Photography A Level

PHOTOGRAPHY

Exam Board: AQA

Why study this subject:

Students will be introduced to a range of stimulating photographic opportunities and will explore how lighting, lens, camera functions, digital and traditional techniques are used to manipulate imagery.

Photography is more than documenting and recording. Students are required to develop personal, meaningful, conceptual ideas, technically accomplished and individual approaches that reflect their creative styles and visual interests.

Personal skills that will be challenged and developed:

Critical, analytical and practical problem solving
Risk taking
Rigorous self-evaluation and critical reflection
Organisation skills, planning and time management
Working independently and collaboratively
Presentation skills and public speaking
Literacy communication through technical descriptions, reports, essays and a mini dissertation

Units: How will I be assessed:

Course Structure 

All components are created on PowerPoint, supported by a professional portfolio. Students are required to pay for the costing of final outcome prints.

Component 1

• 96 marks

• 60% of A-level

Project 1: Foundation Skills Year 12 September – October

Project 1 workshops explore, develop and fine-tune fundamental camera skills and settings. Students will be exploring the following topics within this project:

Composition
ISO
Aperture / depth of field
Fast and slow shutter speed - Danson fire work trip
Post editing with Photoshop

Project 2: The face and figure. Year 12 November – December

Project 2 explores the face and figure within the environment and landscape settings. Students will further their knowledge of shutters speed and focus on long exposure drawings and imagery. They will take inspirations from contextual artists, working independently and developing their own path of exploration.

Project 3: The Past and Present January – April

Project 3 incorporates two elements: practical work and a written investigation (500 – 1000-word essay).

Pupils will conduct contextual research of historical and traditional artworks, recreating them into conceptual photographic images. Pupils will decide their own choice of medium and postproduction.

Project 4: Personal Investigation. June – January

Students are required to conduct a practical investigation, into an idea, issue, concept or theme, supported by written material. (1000–3000-word essay).

The focus of the investigation must be identified independently by the student and must lead to a finished outcome or a series of related finished outcomes.

Areas of study: Students are required to work in one of the areas of photography, such as those listed below.

Portraiture
Landscape photography (working from the urban, rural and/or coastal environment)
Still life photography
Documentary photography,
photojournalism
Fashion photography
Experimental imagery
Multimedia
Photographic installation
Moving image (video, film, animation).
Micro photography
Fast/slow shutter speed
Etc..

Component 2

External Set Paper February year 13

Students will choose one topic out of five thematic titles set from AQA and explore that concept with their choice of media and postproduction.

• Preparatory period 14 weeks + 15 hours supervised time

• 96 marks

• 40% of A-level

Future course and possible careers:

Art and photography degrees teach problem solving, team work, independence and self-motivation qualities that every employer is looking for. In fact, the Telegraph recently listed Art/ photography graduates in the top 10 most employable.

This course can lead to a college or foundation course leading to careers in Art:

Graphic designer
Magazine features editor
Medical illustrator/ photographer
Photographer
Press photographer
Television camera operator
Advertising art director
Digital marketer
Film director
Film/video editor
Media planner
Multimedia specialist
Stylist
Visual merchandiser
Web content manager
Web designer
Crime scene/ forensic photographer
Media photography
Journalistic photography or art based media