I took the Introduction to Photographic Histories course, which was run by the Photographers Gallery from June 29, 2020 to July 27, 2020. The course was held over 5 Monday evenings, and it covered a wide range of topics related to the history of photography.

Here is a brief overview of each week’s topics:

• Week 1: Origin stories of photography

This week explored the origins of photography, from the early experiments of Joseph Nicéphore Niépce and Louis Daguerre to the development of the first commercial cameras.

• Week 2: Blurred lines, clear visions: Movements of 20thC photography and their legacies

This week looked at the major movements in 20th century photography, including pictorialism, modernism, and surrealism.

• Week 3: Portraiture and Identity

This week explored the use of photography to represent identity, both individual and collective.

• Week 4: Beyond Evidence: Documentary photography

This week examined the role of photography in documenting the world around us, both in terms of news and social issues.

• Week 5: Expanded photographic practices

This week looked at the ways in which photography has been expanded and redefined in recent years, through the use of digital technology and new forms of expression.