Philosophy & Mission Statement

At the Manchester Academy of Photography we provide enjoyable and creative training in photography, tailoring our workshops to the needs of each group, enabling us to deliver the course objectives in a way that is designed to inspire and motivate our clients to achieve their creative goals. We do this by establishing your needs and then coaching and teaching practical skills rather than lecturing.

We strongly believe the learning process should be enjoyable in order to develop a passion for the subject which enables success throughout every step of the learning process, through which you will naturally pick up skills that you will retain for a life time.

OUR TRAINERS

COURSE DIRECTOR - PETER RICHARDSON

Peter Richardson specialises in documentary photography both in the UK and overseas.

Working alongside various international NGO’s Peter has travelled extensively working in areas such as Burma, Thailand, the Brazilian north east desert area; and worked with street children in Sao Paulo. His latest work is a portrait of Pashtun villagers living on the Pakistan/Afghan border.

A very committed and dedicated photojournalist, he is currently working on a long term project on the theme of ‘Islam and the UK’, which he will publish during the coming year for his M.A. in photography.

Peter is also an accomplished trainer and writer with 20 years experience in photography and teaching. He has spent many years in the field of adult education and training - exploring the links between poverty and injustice; more recently Peter has taught at the London School of Photography before setting up his own school in Manchester. Peter will help you to master your camera and with his infectious passion he will guide you through a very creative journey in photography.

Richard Gaskill

Richard Gaskill holds a BA in Documentary and Fine Art Photography and MA in Photojournalism and Documentary Photography.

Richard is a Manchester based, freelance documentary photographer with a decade of photographic experience producing work that addresses and comments on various social and cultural issues. Richard has exhibited his work widely and has completed several commissions. He has extensive experience in delivering a variety of photography workshops and is currently working on a major project in collaboration with Bolton Lads and Girls Club.

BECKY MATTHEWS

Becky Matthews is an award winning photojournalist with over a decade of experience.

Based in the West Midlands she combines Press and PR work with long term community projects. Currently Artist in Residence at the Royal National College, Hereford and the Artist Documenter with Craftspace, Birmingham.

Most recently she completed the acclaimed ‘My Big Fat Ugandan Wedding’ with Clare Struthers. The work documenting a mass wedding in Uganda has gone on to be featured in Marie Claire UK, Thailand, and Korea, The Times, The British Journal of Photography and Bust (USA). In 2009 it also won a ‘Highly Commended’ in the CIWEM’s Environmental Photographer of the Year awards. In 2010 it has been featured in the prestigious FreshFacedandWildEyed10 exhibition at the Photographers Gallery, London.

She has a BA and MA in Photography, and an NVQ Level IV in Photojournalism.

www.beckymatthews.co.uk

CLARE STRUTHERS

Clare Struthers, UK: Has been working in the visual arts since graduating from Bournemouth University in 2003. With a background in video production, she has been working as a freelance documentary photographer both in the UK and abroad, since completeing her MA in Photography.

Her most recent project, 'My Big Fat Ugandan Wedding', has been an award winning collaboration with photographer Becky Matthews, and she is currently undertaking an internship with the photographic charity PhotoVoice, based in London.