Photography

Photography has become a big part of most peoples everyday lives and a GCSE in Photography can open the door to a wider range of careers than you might at first think. Click here to see examples of where Photography can take you.

GCSE Photography

Contact Information: Ms J Harris

Course Content

GCSE Photography is a course that allows you to explore and develop your own interests in a wide range of genres working in photographic processes. During the course you will study different types of Photography: Portraiture, Landscape, Still-Life, Commercial, Street- Photography, Documentary &  Reportage, Studio, traditional darkroom methods such as Cyanotypes and Photograms. You may also choose to explore moving images processes like Animation or Film-making. You will complete a sketchbook or portfolio where you will fill it with ideas, plans, experiments, thoughts and observations based on a set theme. How you explore the set themes is up to you. At the beginning of year 10 you will complete a series of practical workshops building key skills, how to analyse and respond to Artists work, how to record ideas, how to present your work and how to use your camera.

Skills Developed

You will develop lots of valuable, transferable skills: working independently, time-management,  how to research and investigate,  how to evaluate and plan improvements, using initiative, developing confidence and communication skills. In your projects you explore a range of photography techniques and processes including:  how to use camera settings, how to edit using software including PhotoShop and In-Design, how to plan, style, light and take photographs. You will learn how to use Digital Media to present your work creating an online portfolio. You will also have the opportunity to work in the dark room creating photograms and cyanotypes. Love taking photographs but want to do it with more skill, purpose or with a career in mind? This course is for you.

Assessment:

Component 1 is worth 60% of the GCSE. 

Over the course of year 10 until December in  year 11 you will complete the coursework unit of practical work on an idea that you choose from a series of themes. You will use these projects to build on a range of skills using digital and darkroom processes. 

Component 2 is worth 40% of the GCSE 

This is an externally set project completed from January to April in  year 11. There are 15 starter titles to choose from; they are quite open and you can work in any Photographic medium or genre. You will have 10 weeks to complete the research, planning and experimentation for your project. You will then have a final 10 hours across 2 days in the Photography room to make a final outcome. 

Progression Route

Academic 

A level Photography

A level Media

A level Art, Craft and Design

A level Graphics

Level 3 Creative Diploma’s and BTECs

Applied

BTEC Level 3 Creative Media Production

BTEC Creative & Expressive art course

Apprenticeship, Technical, and T level courses 

Employment (examples)

Photographer

Photojournalist

Graphic Designer

Teacher

Public Relations

Magazine Stylist

Marketing and Advertising

Games & Web design