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PHOTOGRAPHY A LEVEL
“You don't take a photograph, you make it.”
Ansel Adams (Photographer, 1902 – 1984)
Ashbourne’s Art & Design Department
Ashbourne’s Art department is headed by Gina Fiori, who is one of the most passionate, energetic and enthusiastic teachers students new to Ashbourne will have ever encountered. Gina has a very interesting and broad CV having obtained art degrees in Santiago, Chile and Bruxelles. Every year Gina works tirelessly with her colleagues in the Art, Media and Drama departments to coordinate and put together the annual Christmas college revue, which is now in its ninth year. Sheila Cosgrove has studied Art and Design in New York and Cincinnati and is a graduate of Chelsea College of Art. She also attended Ruskin College, Oxford studying Fine Art. Also making a valuable contribution to photography and graphic design are Tim Dean, a graduate of the prestigious St. Martin’s College. Tim also holds a PGCE. Jack Sritaipop graduated in Thailand and heads up the Photography department with Tim.
Examination Board:
Ashbourne follows the AQA specification for photography. This specification has been approved by the QCA for first teaching from September 2008.
Course Requirements
Photography: lens-based and light-based media (ARTF)
Introduction
Candidates should be introduced to a variety of experiences exploring a range of photographic media, techniques and processes. They should be made aware of both traditional and new technologies.
Candidates should explore relevant images, artefacts and resources relating to Photography and a wider range of art and design, from the past and from recent times, including European and non-European examples. This should be integral to the investigating and making process. Their responses to these examples must be shown through practical and critical activities which demonstrate the candidates’ understanding of different styles, genres and traditions.
Candidates should be aware of the four assessment objectives to be demonstrated in the context of the content and skills presented and of the importance of process as well as product.
Candidates should use sketchbooks/workbooks/ journals to underpin their work where appropriate. There is no specific requirement for candidates to demonstrate drawing skills in this endorsement unless they wish to.
Candidates may use traditional methods and/or digital techniques to produce images.
Areas of Study
Candidates are required to work in one or more area(s) of Photography, such as those listed below. They may explore overlapping areas and combinations of areas.
• portraiture
• landscape photography (working from the urban, rural and/or coastal environment)
• still-life photography, working from objects or from the natural world
• documentary photography, photo journalism
• experimental imagery
• photographic installation, video, television and film.
Skills and Techniques
Candidates will be required to demonstrate skills in all of the following:
• the ability to explore elements of visual language, line, form, colour, pattern and texture in the context of Photography
• the ability to respond to an issue, theme, concept or idea or work to a brief or answer a need in Photography
• appreciation of viewpoint, composition, depth of field and movement; time-based, through such techniques as sequence or ‘frozen moment’
• the appropriate use of the camera, film, lenses, filters and lighting for work in their chosen area of Photography
• understanding of techniques related to the developing and printing of photographic images, where appropriate, presentation and layout. Candidates must show knowledge and understanding of:
• how ideas, feelings and meanings can be conveyed and interpreted in images and artefacts created in the chosen area(s) of Photography
• historical and contemporary developments and different styles and genres
• how images and artefacts relate to social, environmental, cultural and/or ethical contexts, and to the time and place in which they were created
• continuity and change in different styles, genres and traditions relevant to Photography
• the working vocabulary and specialist terminology which is relevant to their chosen area(s) of Photography.
Unit 1
Coursework Portfolio
50% of AS, 25% of A Level
No time limit
80 marks
Portfolio of work set and marked by the centre and moderated by AQA Available in June only
Unit 2 – ARTA2, ARTB2, ARTC2, ARTD2, ARTE2, ARTF2
AS Externally Set Assignment
50% of AS, 25% of A Level
Supervised time 5 hours
80 marks
Work produced will be marked by the centre and moderated by AQA Available in June only
A2 Examinations
Unit 3 – ARTA3, ARTB3, ARTC3, ARTD3, ARTE3, ARTF3
Personal Investigation
25% of A Level
No time limit
80 marks
Personal investigation supported by written element of 1000-3000 words, set and marked by the centre and moderated by AQA Available in June only
Unit 4 – ARTA4, ARTB4, ARTC4, ARTD4, ARTE4, ARTF4 A2
Externally Set Assignment 25% of A Level
Supervised time 15 hours
80 marks
Work produced will be marked by the centre and moderated by AQA Available in June only
Possible University Degree Programmes Suited to A-level Photography
There are many possible degree courses that students could pursue following successful completion of an A-level in photography, including Advertising, Art and Design, Communication Studies, Electronic Imaging and Multimedia, Film Studies Graphics, Journalism, Media Studies, Multi-media Journalism, and, of course, Photography.
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