'Photography is a way of feeling, of touching, of loving. What you have caught on
film is captured forever… It remembers little things, long after you have forgotten everything.'
- Aaron Siskind
GCSE Art Photography
Introduction
This is our sixth year of teaching GCSE Photography at Oaks Park. You are encouraged to be creative, bringing your personal experiences, ideas and opinions to the subject. You will complete a series of coursework projects and a final examination project over two years.
You will learn to develop ideas and experiment with different photographic techniques, whilst realising exhibition outcomes for display. The course will introduce you to digital photography, darkroom experimentation, animation and film. You will develop an e-portfolio which showcases your developments throughout the course as well as working traditionally in sketch books.
Alongside improving your practical expertise, you’ll learn how to:
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Develop, refine and record your ideas.
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Present a personal response that realises your intentions.
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Improve your creative skills through the effective and safe use of media, materials, techniques, processes and technologies.
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Successfully use visual language and the formal elements e.g colour, line, form, shape, tone and texture.
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Use drawing skills for different needs and purposes.
What is GCSE Photography?
Students selecting GCSE Photography will be given the opportunity to develop their photographic skills using a variety of techniques and methods. They will be encouraged to have an adventurous and creative approach to the set themes and topics alongside developing an understanding of photography as a visual art.
You will be encouraged to work imaginatively, taking photographs to record ideas using Photoshop and other
techniques to edit your images. The majority of coursework will be completed in A4 sketchbooks. In the sketchbooks you will show experimenta on of techniques, development of ideas and visual research linked to a theme.
GCSE Photography Component 1
60% Portolio of work:
Candidates produce a sustained project and a selection of further work that represents the course of study.
GCSE Photography Component 2
40% Externally set assignment:
Examination Board: AQA
Preparation time, plus ten hours of supervised time. Candidates respond to chosen starting point.
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:
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Portraiture
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Location photography
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Studio photography
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Experimental imagery
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Installation
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Documentary photography
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Photo-journalism
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Moving image: film, video and animation
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Fashion photography
Knowledge and understanding
You will show how you have developed your ideas and been inspired including:
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How sources relate to historical, contemporary, social, cultural and issues based contexts and external considerations.
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How ideas, themes, subjects and feelings can inspire creative responses informed by different styles, genres and aesthetic considerations and/or an individual's distinctive view of the world.
Skills
Within the context of photography, you must demonstrate the ability to: use photographic techniques and processes, appropriate to your personal intentions, for example:
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Lighting, viewpoint, aperture, depth of field, shutter speed and movement.
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The use of enlarger chemical and/ or digital processes, use of media and materials, graphic media for purposes such as storyboarding, planning and constructing shoots.
AO1 Develop ideas through investigations, demonstrating critical understanding of sources.
AO2 Refine work by exploring ideas, selecting and experimenting with appropriate media, materials, techniques and processes.
AO3 Record ideas, observations and insights relevant to intentions as work progresses.
AO4 Present a personal and meaningful response that realises intentions and demonstrates understanding of visual language.
