During the first term of the A Level students take part in a series of workshops in order to understand the Camera, Lighting and the Photography process. They will learn about:
Shutter speed
ISO
Aperture
White balance
Filters
Lenses
Lighting
Composition
Image Manipulation
Photo editing Skills
Adobe Photoshop
Professional Presentation
These skills are then developed and challenged in the Personal Investigation and Related Study.
The Personal Investigation is an extended personal coursework project that enables learners to develop personal artwork demonstrating critical and analytical understanding from a given starting point or theme.
Students will: develop ideas through sustained and focused investigations; produce visual and written research into contextual and other sources that informs the development of their practical work; explore ideas, techniques or processes appropriate to their focus; record, edit and present Photoshoot ideas; critically review and refine their work as it progresses and design and create final outcomes that realise their intentions.
Alongside their Personal Investigation practical portfolio students will study and research in depth the context within which their practical work sits. They will develop a critically engaged related study that helps inform and further their own practice.
The aim of the related study is to enable learners to develop their ability to communicate their knowledge and understanding of art and photographic historical movements, genres, practitioners and photographs, considering the way that these change and evolve within chronological and other frameworks. It also builds their understanding of the relationship between society and art and photography: photographic terminology, concepts and issues; methods of researching, investigating and analysing; and how works are interpreted and evaluated.
The Personal Investigation and related study equates to 60% of students overall A level marks.
Between September and January students develop personal styles, focusing on design ideas and consolidating their intentions. Students will use visual communication sensitively and thoughtfully to document their artistic journey and produce their creative and meaningful outcomes in a 15 hour ‘Trial’ Exam experience.
This project makes up 60% of students overall A Level Fine Art Mark
The Externally Set Task represents the culmination of the A Level course as it draws together all the knowledge, understanding and skills developed in the Personal Investigation. Students must present personal and meaningful responses to one of a list of externally set broad-based thematic starting points, set by OCR a paper which is released on 1st February each year. Students have to produce a preparatory portfolio covering contextual research, photoshoot ideas and photographic experimentation, edits and refinements. Culminating in the creation of a final piece during a 15-hour sustained focus period under examination conditions.
This project makes up 40% of students overall A Level Photography Mark