This module covers the specialist technical skills that a clinical photographer needs, along with a knowledge and understanding of the issues surrounding the use of photography in healthcare locations, with patients and in the operating theatre. You will learn how to set up, organise and prepare for a photographic shoot in a healthcare location, how to deal with patient photography in the studio setting, how to use lighting techniques in order to illustrate particular anatomical or dermatological features and how to use the specialist equipment associated with ophthalmic, dental and surgical photography. You will learn about the legal and ethical issues associated with patient photography and the use of such photographs, and you will have the opportunity to reflect critically on the application of this knowledge in your own workplace, in supporting the welfare of patients.

A portfolio of 5 practical assignments (including assignment logbooks) - each of the assignments weighted at 14% (Learning Outcomes 1, 2).
A report length 3000 words weighted at 30% (Learning Outcomes 3, 4).

A detailed explanation of the assignments will be provided in the module handbook.

Due to the professional nature of the medical illustration programme, it is necessary for all components of assessment to be passed as learners must have a rigorous understanding and working knowledge of each aspect of the course to allow them to become qualified for full membership to the Institute of Medical Illustrators and registration with the Council for the Accreditation of Medical Illustration Practitioners. And, as such, no internal compensation should be allowed on these modules.

This module is delivered by distance learning, which means that you will engage in independent study, supported by your workplace supervisor.

You will carry out a series of practical assignments, each of which covers a specific area of professional practice. You will document the thoughts, decisions and analyses that inform this work, in an assignment logbook. You will also write a report on the use of photography in a variety of clinical environments, including the operating theatre, and reflecting on the legal and ethical issues surrounding the photography of patients and the use of the resulting photographs. Your report will reflect critically on a variety of theoretical approaches to the general issues of patient care, in relation to photography and will refer to specific case studies, in discussing the ways in which you, as a clinical photographer, can best support the general well-being of patients.

National Photography Guidelines, available at: www.imi.org.uk/guidelines.htm
Visual Communication in Medicine, e-journal published by Taylor and Francis. This e-journal will be available online via the University Website.

Workplace-based resources

Library and Information Services resources

1. DEMONSTRATE THE PROFESSIONAL SKILLS AND ATTRIBUTES REQUIRED TO PRODUCE A PHOTOGRAPHIC RECORD THAT DESCRIBES THE FUNCTION OF A DEPARTMENT, AND IS SUITABLE FOR PUBLIC DISPLAY, IN ORDER TO COMMUNICATE THE NATURE OF THE DEPARTMENT TO LAY AUDIENCES AND DEMONSTRATE EVIDENCE OF RESEARCH AND PICTORAL DEVELOPMENT IN A TECHNICAL LOG. [Communication]

2. PRODUCE CLINICALLY USEFUL, OPHTHALMIC, DENTAL, DERMATOLOGICAL AND SURGICAL PHOTOGRAPHS, EXERCISING JUDGEMENT IN THE CHOICE OF PARTICULAR PHOTOGRAPHIC AND LIGHTING TECHNIQUES AND EVIDENCE THIS IN A TECHNICAL LOG.
[Application; Knowledge and Understanding]

3. ANALYSE THE ROLE OF THE CLINICAL PHOTOGRAPHER AND THE ISSUES OF PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE IN THE PHOTOGRAPHY OF PATIENTS IN A VARIETY OF CLINICAL ENVIRONMENTS, AND TO REFLECT CRITICALLY ON ONE'S OWN PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE.
[Analysis; Reflection]

4. REFLECT CRITICALLY ON A RANGE OF APPROACHES TO THE ETHICAL ISSUES INVOLVED IN CLINICAL PHOTOGRAPHY, AND TO THE CONTRIBUTION THAT CLINICAL PHOTOGRAPHERS CAN MAKE TO INCREASING THE DIGNITY, COMFORT AND WELL-BEING OF PATIENTS.
[Problem Solving; Reflection]