Why study Photography?

GCSE Photography is a course which gives you a wide range of creative, exciting and stimulating opportunities to explore your interests in taking and manipulating photographs. You will develop creative, imaginative and practical skills and learn to appreciate photography produced in a range of  different times and cultures

What will I study?

The course will explore a range of methods of making photographs such as digital photography, darkroom photography and other techniques such as manual photograph manipulation, pinhole camera photography and storyboarding. Students will have the opportunity to develop skills in portraiture, location photography, studio photography, experimental imagery, installation, documentary photography, photo-journalism, animation and fashion photography. Students will also study the ways in which meanings, ideas and intentions relevant to photography can be communicated including the use of colour, line, form, tone, texture, shape, pattern, composition, scale, sequence, surface and contrast.

How will I study?

• Unit 1: Portfolio of Work (60% of your final grade). During the course you will be expected to complete a number of theme- based projects for Unit 1. You will explore, experiment and develop ideas in your photographic sketchbook towards a series of final photographic outcomes. 
• Unit 2: Externally Set Task (40% of your final grade). The Exam board, AQA, will set a question paper containing a selection of starting points/themes. You will then have three months to research, experiment and develop ideas in order to produce a piece of artwork in the exam.

How will my work be assessed?

 Throughout the course you will be assessed on the following criteria:

• Developing ideas through investigations informed by contextual and other sources demonstrating analytical and cultural understanding.
• Refining ideas through experimenting and selecting appropriate resources, media, materials, techniques and processes.
• Recording ideas, observations and insights relevant to their intentions in visual and/or other forms.
• Presenting a personal, informed and meaningful response demonstrating critical and analytical understanding, realising intentions and, where appropriate, making connections between visual, written, oral or other elements.

Please see Mr Bowen for more information.