FAQ


1. Is ‘Ambitions’ as stated Edexel UK learning center and accredited by Canon?

Yes, the Ambitions Photography Academy is an approved Edexel learning center offering Level 4 and Level 5 BTEC Higher National Diploma programmes in professional photography. ‘Ambitions’ is one of the five Canon Pro-Centres in India offering as professional training in digital photography. The institute is ISO 9001- 2008 certified. It is also been associated with Manfrotto, Italy for quality photography education and training. You can see more details about in the respective links of the academy’s website.


2. Is it a standard institute which you can recommend?

In India most of the best photography institutes are concentrated in and around the metros, though there are a few exceptions. As for as Chennai and South India is concerned, ‘Ambitions’ ranks among the best. Personally I feel I have gained immensely from this place and I would definitely recommend the institute to any person interested in serious photography.


3. Are you confident after doing the course?

I haven’t completed the course; I am doing my final units and portfolio. I feel pretty confident about whatever I have learnt till now. A person who enters the institute with zero knowledge of camera will definitely feel confident as he/ she moves along. This is because students are given a variety of tasks and they do it not once or twice but many times.


4. Do they give you sufficient practical training?

The orientation of the institute is to learn by doing, from the day one. We have theory classes and each and every theory component is followed by the practical component. Practicals range from shooting models or products in a comfortable studio environment to photo story assignments or assisting the teacher in commercial jobs.


5. Do they satisfy you of your doubts?

The biggest plus of the institute is the student teacher interaction. The faculty and the resources of the institute are open to the students morning to evening, 5 days of the week. The uniqueness in Mr Raja’s classes are that he knows the in and out about every student, both the pluses and minuses and the evaluation of a student is not on a competitive basis with others but more on building on the strengths of a person.


6. What are the job opportunities after doing this course?

One can work as a freelance photographer, a photojournalist working for magazines, as advertising and commercial photographer, fashion photographer, wedding and social events photographer or can choose to specialize in cinematography. News papers, news agencies, magazines, govt. departments, hospitals, cruise ships, fashion houses, design houses, advertising agencies, film industry also gives opening for a photography employment. By the end of the course every learner will have a comprehensive portfolio which is the main tool for marketing one’s services to an individual, company or advertising agencies. Jobs would depend on creative portfolio, contacts and marketing. Alternatively one can choose to assist the topmost photographers and the academy puts the students in contact with these photographers through their internship programs at the end of the course.


7.Does this course lead you to universities outside India ? Is this  center accepted by universities outside India?

You can even try pursuing higher degrees in photography or art and /design in UK or USA, where the EDEXCEL BTEC LEVEL 4 & 5 DIPLOMA in PHOTOGRAPHY is recognized for studies and jobs. You also get a leverage of studying directly the third year programme. (The list of universities approving the BETCH programmed from ambitions is given in the Edexel link).


8. Do they have a proper studio set up/ do they have proper lab and processing center

Yes, the institute has its own studio. As for as processing is concerned we are dealing with digital images. The corresponding thing to this would be a digital darkroom. Each student works with their own laptops or desktops to process and work on the images. Post production and processing is a part of the curriculum and taught by appropriate faculty.


9. Are there sufficient tutors and are they available full time?

The photography component is solely handled by Mr.Raja Ponsing, an eminent photographer & mentor and the full time creative team lead by Ms.Preethaa, a qualified graphic design faculty helps in design and post production. In specialized areas renowned photographers come and take classes/workshops - be it, street photography, fashion photography, macro photography, photojournalism, automobile photography etc.


10.Are their accommodations nearby? Can you recommend a few places which are not very expensive?

Yes, there are accommodations nearby. Cost is highly variable but the range can be anything from 3500 – 10000 INR. Cost goes down if one shares with others but that depends on an individual. These places are highly secure with movement of people all times of the day. There are numerous shops, hotels etc to take care of one’s needs.


11. Your conclusion?

The one point I would like to stress in the end is this. The institute has much to offer, but it is the aptitude, Interest, hard work and most importantly ability of a person to adjust to a new environment and ability to cope with course that would determine how much one can make use of the institute. As much as technicality is of importance it is only a delivery mechanism for art and aesthetics, which is the primary goal of the institute.






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