Photography (United Kingdom Year 12 Syllabus)

This course encourages students to explore their creativity and develop a personal vision through photography. Students develop technical skills, artistic expression, and critical analysis. Access to a camera with manual settings is essential.

Core Knowledge and Skills

Students develop both practical skills and theoretical understanding, covering:

• Materials, Processes, and Technologies: Understanding various photographic materials, processes, technologies, and resources.
• Visual Language: Exploring elements of visual language such as line, form, color, pattern, and texture in the context of photography.
• Meaning and Interpretation: Analyzing how ideas, feelings, and meanings are conveyed and interpreted in photographic images and artifacts.
• Historical and Contemporary Developments: Studying historical and contemporary developments, styles, and genres in photography.
• Social, Cultural, and Ethical Contexts: Understanding how images relate to social, environmental, cultural, and/or ethical contexts.
• Technical Skills: Developing technical skills in camera operation, including aperture, shutter speed, depth of field, composition, and lighting.
• Image Production and Presentation: Understanding techniques related to the production of photographic images, including presentation and layout.
• Digital Manipulation: Developing skills in digital editing software such as Photoshop.

Course Structure and Assessment

The course typically involves a combination of practical assignments, projects, and theoretical study. Assessment methods include:

• Formative Assessments: Ongoing feedback and critiques throughout the course.
• Timed Assessments: Practical exams to assess technical skills and creative problem-solving.
• Personal Investigation (Component 1): A self-directed project on a chosen theme, culminating in a portfolio and a written essay (1000-3000 words). This component is worth 60% of the final grade.
• Externally Set Assignment (Component 2): A project based on a theme provided by the exam board, completed under controlled assessment conditions. This component is worth 40% of the final grade.

Project Examples and Enrichment

Students are encouraged to explore a variety of photographic styles and genres, including portraiture, landscape, still life, documentary, and experimental photography. Project work may involve traditional darkroom techniques, digital manipulation, and mixed media approaches. Examples of student projects can be found online.

Enrichment activities may include gallery visits, workshops, and collaborations with professional photographers.

Future Opportunities

A Level Photography can lead to a variety of careers in the creative industries, including photojournalism, commercial photography, fine art photography, and related fields. It can also provide a foundation for further study in photography or other visual arts disciplines.