Students choose Photography because they have an interest in Photography either as a media, in the newspapers, or as an art form to be placed in galleries. It complements other subjects such as Art, Graphics, Textiles, Media Studies and Psychology. You need to have a lively, creative and imaginative mind and be capable of working independently and with a mature approach. This Digital Photography course is based around a digital SLR camera because of the control and quality it offers, and Adobe Photoshop so that these images can be edited. The course requires imaginative, artistic expression through project based photo-shoots, and is assessed through printed images, and written analysis, mounted in a book.
Graphic Communication, Textile Design, Product Design, English Literature & Language, Media Studies, Drama and Theatre, plus many other subjects go well with Photography. Photography will provide you with many transferable skills which are important to both Higher Education and employers. Whatever other A Level subjects you choose to study, Photography can be a great support or an interesting contrast.
This course can lead to a university course in Photography or Film & Photography. It can also lead in to any career in Photography, Film and Television. Coupled with A Level Art and Graphic Communication it will support you in getting on to a Foundation Course in Art and Design. It is also a good lead into any visually based degree course. Photographic skills can help with degree courses including Architecture, Graphic Design, Painting and Fashion to Furniture Design. This highly creative and successful course aims to give you the confidence and skills to explore a diverse range of themes and to develop a questioning and analytical attitude. This is a linear qualification, which means that students must complete all assessments at the end of the course.
There is synoptic assessment in both components of the A Level that provide stretch and challenge opportunities for students as follows:
Component 1: Personal Investigation—60% of the A level
Students develop work based on an idea, issue, concept or theme leading to a finished outcome or a series of related finished outcomes. Practical elements should make connections with some aspect of contemporary or past practice of artist(s), designer(s), photographers or craftspeople and include written work of no less than 1000 and no more than 3000 words which supports the practical work. This is a non-exam assessment (NEA) set and marked by the centre and moderated by AQA during a visit to the centre, which will normally take place in June.
Component 2: Externally Set Assignment (ESA)—40% of the A level
Students respond to a stimulus, provided by AQA, to produce work which provides evidence of their ability to work independently within specified time constraints, developing a personal and meaningful response which addresses all the assessment objectives and leads to a finished outcome or a series of related finished outcomes. This is a non-exam assessment (NEA) set by AQA, marked by the centre and moderated by AQA during a visit to the centre, which normally takes place in June.