UTOPIA.PHOTO

Category: Courses

  • Course: Therapeutic Photography: An Introduction

    Course: Therapeutic Photography: An Introduction

    Sat 16 May 2026

    BOOK HERE: Therapeutic Photography: An Introduction | Oxford Lifelong Learning, University of Oxford

    Overview

    Unlock the transformative power of imagery and harness the therapeutic potentials of photography, enhancing your professional toolkit and personal growth journey. This unique day event is designed for those eager to explore how photography can be used as a powerful tool for emotional healing and personal expression. Ideal continuing professional development (CPD) for professionals in mental health, educators, and anyone interested in the intersection of art and therapy.  You will embark on a journey through four distinct modules that cover both the theory and practice of Therapeutic Photography.

    We begin with an Introduction to Therapeutic Photography, where you will learn about the origins, key theories, and the distinction between related practices like phototherapy. 

    The second session focuses on The Mechanics of Therapeutic Photography, teaching you the essential skills of camera operation, photographic techniques, and how to create environments conducive to emotional expression. This practical module ensures that you can handle equipment and techniques with confidence, applying them in ways that foster deep personal and subject reflection. 

    The third session, Therapeutic Photography in Practice, delves into real-world applications, showcasing how this method has been successfully implemented in various settings. Through case studies and interactive discussions, you will understand the dynamics of photo-elicitation, self-portraiture, and the critical ethical considerations that ensure respect and confidentiality. 

    The final session, Integration and Professional Practice, guides you on how to integrate these practices into professional settings. Whether you’re a therapist, counsellor, or educator, you will learn how to design and implement a therapeutic photography programme that aligns with your professional environment. 

    Please note:

    • Please bring a digital camera with you. This can be of any kind, including a smartphone, and ideally you will have the means of sharing one or two images taken on the day with the tutor.
    • This event will close to enrolments at 23:59 BST on 13 May 2026.

    Programme details

    9.45am
    Registration at Ewert House Reception

    10am
    Introduction to Therapeutic Photography

    11.15am
    Tea and coffee break

    11.45am
    The Mechanics of Therapeutic Photography

    1pm
    Lunch break

    2pm
    Therapeutic Photography in Practice

    3.15pm
    Tea and coffee break

    3.45pm
    Integration and Professional Practice

    5pm
    End of day

  • Course: Minimalist Photography and the Psychology of Place

    *** UPDATE 19/11/25 – SORRY – THIS COURSE IS NOW FULL ***

    Sat 18 Jul 2026 – Sat 25 Jul 2026

    Overview

    This course explores how minimalist photography can change how we see Oxford (and, of course, anywhere else). We will learn how light, space, shape, and silence can say more than detail. Through short talks, walks, and group work, we will study how memory, mood, and place connect.

    We will explore the psychology of space and how people form attachments to places. We will look at how we remember scenes, how emotion shapes recall, and how we often feel more than we see. We will link this to how minimalist images can stir feelings, invite thought, or suggest stories.

    We will also study how we process visual detail. We will ask what happens when much is left out. Can less lead to more? Can an image still hold meaning if it is almost empty?

    The course includes fieldwork in Oxford. You will make your own work and learn how to frame scenes that distil mood, memory, or meaning. You will also learn how to edit and group your images to form a visual story.

    This course is open to all. You do not need to be an expert in photography or psychology, only open to thinking and seeing in new ways.

    This course is part of the Oxford University Summer School for Adults (OUSSA) programme.

    Programme details

    Seminars

    Participants are taught in small seminar groups of up to 10 students, and receive two one-on-one tutorials with their tutor.

    Sunday

    Seminar 1: The Psychology of Place

    We explore how people form emotional and cognitive bonds with places. We consider rootedness, belonging, and the role of space in identity and memory.

    Seminar 2: Spatial Memory and Image Recall

    We examine how the mind stores and recalls visual scenes. We discuss salience, affect, and how memory shapes what we later ‘see’ in images.

    Monday

    Seminar 3: Minimalism as Visual Language

    We define minimalist photography, drawing on key figures and concepts. We ask: what happens when we say more with less?

    Seminar 4: Visual Perception and the Art of Noticing

    We explore how we attend to and make sense of visual stimuli. We discuss attention, figure-ground, and perceptual ambiguity.

    Tuesday

    Seminar 5: Abstraction and Emotional Response

    We consider how abstraction can create mood, provoke thought, and resist simple meaning. We link form and feeling.

    Seminar 6: Simplicity, Silence, and Negative Space

    We explore the visual and psychological role of negative space, silence, and restraint. We ask what is left unsaid in a minimalist frame.

    Wednesday

    Seminar 7: Oxford Seen Differently

    We use images to challenge the tourist gaze. We ask: what is not shown in brochures? What is hidden in plain sight?

    Seminar 8: Memory, Nostalgia, and Urban Myth

    We explore how nostalgia colours place. We consider collective memory, imagined pasts, and the city as a symbolic site.

    Thursday

    Seminar 9: The Ethics of Representation

    We examine what it means to photograph a place that is shared, lived-in, or loaded with history. We ask: what is fair? What is stolen?

    Seminar 10: Narrative, Sequence, and Visual Storytelling

    We explore how to build a sequence of images that suggests a mood or story. We discuss titles, juxtapositions, and the space between images.

    Friday

    Seminar 11: Curating Meaning – From Image to Exhibition

    We explore how to select and group images to shape a story, theme, or mood. We discuss sequencing, layout, and the role of silence or contrast between works. We also consider space, flow, and how viewers engage with minimalist work in a physical setting. We ask: what is the work saying? What needs to be said, and what should be left unsaid?

    Seminar 12: Presenting Work – Titles, Statements, and Display

    We develop short texts to support the images, such as titles, captions, or a group statement. We explore tone, voice, and how to speak about abstract work without closing it down. We also discuss practical issues: mounting, layout, and inviting feedback.

  • Course: The Psychology of Conceptual and Surreal Photography

    Course: The Psychology of Conceptual and Surreal Photography

    PLEASE NOTE: THIS COURSE IS FULLY BOOKED

    Sat 19 Jul 2025 – Sat 26 Jul 2025

    Overview

    This course offers a practical exploration of the psychological dimensions of conceptual and surreal photography and their relation to the human psyche. We delve into the rich history and theory behind these genres, learning how early pioneers like Man Ray and André Breton influenced contemporary practices. The course covers essential techniques such as double exposure, photomontage, digital manipulation, and narrative storytelling, enabling you to create images that evoke deep psychological and emotional responses. 

    We engage in hands-on activities designed to integrate theoretical knowledge with practical skills. These activities include a photographic scavenger hunt for symbols, creating photomontages, and developing thematic photo series. Emphasis is placed on exploring the unconscious mind, evoking feelings of the uncanny, and using photography to understand the human psyche. 

    Examining the works of contemporary artists like Erik Johansson and Brooke Shaden, we appreciate how they blend surreal elements with personal and social themes. By the end of the course, you should be equipped to produce your own conceptual and surreal photographs to convey profound meanings and impact. 

    Blending seminars, practical workshops, and critical discussions, this course guides us in creating powerful visual art to explore and communicate the complexities of the human psyche. 

    NB: While the course is photographic in nature, it does not assume any particular prior skills or training, is suitable for students at any stage in their photographic practice, and you can use any camera from a smartphone to a sophisticated digital camera.

    This course is part of the Oxford University Summer School for Adults (OUSSA) programme.

    Programme details

    Seminars

    Participants are taught in small seminar groups of up to 10 students, and receive two one-on-one tutorials with their tutor. 

    Sunday

    Seminar 1:  

    Introduction to Conceptual and Surreal Photography

    Understanding the Basics: Definitions, distinctions, historical context, and key artists.

    Seminar 2:

    Psychological Foundations: Theories related to surrealism (Freud, Lacan). The impact of visual art on the unconscious and its therapeutic potential.

    Monday

    Seminar 3

    Techniques and Tools

    Camera Techniques and Experimental Methods: Techniques for creating surreal effects. Experimentation with light and shadow.

    Seminar 4

    Digital Manipulation and Editing: Introduction to digital editing software. Techniques for digital manipulation (photomontage, double exposure).

    Tuesday

    Seminar 5

    Thematic Exploration

    Dreams and the Unconscious: Exploration of dream imagery in surreal photography. Techniques to depict the unconscious

    Seminar 6

    The Uncanny and the Familiar: Freud’s concept of the uncanny in visual arts. Evoking feelings of familiarity and strangeness.

    Wednesday

    Seminar 7

    Psychological Impact and Therapeutic Applications

    Therapeutic Photography: The role of photography in therapy. Case studies and examples of therapeutic photography.

    Seminar 8

    Conceptual Photography as a Narrative Tool: Narrative techniques in conceptual photography. Creating visual metaphors and storytelling.

    Thursday

    Seminar 9

    Integration and Practical Applications

    Symbolism and Meaning: Use of symbols and metaphors in conceptual and surreal photography. Photographic scavenger hunt for symbols.

    Seminar 10

    Emotional Abstraction: Abstract techniques to convey emotions through photography. Practical exercises in creating emotionally impactful images

    Friday

    Seminar 11

    Final Projects and Critique

    Final Project Development: Integrating theoretical knowledge with practical skills. Planning and executing a final photography project.

    Seminar 12

    Presentation and Critique: Presentation of final projects. Group critique and reflective discussion on learning outcomes and personal growth. 

  • Course: Community Wellbeing – Digital Photography for Beginners

    Course: Community Wellbeing – Digital Photography for Beginners

    Delighted that our third year of fully-funded therapeutic photography is approved and ready for enrollment.

    Please check out the page at Activate Learning and, if you qualify, then do enrol: Community Wellbeing – Digital Photography for Beginners – Activate Learning – Adult Education

    The sessions are intended to be of particular help for people who experience anxiety or depression that lead them to avoid social settings, or to have the confidence to go out in public and enjoy the experience.

    NB These sessions will improve people’s emotional well-being, but are NOT a substitute for personal therapy.