Biography
Bec completed MA Photojournalism and Documentary Photography in 2024. Bec is an artist and freelance designer.
Interview
You graduated from MA Photojournalism and Documentary Photography in 2024. What was the most important learning you took from the course?
I came into the course with a love of photography but not necessarily any sense of who I was as an artist, and the course really solidified the kind of work I was interested in making, as well as my approach in making it. The emphasis on research, and writing, and experimentation is something that has become a real foundation of my practice, and I’m so grateful for my time on the course – it really changed my life!
What was a highlight from your time at LCC?
The incredible tutors and guest artists and photographers that came and shared their work with us, who challenged and inspired us. It was an amazing, creative environment to be immersed in, and I learned so much both from tutors as well as my peers on the course.
How did your major project help you when you graduated?
It was a great platform with which to approach galleries and publications. I was lucky enough to have some of the work exhibited in art prizes and exhibitions, and then had my first solo show back in Australia with the work from my major project, about a year after I had graduated. The direction of that work also led me into the project I’m working on now. It’s almost the foundation for a lot of the work I’ve made since leaving the course.
You are now an artist and freelance designer. Can you tell us more about your role?
Alongside my photography practice I’m a freelance designer, working for various brands and publications. My days could flick between working on my personal photography work, to graphic design for an ecology journal, or poster for an exhibition – many hats!
How do you see the MA Photojournalism and Documentary Photography ethos reflected in the work you do?
The ethos of deep research, constant reflection, questioning, and a sense of slowing down the artistic practice is something that is reflected in my work now. As well as an excitement about experimenting and always learning.
What’s the most exciting or fulfilling aspect of your current work?
Stemming from the current project I’m working on, I’ve recently been asked to teach a series of workshops on sustainable/alternative photography techniques at an art gallery, and I’m really excited to have the opportunity to share some of the things I’ve learned since the course.
Have you won any awards or residencies or grants since leaving the course?
Yes leading out of the course I applied for a Mead Fellowship through UAL, and I was lucky enough to win a grant to make the project I’ve been working on for the past year. It was a really incredible opportunity that allowed me to make a work that I possibly wouldn’t have been able to make otherwise. I was recently a finalist in Earth Photo with some of this work, and have also just been awarded a Kraszna-Krausz Foundation New Book Grant (also facilitated through UAL) to make a book from the project, which I’m super excited about.
What are you currently working on?
I’ve been working for the past year or so on a project the follows the 5614km Dingo Barrier Fence across Australia. It includes photographs, archival research, soil chromatography and sound recording. I have a solo exhibition of the work coming up in a few weeks, and after that will work on turning the project into a book.