Fine Art Photography Option - Photographic and Imaging Arts BFA Option
Fine Art Photography Option
Photographic and Imaging Arts BFA
Overview
The fine art photography option prepares students for careers as visual artists, educators, editorial photographers, or freelance artists. Graduates are employed in a number of professional fine-art related institutions such as museums, archives, studios, and commercial galleries. The primary goal is to nurture the artist’s personal aesthetic vision through photographic expression. Studying the theoretical and practical skills needed to create thought-provoking and meaningful images develops technical, conceptual, and aesthetic abilities, and furthers students' goals as contemporary image-makers. This option is part of the Photographic and Imaging Arts BFA program.
The interdisciplinary curriculum enables students to explore other related fields in the fine arts, including painting, drawing, sculpture, graphic design, video, film, animation, printmaking and printing, computer graphics, and web publishing. Foundation and specialized courses include digital imaging workflow, alternative processes, new media, history and aesthetics of photography, and exhibition display.
Students have the opportunity to enroll in independent projects, educational internships, or co-ops in galleries, workshops, or other art and imaging centers. Students may choose to spend a year abroad earning credit in an applicable field of their choosing.
Fine art photography internships
Students apply for internships with some of the nation’s most respected galleries, museums, artists and workshop providers. They work behind the camera in editorial, commercial, and studio environments and have the opportunity to learn from photographers, picture editors, art directors, curators and other professionals. Students receive assistance from their professors and from the Office of Career Services and Cooperative Education in identifying and applying for internships. Internships provide real-world work experience, which is an invaluable part of our students’ educational experience.
Career opportunities in fine art photography
Graduates find careers as exhibiting artists, photo educators, picture editors, art directors, photographers’ representatives, photographic archivists or curators, museum and gallery staff, multimedia specialists, self-employed photographers, custom-image printers, and film/video artists or animators. Many students choose to pursue graduate work and earn an MFA degree in the arts.
Industries
Typical Job Titles
| Archivist | Art Director |
| Artist | Conservator |
| Content Producer | Curator |
| Curatorial Assistant | Director of Education |
| Editorial photographer | Freelance Photographer |
| Gallerist/Gallery Manager | Lab Assistant |
| Magazine Editor | Professor/Teacher |
| Studio Manager/Assistant | Videographer |
Featured Work
Fine Art Photography Gallery Show
RIT’s 2020 Fine Art Photography senior exhibition, “Not Far From Here,” is the culminating work of 13 artists, who employ a wide variety of mediums, techniques and ideas.
Global Photo Exhibitions
Alexandra Gataeva
The striking photos of Alexandra Gataeva, an RIT Fine Art Photography student, went on a summer vacation around the world in 2019. Several of her works were accepted into exhibits at...
Large Format Photography
Justin Scalera
Justin Scalera '19 (Fine Art Photography) had the unique opportunity to visually preserve one of Rochester's most historic, treasured sites for an independent study with professor Frank Cost...
Featured Profiles
Engineering Excellence
Robert Latorre
Robert Latorre ’75 (photography) is an award-winning photographer responsible for creating a famous and widely used camera system that quickly creates eye-popping visual effects.
Alumni Profile: Sam Cannon
Sam Cannon ’14
Sam Cannon '14 (fine art photography) is a New York City-based artist and director who creates short-form videos for huge brands like Gap, Nike and The New York Times.
Admission Requirements
This option is part of the Photographic and Imaging Arts BFA. Please visit the degree program page for admission requirements.
Learn about admissions, cost, and financial aid
Latest News
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February 26, 2020
![nighttime shot of statues of Susan B. Anthony and Frederick Douglass.]()
POSTPONED: RIT’s nighttime community photo project focuses on women’s rights icon
Rochester, N.Y.’s notable histories as the birthplace of the women’s rights movement and photography will come together for RIT’s Big Shot next month. Organizers of the longtime community photographic project will capture a dramatic nighttime image of the National Susan B. Anthony Museum & House, 17 Madison St., and surrounding neighborhood on March 22.
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January 29, 2020
![A young girl runs around the corner of a building.]()
Student magazine to launch new issue alongside retrospective exhibition
The release event and exhibition for Draft, a publication annually executed by photography students, is set for April 3 at George Eastman Museum’s Peristyle Gallery. This year marks the 16th edition.
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November 7, 2019
![Students gather for a group photo in front of The New York Times.]()
Photography students get taste of industry with NYC, DC trips
The New York Times. White House Photo Office. Magnum Photos. And much more. Students met with the most well-known news organizations, agencies, artists, studios and alumni during the School of Photographic Arts and Sciences' annual networking trips to NYC and DC.
