Art and Design (Photography)

Course summary

The A-Level course is aimed at introducing students to a range of photographic media, materials and processes linking their work to photographic history and theory. Students will work directly from the world around them developing their own visual language as the course progresses. The first year course consists of two units of work. Each unit is based on a theme and is designed to teach and develop different skills, using a range of materials both analogue and digital. During this year students will be able to explore and experiment thoroughly in preparation for their second year. ● Unit 1 is based on the ‘natural’ and ‘built’ environment and is aimed at developing basic skills, recorded in work journals, towards a series of final images and prints. Students will use a gallery visit/trip to central London as an opportunity to gather images and ideas. ● Unit 2 is an internally set exam theme. ● Unit 3 of the A-Level course is based on the theme of ‘Identity’ and includes a 1500 word essay. ● This is then followed by Unit 4 which is an externally set theme by the Awarding Body. Students’ own work will be informed by and linked to investigations into the development of photography through history as well as linking the various contexts and purposes for which photographs are taken. Students will have the opportunity to follow a more traditional photographic practice as well as being encouraged to push the creative possibilities of the medium through processes such as pinhole photography, digital imaging, cyanotype and liquid photographic emulsion.