A2 Photography

AS/A2 PHOTOGRAPHY

AQA (1-2 years)

Course ContentThe Photography course places a distinct emphasis on the exploration of lens based and light based media. The course is concerned with the development of your photographic knowledge, skills and understanding. Through an explorative or interpretative approach you will be encouraged to gain appropriate practical and critical skills that will enable you to express or communicate ideas and meanings through photographic image making. The course involves the study of both photographic theory and practice, and the way they inform each other. It aims to develop a range of expressive, analytical, interpretive and practical skills through the investigation of the medium's inherent processes, strategies and approaches.At the beginning of the course your work is teacher-led, and provide the necessary foundation in key skills and concepts. Over the course the emphasis moves towards individually-initiated practical projects as ability, confidence, awareness and understanding increase. The course aims to provide opportunities for students to experience and expertise in:

• Photographic image making working with a range of cameras (SLR and compact), in manual and automatic modes, digitally as well as with film.
• Photographic image adjustment and manipulation darkroom and computer-based approaches are utilised.
• Photographic processing and printing Both digital and chemical approaches are explored, and make use of darkroom printing processes as well as computer-based methods.
• Critical and contextual study the analysis of the work of other photographers, past and present, working in a range of genres, in colour and black and white and utilising both traditional and modern approaches. This involves written work, and historical as well as theoretical aspects.
• Presentation â€" from the presentation of preparatory work in sketchbooks (paper or electronic) to the mounting up of final images, from negative or digital files.

Methods of Teaching

Teachers work use a whole class teaching approach in the first phase of the course, moving towards an increased emphasis on small-group seminars, individual tutorials as work becomes increasingly student-led with the advice and guidance of staff. Lessons are practical as much as theoretical, involving writing but also thinking, shared looking, discussion and oral presentation.

Our aim, particularly in your AS year, is to adopt a flexible approach that can respond directly to your interests, ideas, needs and previous photographic skills, knowledge and understanding.Methods and Patterns of AssessmentYou will receive continual assessment on your progress and termly progress review tutorials both written/formal and verbal/informal. Your final assessment will consider both your units of work separately, though with specific reference to examination board assessment objectives, considered holistically.AS LevelDuring the first two terms of the course you will have the opportunity to experience both chemical and digital photographic processes. This phase provides the basis for one extensive practical project.Unit 1:Coursework Portfolio (worth 50% AS)Alongside this work you will be expected to build up evidence of your awareness of the context of photography within culture to complement and inform your practical work.Unit 2:Externally-Set Assignment (worth 50% AS) Towards the end of the AS course you will complete your response to externally set questions. This involves a preparation period and 5 hours of supervised time.A2 LevelThe second year allows for a continuation of the work begun in the first year but with a greater opportunity for, and emphasis on, an increased level of ambition, depth, complexity and sophistication.Unit 3: Personal investigation (worth 50% A2) This involves one, extended, in-depth practical course.Unit 4: Externally-Set Assignment (worth 50% A2) Your response to externally set questions. This involves a preparation period and 15 hour supervised time.Financial ImplicationsAlthough the Art department will provide essential chemicals for you to work with, it is important to stress that Photography can be an expensive subject and will involve some personal expense. The College has a Student Support Fund for those students who might have difficulty meeting these costs.Career PossibilitiesMany careers involve some aspect of visual imaging, some more explicitly than others. Specific career paths include: journalism, radiography, surveying etc. What is more, the skills gained in the study of photography at this level are highly transferable: analysis, evaluation, discussion and presentation, for example. Only in exceptional circumstances, and where space allows, it is possible to combine AS Photography with either AS Fine Art, AS Textiles or AS Three Dimensional Design.