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Photography A Level

Photography is offered as an Art and Design A level endorsement.

Through themes such as portraiture, landscape, still life and documentary, students will have the opportunity to develop personal responses creating work using a range of photographic media, techniques and processes. Students are taught both traditional and new technologies building up a portfolio of artwork.

We have skilled, highly trained staff and good facilities for delivering the subject successfully. The course is very exciting, allowing students the opportunities to:

  • Explore elements of visual language, line, form, colour, pattern and texture in the context of Photography
  • Respond to an issue, theme, concept or idea
  • Discover appreciation of viewpoint, composition, depth of field and other photographic techniques
  • Be able to discern appropriate use of camera, film, lenses, filters and lighting.

During the course, students are exposed to how ideas, feelings and meanings can be conveyed using photography, the historical and contemporary development and different styles and genres.

Course Content

Students will be assessed through 4 assessment objectives which have equal weighting. They must:

Develop

Ideas through sustained and focused investigations informed by contextual and other sources, demonstrating analytical and critical understanding.

Explore

Select appropriate resources, media, materials, techniques and processes.

Record

Ideas, observations and insights relevant to intentions, reflecting critically on work and progress.

Present

Meaningful response that realises intentions and, where appropriate, makes connections between visual and other elements.

Assessments

Personal Investigation

A body of work produced in response to a theme chosen by the Art Department.

  • Duration of 5 terms
  • 60% of Final Grade.

Externally Set Assignment

A body of work showing development of ideas based on student’s chosen starting point from a given theme.

  • Eight week preparation time
  • Exam duration of 15 hours
  • 40% of Final Grade.

Looking further ahead

Students can progress to foundation courses leading to degrees in Art, Craft, Design, Architecture and Film.

Photography is useful for studying Media, Journalism, Web Design, and Museum and Gallery education.

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