UAL Extended Diploma in Photography student Iris Raine is the winner of the Tim Leah-Adams Award for Technical Excellence in Photography. This award and the Jan Secker Award for Overcoming Challenges are in memory of much-loved colleagues who we sadly lost several years ago Tim Leah-Adams and Jan Secker. The school community in consultation with the families have decided to award learners that show the outstanding qualities that our colleagues held dear.

For this award nominating staff said “In November 2021: a very polite and positive applicant sat down for a photography interview. From the moment the interview began the applicant demonstrated a character type that was above and beyond the subject and course expectations whilst also evidencing a very strong portfolio of work. Of course, the applicant was accepted there and then. Throughout their studies at the School they have continued to excel on all fronts within creative practices which include exploring mixed-media experimentation, ICM, nature – landscape research, and most recently an incredible investigation into photographing sound.

Their confidence and creative direction with photographic exploration has awarded them with a professional practice through disseminating their imagery in several exhibitions across the UK. This coming September, they will move into HE studies at the University of Middlesex London. It has been a tremendous pleasure to teach and watch their development as a wonderful creative and exciting individual.”

Iris, from Darlington, not only won this award but was also short-listed and runner-up for the Foundation Art Prize with her FMP work. Read on to find out about the project and her next steps:

Why did you choose to study at The Northern School of Art?

I was informed about The Northern School of Art by my parents and my photography teacher at secondary school, all of whom influenced me to study here. I had always held a large passion for photography, and after studying it at GCSE level, I couldn’t imagine doing anything else. The Northern School of Art was the perfect place in which I could focus all of my attention on photography, and the college provided me with incredible facilities and opportunities that I wouldn’t have been able to find elsewhere.

How did you find your diploma? 

The time I have spent studying my Photography Extended Diploma has, hands down, been the best two years of my life. I am really lucky to have had the best tutors and classmates that anyone could ever ask for. I’ve gained a huge amount of skills, work experience and opportunities that I wouldn’t have been able to achieve if it wasn’t for studying at The Northern School of Art – these are things that will stick with me for the rest of my life and into a future career in Photography.

Tell us about your FMP project:

My Final Major Project surrounded the theme of sound, exploring how I could transform something invisible into a visible element through photographic means. I was eager to challenge myself through the theme that I chose, because I personally found it important to try something alternative and attempt things I had never tried before in my photographic practice. My project began with the most obvious depictions of sound, such as shooting flowing river water with a long exposure to capture its powerful (or sometimes gentle) noise, or documentary street photography in which urban vicinities bustled loudly with people.

I then began investigating how I could physically add texture on top of my photographs to replicate sound through tactility and touch. For the final element of my FMP, I decided to try a technique called cymatics (something I had never tried before!): a process in which frequencies are played through water to fabricate a range of unique shapes/patterns whilst I photographed them. This process enabled something invisible and audible to become visual and tangible – creating art simply through sound itself. I was surprised at how well this imagery turned out, taking a complete fine-art perspective on both my FMP and photography itself – I decided to use a range of these photographs for the final exhibition.

You are one of our award winners, congratulations! How did it feel to win your award?

Winning the Tim Leah-Adams award was such an amazing, rewarding feeling, and I am really grateful that I was put forward for it. I know this award is very important to the Photography community at The Northern School of Art, so to win it feels really special, knowing that Tim’s legacy is being kept alive.

What’s your favourite memory of your time at the School!

As simple as it sounds, I think that my favourite memories of my time at the School are from being in class every day. It was something that I never found boring, because I honestly enjoyed the content of the lessons so much and the people that I was in them with. It was of course especially fun when we got to do photoshoots, and building the final exhibition was really exciting too! The opening night of the final show was everything I could have hoped for and more – the memories I have from that night will undoubtedly stay with me forever. I have so many fond memories of my time at The Northern School of Art, and it’s sad to think that I won’t be making any more! However, I am glad I have so many good times to look back on.

What are you doing next and what are your plans/ambitions for the future?

In September, I am going to Middlesex University in London to study a BA Hons in Photography, which I am really looking forward to. I would absolutely love to continue photography into a professional career, so I hope that this degree will allow me to pursue my passion much further.

Any advice for future students applying for the same course as you?

If you are considering studying Photography, I would absolutely recommend applying for the Extended Diploma at The Northern School of Art. Build a portfolio that is diverse, photographing the things that you think are visually pleasing, rather than attempting to fit your photography into a particular ‘box’. So many people think that photography simply involves pressing a button on a camera, but there are so many alternative processes that you can delve into: some of which you don’t even need to use a camera. Don’t be afraid to try new things: it’s what helps you stand out!

Keep up to date with Iris’s work on Instagram by following @pinkculia.

Our diploma in photography offers students the opportunity to engage with the language of photography via a series of assignments, explore a range of darkroom and digital techniques alongside developing a technical understanding of the practice. Research and experimentation are key to this diploma which has seen it’s student go on to a number of exciting work opportunities and higher education pathways. Places are still available for a September start find out more about the course here.