WDSG Options Guide - Level 2 Photography

Teacher in Charge: Mrs Paula West
pwest@wdsg.school.nz

Course description:
You will learn traditional and contemporary photographic techniques, gain proficiency with DSLR cameras, and use Adobe Lightroom to refine and enhance your images.

Based on student choice and a personal theme proposal, students will undertake photographic investigations to develop individual and creative photographic artworks. The course focuses on investigating, generating, and developing ideas.

This course promotes independent work habits and student choice to extend their personal learning in photography. Research into both traditional and contemporary photographic artists will inform and inspire students’ own practice.

Practical skills and understanding of art methods will build upon photographic skills learned in the Year 11 Art course.

Further information on this course is available at:

https://sites.google.com/wdsg.school.nz/art-department-wdsg/photography

Course of study:

Learn digital photographic techniques using a DSLR camera.
Learn and use Adobe software in creating their work. The school provides access to Adobe software on student laptops. Students must have laptops that meet the software's minimum requirements.

Integrated assessments building towards the final external submission.

Note: Students who are new to the subject or are not keeping up with the workload may have the option to complete an internal-only course.

Individualised learning programme with independent approaches to problem-solving and self-directed learning.

Assessment:
Internal – up to 12 credits at NCEA Level 2.
External –12 credit (2 board portfolio) at NCEA Level 2.

Students can be entered into an internal-only programme in consultation with parents, deans, and the Senior Leadership Team.

Costs:

It is recommended that students have their own DSLR or mirrorless digital camera. (However, cameras are available to borrow from the school if required through a booking system).
SD card and card reader
Approx $60 photographic printing fee and A1 printing of portfolio developments (proofs).
Portable hard drive.
Field trips: where applicable.
2 portfolio boards photographically printed and mounted (disbursed).

Entry criteria:
Year 11 Art is an advantage, but not necessary

Future pathways:
Level 3 NCEA Photography course at Dio.

Computer Adobe Software requirements - Chromebooks and ipads are not suitable.

Laptops must have the following minimum specifications, with the most recent updates installed. Adobe Creative Cloud desktop apps work with the latest operating systems for macOS and Windows and two prior versions.

macOS Ventura (version 13) or later
PC Windows 10 (64 bit) version 22H2 or later

Laptops require 25 Gig storage available on the hard drive. (This cannot be external storage.)

Laptops that do not have enough storage or updated specifications are unable to run the Adobe Software.

Please check the links for the most up to date Specifications and requirements to run the following software:

Lightroom Classic: https://helpx.adobe.com/nz/lightroom-classic/system-requirements.html

InDesign: https://helpx.adobe.com/nz/indesign/system-requirements.html

Photoshop (optional): https://helpx.adobe.com/nz/photoshop/system-requirements.html