Photography

Entry Requirements:

Six GCSEs 9-4, two from English, Maths OR Science

Two at least grade 6

Specific requirements for Photography:

However, students who have a keen interest, but do not have an art-related GCSE are also welcome to apply. In this instance a portfolio of work is required. This should consist of 10-15 images based on a theme of your
choice. These should be brought with you to enrolment.

What is Photography?

This is a two-year qualification. Throughout the course, students will explore, research and acquire techniques and develop their skills, knowledge and understanding in a range of photographic media. Students will work toward particular themes, ideas or issues and are encouraged to be experimental, innovative and enquiring in their approach. The course enjoys very high achievement rates and the quality of the work produced has been recognised by external moderators. A recent report states that the students produce “high quality, exciting and lively work that is extremely personal, mature and travels beyond the normal expectations and boundaries of traditional photography”.

Opportunities to enter national competitions and exhibit work offsite are continually offered for which we have had much success in recent years. Students can also apply to undertake roles of responsibility in the department such as Subject Ambassador or become a member of the Art Collective.

Component 1: Personal Investigation (60% of A Level)

Learners should produce two elements:

A portfolio of practical work showing their personal response to either a starting point, brief, scenario or stimulus, devised and provided by the learner or centre.
A related study: an extended response of a guided minimum of 1000 words.

Component 2: Externally Set Task (40% of total A Level)

Learners will respond to an externally set task which will provide a number of starting points. A response will be based on one of these options.

Skills

Throughout the course students will explore, research and acquire techniques and develop new skills, gain knowledge and understanding in a range of photographic media. Students will work toward particular themes, ideas or issues and are encouraged to be experimental, innovative and enquiring in their approach. As well as developing their creative talents, students also learn to problem-solve, think analytically and creatively. This subject encourages students to develop a deeper unserstanding and awareness of the world around them.

Careers/Destinations:

This subject can lead into many jobs in the creative industries such as magazine editor, medical photographer, press photographer, television camera operator, advertising, digital marketing, film/video editor, multimedia special- ist, visual merchandiser, web content manager/web designer, graphic designer,picture researcher, freelance pho- tographer, photographic technician, portrait/wedding photographer to name a few.