Photography

Photography is an extremely popular and high achieving GCSE course which provides pupils with excellent opportunities to realise their creative potential through photography. 

They will explore how feelings, ideas and meanings are conveyed and interpreted in images.

This course will provide the foundation for pupils to embark on further qualifications and would be valuable for any pupil considering a career in design, teaching, theatre, TV, fashion, advertising or journalism.

Key Stage 4 Photography

The GCSE course continues to develop the students’ skills and understanding as a photographer. Pupils will produce practical and critical/contextual work in one or more of the following areas:

  • Theme-based photography (portrait, landscape, still-life, reportage, documentary, photo-journalism, narrative photography and experimental imagery). 
  • Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop will be used to edit and manipulate the pupils images.
  • Work will be presented in the form of mixed media and powerpoint presentations.

The overall aims of the course are to:

  • Develop ideas and understanding of different styles, genres and traditions in photography.
  • Demonstrate that the pupils can analyse and understand photographs and images.
  • Understand and appreciate a range of different kinds of music
  • Link homework with practical work. This could include research into photographic techniques, experimentation, development and presentation of ideas.

The course is divided and assessed in two areas:

Portfolio of Work 60% This will include more than one extended collection of work demonstrating an ability to sustain work from an initial starting point to the realisation of intentions.  The course requires them to write about their observations, feelings and opinions.  All work must show evidence of research of the genre, photographer, artist, designer or source that they have chosen to study; development of ideas and understanding of different styles and traditions in photography. 

External Set Task 40% This will be set by the AQA examination board.  A set of starting points will be provided by them.  Pupils will choose to respond to one of these.  Pupils are allowed a set preparation time where they will be given guidance by their teacher so that they can produce a personal response to the brief given.  Pupils are then expected to produce a personal outcome over a 10 hour period under examination conditions. 

 
Access to a digital camera is DESIRABLE but not essential.