Our Photography BA Degree Show celebrates the creativity and technical excellence of our graduating students. This final-year exhibition showcases a diverse range of photographic practices, reflecting the breadth of contemporary image-making from documentary and editorial work to conceptual, experimental, and multimedia approaches.

Each project represents an individual journey of exploration and discovery, shaped through rigorous research, critical thinking, and personal vision. These works engage with themes such as identity, memory, landscape, cultural narratives, and the social and political issues shaping our world.

We spoke to two final-year students, Oscar and Jivan, about their experiences on the course, their final projects, and what the degree show meant to them.

What were you most excited about for the degree shows?

Oscar: I was incredibly excited to see everyone’s work shown together. Everyone has been on such a unique journey, and it was wonderful to have the opportunity for everybody to showcase how far they’ve come over the past three years

Jivan: I couldn’t wait to see the final work curated as a group exhibition. We’ve all worked so hard but rarely saw each other’s final outcomes. Seeing everything printed, framed, and displayed felt incredibly rewarding especially being able to share my work with friends and family who hadn’t seen it yet.

Tell us more about your course and how it has prepared you for your final project?

Oscar: The Photography BA has been an amazing experience. Access to brilliant facilities, incredible technicians, supportive lecturers and a great cohort of my peers really shaped me into the photographer and person I am today.

Jivan: I’ve always felt really supported by the photography tutors, and the skills we learned in first and second year gave me the confidence to pursue whatever I envisioned for my final project. At the end of second year, I created my first magazine, which gave me a foundation to build on for my final piece. I also had the privilege of doing a placement year, which gave me valuable time to reflect and plan what I wanted my final project to be. When final year began, I already had a direction in mind, and the tutors really helped me refine it, supporting me in elevating the project to its fullest potential.

Can you tell us more about your final project?

Oscar: Archaeological Evidence of Modern Material Culture or AEMMC is a fictional examination of the potential archaeological interpretations of contemporary objects. By finding, curating and photographing a range of items, the project presents material possessions and equipment as the lasting evidence of our current culture. AEMMC playfully undermines our understanding of the objects in our home or place of work. It encourages its viewers to observe their surroundings and attempt to interpret how it may appear to archaeologists of the future. This observation additionally comes with the subtle call to reflect on our patterns of personal consumption and global production. The project’s goal is ultimately to allow its viewers to engage with it in a multitude of ways, whether that be politically, humorously, historically or artistically. The project is open to many interpretations to imagine how the objects which surround us may be found and interpreted as archaeological artefacts, whilst subtly reminding them that what they are looking at will inevitably become the artefacts of our era. 

Jivan: My final project was the second volume of my magazine, Guns of The West. The publication tells seven stories of practitioners in art and fashion, combining documentary and editorial styles. These stories are loosely connected through themes of identity, traditional techniques, and adapting to changing industries. Framed through a Western motif, the magazine explores how creativity can be a form of resilience— echoing the spirit of survival in uncertain times. I used a range of techniques including black and white and colour film, digital photography, and screen printing. All 50 copies were hand-bound.

What inspired your creative thinking and work towards your final project?

Oscar: The project was largely inspired both visually and conceptually by archaeological texts, surveys and publications from the 1950s to the 1970s. Whilst most of these texts were found outside of the university library, the vast amount of visual and theoretical material within the library undoubtedly aided the development and inspiration of my project. The visual and critical framework of the project was shaped and guided by my tutors, Gavin Jack, Andre Pinkowski, Eugenie Shinkle and Teemu Hupli. Their guidance and advice were hugely important for me, whether directing me to certain authors or artists, to having long and in-depth discussions on the possibility of where the project could go. Their involvement in the development of my project is undoubtedly the largest source of inspiration for my project, and I cannot thank them enough.

Jivan: The concept for my project largely comes from my home and upbringing in Colorado. I grew up around cowboy culture and Western motifs, but moving to London really made me realise how much I appreciated my own visual culture and allowed me to lean into it for my project in a way I wouldn’t have otherwise. In terms of the visual style, I took a lot of inspiration from artists I was exposed to at uni particularly work that my tutor Eugenie Shinkle showed me. I was introduced to a lot of artists with more graphic styles and fashion work that verged on documentary, which were both big inspirations. I also found our ‘Photography in Context’ module especially helpful when it came to bookmaking. That module was led by Andre Pinkowski, who was really helpful during my final year especially with printing and binding my magazine.

What do you hope to achieve from your final project?

Oscar: As mentioned previously, I want the project to encourage a variety of interpretations and responses. Whilst there are deliberate and crafted undertones of sustainability, politics and humour, whatever you may get out of the book is what I want the project to achieve, whether that be a laugh or an engaged conversation.

Jivan: My main goal was to be able to share my project with friends, family, industry professionals and creatives and that’s already gone well. The private view of the show was very busy, and a lot of people bought magazines. I received great feedback, and now I’m starting to organise meetings with agencies, magazines, and art directors. My hope is that the project will lead to more work and help jumpstart my career as a photographer, so I can keep making work I love. I’m nearly sold out of the first edition and am considering making a second edition with a wider distribution network.

What has been the highlight of your time at Westminster?

Oscar: It would be the chance to meet and work with such a diverse and brilliant group of people. Every year, I got to know the technicians, my lecturers and my fellow peers more and more, and the bonds and friendships I’ve made are so important to me both personally and professionally.

Jivan: I really enjoyed my final year. Writing my dissertation was especially inspiring because I got to spend so much time researching a topic, I’m passionate about. In the second semester, it was great to support my classmates with their work and collaborate with my tutors to improve my own project. I felt so grateful to have that time and space to focus on something I truly care about. The show was probably the biggest highlight for me personally it was so fun, and the positive reception meant a lot. Honestly, the only thing I wished was that it didn’t have to end.

What are your plans for the future?

Oscar: I am intending to continue working within the photobook industry.  Many of the opportunities I’ve had to gain experience and work have been facilitated by the staff of the photography course. Additionally, I’m keen to continue creating new work, whether visual or text-based, hopefully with the chance to collaborate with my incredibly talented peers.

Jivan: My plan is to initially work as a freelance photographer and photography assistant. Since I want to pursue a career in fashion and art, I think it’s important to stay active in the industry while continuing my personal practice. I also plan to keep creating my own magazines, including a documentary zine coming out later this year, and potentially a third issue of Guns of The West. My tutors have been really kind in connecting me with photographers and other industry professionals, which has been invaluable. I’m also looking forward to having alumni access so I can continue using the darkroom and other facilities at Westminster after graduating.

Is there anything else you would like to share about your final project or upcoming degree show?

Oscar: Whilst the degree show is over, I urge readers to check out @uowdegreeshow2025 and @westminphoto on Instagram so they can see some of the amazing work made by my fellow peers.

Jivan: I am grateful to all the photography tutors and technicians who have supported me so greatly. If you would like to see my work, please visit my website jivanwest.com or my Instagram @jivan.west.

_{Header Image: Jivan West – Guns of the West (2025), Photography BA}

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About Westminster

As one of the most diverse universities in the UK, we are a global university with London energy, with more than 19,000 students from 169 countries. Visit our website to find out more about our Photography BA