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Ethos and Aims

At Tabor we offer both GCSE and A Level Photography, both of which fall under the AQA Art and Design specification. We make use of the latest Adobe Creative Cloud products, which are industry standard and are continuously updated. This allows us to focus on digital editing and manipulation techniques as well as honing composition and the student’s technical understanding of the medium.

Photography offers both creative independence and control, which increases as the course progresses. The use of software and development of I.T. literacy is hugely beneficial to a range of potential further education and vocational routes as well as the world of work.

As an art and design course we also develop our learner’s creative autonomy and their understanding of the creative process. Student will gradually develop their ability to design and develop a creative project, something which we believe is a key transferable life skill.

 

What is the course about?

You will work in one or more areas of lens–based & light based media such as:

  • Portraiture;
  • Landscape – working from built on natural environments;
  • Documentary photography, photo journalism;
  • Fine art;
  • Computer manipulated photography.

Photography is more than pointing a camera and pressing the button. You will need to be prepared to learn skills and techniques about what makes a good photograph and how to take it. You will be expected to demonstrate:

  • Your ability to explore formal elements of visual language in your photography;
  • A response to an issue, theme or design brief (given by your teacher and exam board);
  • Use of viewpoints, compositions, focus control, depth of field, movement and narrative;
  • An understanding of developing, printing and manipulating.

You will also have to display knowledge and understanding of:

  • How ideas, feelings and meanings are conveyed and interpreted, plus, how these in turn relate to social, historical, vocational and cultural situations;
  • A variety of approaches and methods used by photographers, both historical and contemporary.

You will produce a body of work for the theme in the form of sketches of planned shots, contacts sheets, exploration and development of your ideas, independent research and photographic/artist studies. This will be presented in the form of a sketchbook and final outcomes (photographs, montage, film, etc) relevant to your ideas and research.

How is it assessed/examined?

Unit 1: Personal Portfolio (Coursework unit) – 60% of the final grade.

Students’ work will be internally assessed by teachers in the Photography department. A sample will then be selected by the exam board which will be assessed by an external moderator.

Unit 2: Externally set Assignment (Controlled test) – 40% of the final grade.

The theme of this unit is set by the exam board. Students have a minimum of 20 hours preparation time followed by an unaided 10 hour exam on a final piece. This follows a similar format to coursework but over a considerably shorter time.

In both cases your work will be assessed against four assessment objectives as follows:

  • Assessment Objective 1: Develop ideas through investigations, demonstrating critical understanding of sources.
  • Assessment Objective 2: Refine work by exploring ideas, selecting and experimenting with appropriate media, materials, techniques and processes.
  • Assessment Objective 3: Record ideas, observations and insights relevant to intentions as work progresses.
  • Assessment Objective 4: Present a personal and meaningful response that realises intentions and demonstrates understanding of visual language.

Students’ work will be internally assessed by teachers in the Photography department. A sample will then be selected by the exam board which will be assessed by an external moderator.

What can I do once I have completed the course?

You may wish to go on to study an AS or A-Level in Photography or BTEC Art qualification. Following on from this you could complete an Art Foundation course before embarking on a university degree.

Photography is used in a variety of different professions where good visual communication is vital. Newspapers, magazines, film, television, books and the internet use photography as do industry, medicine, business and research.

“Which of my photographs is my favourite? The one I’m going to take tomorrow.” – Imogen Cunningham

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