Higher Photography

The photography course in S5/6 is run as an integrated course. It includes experiential learning underpinned by knowledge and understanding of photography.

This subject will not only develop your technical and creative skills, but has a lot more to it!

Organisational skills are really important and you will have to work on these as you go through the course. 

Critical thinking skills will be developed as you will have to reflect on what you have done and what you need to do next.

Personal skills like self motivation and perseverance are really important. A lot of the shoots you will have to organise outside of school and not everything is always going to go to plan.

‘If the first time you don’t succeed, try, try again!’ And like a famous photographer once said ‘The first 1000 shots you take are for the bin, after that they start becoming interesting’! 

(not sure this is correct? And maybe these are not very good quotes to try selling the subject!)

HIGHER (level 6)

This photography course is a great extension to what you may have already learned in the  Art & Design department. There are different elements to this course. 

The practical element will lead to a folio of photographs based on a personal theme. This is where you will develop your photographic skills by organising and carrying out a range of shoots.

The research element includes looking at other photographers’ work and analysing their technical and creative decisions and influences.

This research will help you to make decisions in your own project, in which you will have to show technical and creative skills, thinking, ability and problem solving.

National Progression Award (NPA) (level 4/5)

The NPA may be a more suitable course to aim for if you haven’t taken Art & Design from S3 onwards. This NPA develops knowledge and understanding in photography and looks at the following areas:

• understanding different photography genres and concepts 

• practical skills in photographing people and places 

• organising and working with photographic images

You will definitely develop your photographic technical and creative skills by completing this course.

Equipment and resources

We have Canon DSLR cameras in the Art & Design department at the moment, which are available for you to use. But if you have your own camera that you can use that would be great. You will also learn some post production skills by using photo editing software (Photoshop/PhotoPlus).

Higher Photography

The folio will be sent off and externally marked (100 marks), and there will be an exam paper as well (30 marks).

NPA Level 4/5

The folio will be marked internally and is graded on a pass/fail basis. Regular feedback is given to support you throughout the process.