QQI LEVEL 5

Black & White Photography 

Course Details

BTEI

QQI Level 5

Part-time (10am - 15.30, Friday)

Places: 10

Start Date: 9/01/2026

Finish Date: 17/04/2026

*FREE – Applicants must meet the BTEI criteria in order to qualify for free fees. We have a limited number of places for paying students (€50). Details on our FAQ page.

Summary

Starting January 2026: This 12-week course invites you to slow down — to load film with care, to frame light and shadow with attention, and to watch your image emerge, grain by grain through the chemical process of analogue Black and White Photography.

You’ll learn to master both the technical craft and poetic process of analogue photography — from the mechanics of the camera to the sensual chemistry of its development

  • Title: Art

    Code:  5M1985

    Level: 5

    Type: Minor

  • You’ll master both the technical and tactile sides of traditional photography — the exposure triangle, film development, and printing processes — while also exploring the poetic discipline of working in black and white: tone, texture, atmosphere, and time.

    Throughout the course, you’ll learn how to master your camera settings and exposure techniques, and build a strong portfolio with a cohesive body of work.

    The course will support students in making successful applications to full-time QQI level 5 and 6 courses like our Portfolio Preparation Level 5 and Advanced Portfolio Preparation Level 6 full-time programmes.

  • What You’ll Learn

    Module 1 – Camera Fundamentals
    • Lenses, exposure, and the dance of light.
    • Compositional strategies and metering.

    Module 2 – Film Photography
    • Loading, shooting, and developing film.
    • Managing exposure for mood and contrast.

    Module 3 – Development Techniques
    • Printing, toning, and experimenting with alternative processes.
    • Understanding the tactile language of paper and silver.

    Module 4 – Portfolio Development
    • Building a coherent series of images.
    • Presentation, mounting, and digital archiving.

    Module 5 – History & Context
    • From early pioneers to contemporary film revivalists.

  • Traditional Black and White Photography (5N0757)

  • The course will support students in making successful applications to full-time QQI level 5 and 6 courses like our Portfolio Preparation Level 5 and Advanced Portfolio Preparation Level 6 full-time programmes.

  • Places are based on a first come, first basis. There is no portfolio or interview required to gain entry onto this course. We prioritize BTEI eligible students who have a medical card or in receipt of a social welfare payment, listed below:

    • Medical Card

    • Supplementary Welfare Allowance

    • Job Seekers Benefit (Unemployment Benefit)

    • Job Seekers Allowance (Unemployment Assistance)

    • Family Income Supplement

    • Farm Assist

    • Carer's Allowance

    • One-Parent Family Payment

    • Back-to-Work Allowance

    • Community Employment

    • Part-time Job Incentive Scheme

    • Widow's and Widower's Non-Contributory Pension

    • Blind Person's Pension

    • Pre-retirement Allowance

    • State Pension (Non-Contributory) (Old Age Non-Contributory Pension)

    • Guardian's Payment Non-Contributory (Orphans Non-Contributory pension)

    • Illness Benefit, where this has been held for a continuous period of at least 6 months (Disability Benefit)

    • Disability Allowance

    • Invalidity Pension

Previous

Printmaking | QQI Level 5
Next

Digital Video Editing | QQI Level 6