GCSE Photography
Why is the study of Photography important?
GCSE Photography aims to advance student’s technical skills whilst developing creative thinking skills. Practical work is underpinned by research of historical and contemporary photographers and the exploration of photography’s contribution to visual culture. Photography encourages the students to foster a new way of seeing the environment, enabling students to become independent creative practitioners.
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What will you learn?
The Photography course is designed to engage students in the critical, practical and theoretical study of Photography. Photography teaches life skills: undertaking research and investigation; problem solving; confidence building; visual awareness; ability to develop ideas; initiative and cultural understanding.
Throughout the course students will record ideas, insights and observations of the world around us to develop ideas and inform their own photographic practice.
Course Content
- Students will produce practical and contextual work in one or more areas including: Portraiture, Landscape, Working from natural or built up environments , Still-life, Working from natural or manufactured objects, Documentary photography , Fine art photography or new media practice such as computer manipulated photography.
- Unit 1: 60% of final grade: Students prepare a portfolio of coursework showing evidence of independent and classroom studies.
- Unit 2: 40% of final grade: Externally set task shown as a final piece with preparatory independent and classroom studies.
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Key Strategies used to implement the curriculum
- Students will develop the knowledge and skills to experiment with a wide range of photographic media, such as Photoshop and hand-manipulation techniques.
- Students will develop an understanding of visual language in order to express ideas, feelings and meanings.
- Students will be able to operate a camera with confidence, demonstrating manual control in a range of different photoshoot settings.
- They will produce a portfolio of work based on a set of negotiated themes that demonstrate analogue and digital proficiency.
- They will have the opportunity for open debate about work through regular critiques and tutorials to develop a broad visual vocabulary.
- They will develop their understanding of how to work to a brief focusing on the specifics of the creative process across a range of genres.
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How can Photography support your future?
Studying photography enhances your creative, social and cultural understanding, while developing your specialist technical knowledge around equipment, techniques and style
Possible careers include: Advertising art director, Film/video editor, Graphic designer, Magazine features editor, Medical illustrator, Photographer, Press photographer, Television camera operator, Art therapist, Digital marketer, Media planner, Multimedia specialist, Museum/gallery curator, Stylist, VFX artist, Visual merchandiser, Web content manager, Web designer
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How does the study of Photography support your study in other subjects?
Students who study Photography are taught to think creatively and “outside the box”, this can be applied to other subjects to generate unique viewpoints and solutions to problems. They are taught to think critically and identify area for self-development. They are taught analytical skills which can be applied to a range of different subjects. Students also enhance technical skills which can be used to help support the study of a range of different subjects.
Student Testimonial
“I like doing photography as it allows me to be creative and lets me see the world through a different perspective. In photography we use professional cameras to take a range of different images and then learn how to digitally edit them in different styles.”
