). I attended workshops and digital photo- imaging design courses (Digital Imaging Software) presented by a fellow staff member. In 2006 the department closed the last analogue darkroom photographic process facility and went to a fully digital imaging course structure. As an academic staff member, I have been involved with corporate and function photography by assisting past students and associates, thus keeping abreast of latest trends and practices.

In 2019 I completed and graduated with a M.Tech in Photography (The Wedding Ritual: A Photographer’s Journey to Capturing Practice). I have a keen interest in comic and poster illustration, music, theatre, the radio and film. I believe, as an artist, you must draw on all sources of inspiration and never stop learning.