NEA: (60%)

It involves the creation of a portfolio that showcases your practical and creative skills, alongside a personal project. 

1. Personal Investigation

• Choose a topic or theme that interests you and is relevant to photography. This could be an exploration of a specific concept, technique, or visual style.

• The project is self-directed, meaning you have the flexibility to choose your own direction, but you must demonstrate a personal connection to the work.

• Your investigation will combine photographic outcomes with critical reflection, allowing you to explore and document your process and learning.

2. Research and Development

• Start with research to gather inspiration and ideas. This includes looking at photographers, artists, or movements that have influenced your work.

• Develop a visual diary or sketchbook documenting your ideas, experiments, and the process. This should include annotated contact sheets, trial images, and experiments with techniques.

• Your research should link to your project’s theme and provide a strong contextual foundation for your work.

3. Practical Work

• Create a body of photographic work that reflects your chosen theme or concept. This includes experimentation with different photographic techniques (e.g., portrait, landscape, still life, digital manipulation).

• Throughout the process, you should reflect on and refine your work based on feedback and your own critical evaluation.

• Editing plays an important role—ensure that you demonstrate technical skills in both shooting and post-production.

4. Final Outcome(s)

• You are expected to produce a final outcome (or multiple related outcomes) that effectively communicates your theme or concept.

• The final work should be cohesive, showing clear development and progression from your initial ideas to your final images.

• The final submission will typically include high-quality prints or digital files that represent your project.

5. Written Evaluation

• You must include a written evaluation that critically analyzes the entire process: your research, experimentation, outcomes, and what you’ve learned.

• In this evaluation, you should reflect on your creative decisions and how your work fits within the broader art and photography context.

• This is also where you show your ability to analyze and critique your work in a theoretical and artistic manner.

6. Assessment Criteria

• Developing Ideas: How well you explore and refine your ideas through research and experimentation.

• Refining and Realising Intentions: The quality and originality of your photographic outcomes and how they reflect your intentions.

• Recording Ideas and Observations: How effectively you document your process, research, and creative thinking.

• Final Outcome(s): The strength of your final outcomes and how they communicate your theme or concept.

7. Presentation

• Present your work in a clear, organized manner, showing a logical flow from research to final outcomes.

• Consider your presentation’s visual appeal—it should reflect the quality of your photography and artistic intent.