Why Photography?
Photography can offer a highly creative and hands on alternative to other subjects. It will allow you to explore your own individual voice as an image maker and develop your creative expression.
Studying Photography provides you with expertise in sophisticated Photography techniques, composition, editing, manipulation, colouring and visual effects
What can I expect?
During this first stage of the course students will learn and build on the basic skills of photography. You will develop a deeper understanding of a DSLR camera and its settings, compositional techniques, studio lighting and Photoshop skills. So, it doesn’t matter if you haven’t studied Photography before.
You will explore and develop ideas and imagery based upon areas of fine art and commercial photography, where you will research and critically analyse photographers and other industry professionals in order to create your own individual response to these themes.
After this you will specialise in an area of Personal investigation which has two integrated elements: a portfolio of practical work and a related study which explores the context in which your chosen practical area of study exists.
Which Stem Pathways can I follow?
Photography is relevant to many STEM pathways, however it is particularly relevant to…
Clinical Photography
Scientific Photography
Industrial Photographer
What enrichment opportunities will be offered?
Studio Photography session with industry professionals.
An opportunity to work in a professional studio setting with industry standard equipment - learning from an industry professional about studio lighting, backdrops, camera equipment and posing.
Site specific visits
Photoshoots on location where you will learn how to creatively spot, compose and create images outside of a studio - such as landscape, street life and urban fashion photography. Learning how to control your camera settings, compose your image and make use of available lighting.
60% of total A level
Personal investigation (01)
120 marks non-exam assessment (internally assessed and externally moderated)
Component 01: Personal investigation
• 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
(ii) a related study: an extended response of a guided minimum of 1000 words.
40% of total A level
Externally set task (02)
80 marks 15 hours non-exam assessment (internally assessed and externally moderated)
Component 02: Externally set task
• The early release paper will be issued on 1 February and will provide learners with a number of themes, each with a range of written and visual starting points, briefs and stimuli.
• A response should be based on one of these options.
Grade 6 in a creative subject such as Art, Graphics, Photography, Textiles, media studies etc.
Grade 5 in English
As well as building your creative expression, you’ll also gain a variety of skills which will enable you to pursue a degree in a creative subject, a career as a photographer or indeed in a range of other creative professions/pathways.