Research sources

 In Further (What you're doing now) and higher education you need to step-up your research and start to source higher quality research sources.

Probably the best research you can probably do is to actually work with or talk with the actual photographers themselves for extended periods of time. If you can assist a photographer, observe what the do and work with them as an assistant, that is valuable experience, where you'll learn an awful lot.

Another good research experience is to visit galleries and see the work first hand in exhibitons. This allows you to see the work; see how big it is, the quality of the photography, attention to detail, the texture and finish of the image, how it's mounted and presented. The galleries will also have up todate and useful information about the work alongside the work.

The best secondary research sources

The best secondary research sources are almost certainly hard copy sources such as books and journals. I would say the best by a long way are Journals such as... 

• The British Journal of Photography
• Hotshoe
• Aperture

The best thing about Journals is they introduce you to a range of different approaches and photographers in one publication. The process of flicking through pages back and forth means you tend to see a huge variety in quick time drawing you in, leading you to think "What's that about" or "Why on earth is that a thing"? Because of the vast variety journals tend to showcase. Furthermore, if you get your hands on up-todate copies it tends to be photography of the moment - brand new and what's happening now... "contemporary photography". *If you want to use this approach for your research ask Dave T and he'll let you have access to his private collection. 

 These journals are on-line, but they do not have the complete articles and all of the images seen in the actual journals. They're still definitely worth looking at. 

https://www.creativeboom.com/resources/12-magazines-and-blogs-that-every-photographer-should-check-out/

https://www.youtube.com/@showstudio