A Level Photography is an excellent course for creative young people who want to learn how to develop and extend their creative skills through photography.
We do not require students to have taken GCSE Photography - we only ask that if you have not completed a creative GCSE subject (such as Photography, Art, Graphics or Textiles), you submit a portfolio of work at your
6th Form entrance interview to demonstrate a commitment to the subject.
SNS Photography Department has excellent results;
in 2021 94% of students achieved grade A*-B, with 67% achieving A-A*.
We do not require students to have taken GCSE Photography - we only ask that if you have not completed a creative GCSE subject (such as Photography, Art, Graphics or Textiles), you submit a portfolio of work at your
6th Form entrance interview to demonstrate a commitment to the subject.
SNS Photography Department has excellent results;
in 2021 94% of students achieved grade A*-B, with 67% achieving A-A*.
The City and the Urban Environment
The course begins with a series of short projects designed to assess and develop the skills of students. Building on the work completed in the Summer Assignment, students start by looking at Photographers who record the city around us in a variety of different ways, such as Berenice Abbott, Joel Sternfeld, Helene Binet, Nick Frank, Rut Blees Luxemberg and Hatekeyama amongst many others. We have created a Pinterest board of resources which is constantly being updated with new photographers and ideas.
In our City and the Urban Environment project we learn how to explore elements of visual language, line, form, colour, pattern and texture in the context of Photography. We develop the ability to critically analyse the work of others and to understand the context and meaning of photographs, developing concepts and ideas to work to a brief or answer a need through visual language. We look at composition and viewpoint, and use the skills we have developed to take a series of location shoots around the City of London, responding to the photographers we have analysed and using manual camera settings to make our work more purposeful and personal. Teachers will help you to explore relevant artists and how to discuss their work both visually and in written analysis, and you will begin to build your digital portfolio of work which will lead directly into your coursework component.
TECHNIQUESIn conjunction with this, we take a more in-depth look at the creative possibilities of the DSLR camera, exploring aperture, depth of field, shutter speed and ISO. We also take a look at analogue technology, making use of the Dark Room to experiment with pinhole cameras and processing black and white film. This is a critical and ongoing piece of learning which underpins the course.
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Students are expected to show their techniques and processes throughout their work and this gains important marks towards the final grade. The exam board are very keen that students understand and can demonstrate what they are doing and why they are doing it, so the skills-based learning is a crucial part of the course.
Understanding camera settings fully and exploring the different outcomes that can be achieved is an in-depth task, so this part of the course runs parallel with the first three mini-projects. |
It is not necessary to have previous experience of Adobe Photoshop - much of our work is made in the camera, with careful consideration of exposure, lighting and composition. Any post production techniques can be learned quickly to enhance the work we have already made within the camera. There are endless possibilities for further creative experimentation with Photoshop, and this can be explored both in school and at home through your student access to the Adobe suite.
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STUDENT WORK RESPONDING TO THE THEME OF
THE CITY AND THE URBAN ENVIRONMENT
Portraiture
In the next short project we look at photographers who work with Portraiture. We explore the history of the genre and techniques that we can use to develop our ideas effectively. We start by looking at a number of photographers, both contemporary and non-contemporary,
STUDENT WORK RESPONDING TO THE THEME OF PORTRAITURE
Ways of Seeing
In the third independent project, A Level students really start to consider how we will move forward into our Component 1 project - the Personal Portfolio. Students can choose from a number of pathways through this short project, either 'Narratives', 'Perspectives' or 'Opposites and Contrasts'. This project is designed to help students to think more deeply about meaning and context in photography in order to develop ideas that may be continued into the coursework component.
STUDENT WORK RESPONDING TO WAYS OF SEEING
COMPONENT 1 -
THE PERSONAL INVESTIGATION
The Personal Investigation is the beginning of the marked coursework and it is worth 60% of the A Level. Students will decide upon a new theme of their own choice, something that they are really inspired by and which can be developed into a sustained project. We encourage students to develop upon one of the themes set in the short projects, to use it as a springboard for further exploration. This project is a hugely important body of work, carrying the majority of the available marks for the A Level.
The Personal Investigation is supported by a piece of written work between one and three thousands words in length. This is marked as part of the coursework and not separately and can take a number of different forms depending on the student. Often students find it helpful to write about the developments in their practical work, but sometimes students may prefer to write an extended analysis of a particular photographer or genre - we give independent and specific support for this part of the coursework in Year 13. You will have one-to-one tutorials to help you with your written element.
The Personal Investigation runs from Easter of Year 12 through to February of Year 13, so there is plenty of time for an in depth, visual exploration of the chosen Theme before starting on the Externally Set Assignment.
The Personal Investigation is supported by a piece of written work between one and three thousands words in length. This is marked as part of the coursework and not separately and can take a number of different forms depending on the student. Often students find it helpful to write about the developments in their practical work, but sometimes students may prefer to write an extended analysis of a particular photographer or genre - we give independent and specific support for this part of the coursework in Year 13. You will have one-to-one tutorials to help you with your written element.
The Personal Investigation runs from Easter of Year 12 through to February of Year 13, so there is plenty of time for an in depth, visual exploration of the chosen Theme before starting on the Externally Set Assignment.
STUDENT WORK RESPONDING TO THE PERSONAL INVESTIGATION
COMPONENT 2 -
THE EXTERNALLY SET ASSIGNMENT
At the start of February the exam board release the exam paper and students select one of the possible options for their Externally Set Assignment, Component 2, which is worth 40% of the A Level. The board give a series of different starting points and students choose one of them as a theme for their Component 2 project. Recent starting points have included 'Parts and Sections', 'Objective and Subjective', 'Stops and Stations', 'Changed Spaces' and 'Sensory Experience'. There are 8 starting points to choose from so there is usually something that appeals.
Students are supported to produce a body of work exploring the theme and putting to use all the skills and techniques they have developed over the past year and a half. The time given by the exam board for the second component is shorter and so concentrated focus is required. All work produced in lessons and during location shoots goes towards the final grade so it is important to choose something that is going to hold interest over a period of time. Students are supported by regular 1:1 tutorials and resources specifically designed to support the exam questions.
The ESA concludes with 15 hours of controlled time spread over three consecutive days and taking place in the photography room that you are usually taught in. During this time you will finish your response to your chosen theme, uploading all work to your digital portfolio. Most of your shoots, annotations and analyses will have been completed in lessons or at home during the Spring Term and the controlled time allows you to complete your digital portfolio for presentation and assessment.
Students are supported to produce a body of work exploring the theme and putting to use all the skills and techniques they have developed over the past year and a half. The time given by the exam board for the second component is shorter and so concentrated focus is required. All work produced in lessons and during location shoots goes towards the final grade so it is important to choose something that is going to hold interest over a period of time. Students are supported by regular 1:1 tutorials and resources specifically designed to support the exam questions.
The ESA concludes with 15 hours of controlled time spread over three consecutive days and taking place in the photography room that you are usually taught in. During this time you will finish your response to your chosen theme, uploading all work to your digital portfolio. Most of your shoots, annotations and analyses will have been completed in lessons or at home during the Spring Term and the controlled time allows you to complete your digital portfolio for presentation and assessment.
STUDENT WORK RESPONDING TO THE EXTERNALLY SET ASSIGNMENT
SHOWCASING YOUR WORK
In the summer term we hold an annual exhibition to showcase student work. This is a great opportunity to see your work in a gallery setting and an opportunity for us to share the spectacular work that is produced on the course, inspiring future
A Level Photography students!
In the summer term we hold an annual exhibition to showcase student work. This is a great opportunity to see your work in a gallery setting and an opportunity for us to share the spectacular work that is produced on the course, inspiring future
A Level Photography students!
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Applications for Art College/Foundation Courses
In the Autumn term of Year 13 you will begin to think about your next steps - we have many students who go on to study Photography at Art College or University, and many who apply for Foundation Courses before deciding on which degree course to choose.
We work closely with the Art Department and the Sixth Form Team to offer guidance and information on available courses, and we will support you in your application including giving you advice on the portfolio of work which you will be required to submit to the colleges of your choice. We organise visiting speakers from top art colleges and degree courses to go through the process with you and answer and questions that you or your parents might have about it - so there is lots of support for you going forward in your creative education!
We are proud of our students who go on to study Photography further after completing our A Level and have an alumni of past students who are now working in the industry in a professional capacity.
We work closely with the Art Department and the Sixth Form Team to offer guidance and information on available courses, and we will support you in your application including giving you advice on the portfolio of work which you will be required to submit to the colleges of your choice. We organise visiting speakers from top art colleges and degree courses to go through the process with you and answer and questions that you or your parents might have about it - so there is lots of support for you going forward in your creative education!
We are proud of our students who go on to study Photography further after completing our A Level and have an alumni of past students who are now working in the industry in a professional capacity.