Art and Design GCSE Photography

Exam Board:(AQA 8206)

Coursework: 60% Component 1: Portfolio

Exam: 40% Component 2: Externally Set Assignment

Areas of study

In Component 1 and Component 2 students are required to work in one or more area(s) of photography, such as those listed below:

• portraiture

• location photography

• studio photography

• experimental imagery

• installation

• documentary photography

• photo-journalism

• moving image: film, video and animation

• fashion photography

• dark room techniques

Component 1 : Portfolio

A portfolio that in total shows explicit coverage of the four assessment objectives (Develop, Refine, Record, Present). Each student must select and present a portfolio representative of their course of study. The portfolio must include both:

1. A sustained project developed in response to a subject, theme, task or brief evidencing the journey from initial engagement with an idea(s) to the realisation of intentions.

2. A selection of further work resulting from activities such as trials and experiments; skills-based workshops; mini and/or foundation projects; responses to gallery, museum or site visits; work placements; independent study and evidence of the student’s specific role in any group work undertaken.

The portfolio is completed and handed in at the end of January in Year 11.

Component 2: Externally Set Assignment

Students respond to their chosen starting point from an externally set assignment paper relating to their subject title, evidencing coverage of all four assessment objectives.

Skills needed to study this subject:

You need a desire to explore the world around you photographically and a wish to use photography as an art form. Photography at SNHS is really the study of a wide range of light and lens-based media. We teach you how to use a camera and to think like a photographer. Our approach to photography is also essentially creative. You will learn specific technical skills but also learn how to see the world through looking harder to create images in unique ways.

Possible Careers + Future Study:

A Level Photography, Graphics, Textiles. Photography is particularly useful if you wish to study Photography, Film, Video Production, Graphic Design, Fine Art or Media at HND/Degree or for those wishing to do an Art Foundation course first. Some students have found employment directly as a Photographer’s Assistant or an Editorial Assistant on a magazine.