Photography (PEARSON)

AS Course Outline

What is Photography?

"The camera is my tool. Through it I give a reason to everything around me".
Andre Kertesz

Who Should Study Photography

Photography is a sophisticated form of visual communication. Anyone interested in thinking, looking, questioning or investigating the world will excel. As a subject it mirrors the personality of the photographer, so no matter how diverse the interests or endeavours of the student, you will benefit personally, academically and professionally.

What Skills Will You Develop When Studying Photography?

Students will learn a new visual language and core, technical skills enabling a sophisticated platform for creativity and independent decision-making.

• A critical vocabulary for the analysis of artistic practice.
• Professionalism, visual and technical skills demonstrated in an industry compatible portfolio.
• Industry standard software and digital photographic technology, techniques and processes.

Learning photography provides a host of transferable skills; personal, professional and technical.

What will you find challenging?

Learning how to look at the world with a new perspective is in part what the course intends. 'Seeing' in two dimensions may be challenging initially but is also fascinating in beginning to contribute to the history of visual culture. Learning how to visually communicate ideas, intentions and experiences with your own individual personality is ultimately the biggest but most rewarding challenge.

Structure of the Course

This course will be taught for 5x 1hour lessons per week. Homework will consist of practical photography and written sketchbook work. As students are encouraged to undertake bespoke projects, homework is usually practical but will also involve annotation of sketchbooks and relevant contextual research. All this should be of the student's choice and interest. Weekly deadlines are set.

Photography (EDX) AS Specification
Unit One Internally set and marked, externally moderated. 50% of AS Exam Available in May/June	Photography Coursework Supporting studies Work journal(s) Preparatory studies Final presentation in response to chosen theme e.g. portfolio prints, artists book, exhibition installation.
Unit Two Internally set and marked, externally moderated. 50% of AS Exam Available in May/June	Externally Set Assignment Supporting studies work journal(s) Preparatory studies Final presentation in response to chosen theme e.g. portfolio prints, artists book, exhibition installation. Produced in 8 hours under controlled exam conditions.

What can you do now?

If you don't already have a camera you can try and access one for the start and duration of the course. You can then turn it to the manual setting and experiment with the dials, change the lighting from indoor to outdoor, take more than one picture of the same subject and look at all four corners of the viewfinder when composing pictures.

Introductory Reading Image Makers - Image Takers - Anne Celine Jaeger ISBN-10: 0500288925 Core Textbook Photography - The Key Concepts - David Bate ISBN-10: 1350107956 Further Reading The Photograph, A Visual and Cultural History - Graham Clarke ISBN-10: 0192842005