Photography

INTENT

The A-Level course focuses on the history and practice of photography within a range of genres, with a focus on fine art photography. At the beginning of the course, we introduce students to a range of technical skills such as lens and camera functions, composition and digital post production techniques used to edit and manipulate images. As well as learning photographic skills, students develop personal projects based on their own interests and influenced by the work of well known photographers and artists. Students’ responses to photographers’ work is developed through practical photographic work as well as written and visual research. Through their practical and written work students demonstrate their understanding of different techniques, photographic genres and traditions.

Implementation

Each student develops a portfolio of work for their own projects. Students are guided to develop their personal project through experimenting with a variety of different techniques and using Photoshop to edit images. Through contextual studies of contemporary and historical photographers, they will be taught how to understand their work in the context of contemporary society and culture. Students are initially guided through artist research, in order to develop their understanding of how to use subject-specific vocabulary to analyse and assess their own and other artists’ work. They then conduct their own research towards a written essay based around their own artwork, which is 10% of the final grade.

Impact

By the end of the course, students will have produced a portfolio which will show the coherent development over time based on their personal project and an externally set project. Students will have developed a sophisticated ability to evaluate and refine their photographic work and to contextualise it within the history of photography and art. Students will also have enhanced their knowledge of the significance of photography to society and culture, and be able to make confident and informed decisions about their progress to further education or higher education or careers in the creative industries.