the gcse photography - amazon s3 · the photography gcse is made up of two elements, portfolio work...

The GCSE

Photography

Survival Guide

Name:

Course Information

The Photography GCSE is made up of two elements, portfolio work and the final exam.

The portfolio work will be created in year 10 and the first term of year 11. You will work on 2-3 projects in year 10 and a mock exam and your final exam in year 11. The portfolio mark will account for 60% of your final grade the exam will account for 40% of your final grade.

The exam will be 10 hours, spread over a couple of days and sat at the end of year 11. You will have from the

beginning of January to prepare for the exam and complete all your preparation work. You will be given a

range of themes/ words by the exam board and you will have to select and investigate one of these for your

exam work.

Projects

Year 10 Over the course of year 10 you will be working on 3 different projects.

1. The Basics During this project you will gain an understanding of how to operate a DSLR camera and how to take creative and original photographs. During this project you will explore: Focusing the camera, print quality, resolution, aperture, shutter speeds, panning the camera, light drawing, composition, the formal elements and basic Photoshop skills.

2. Growth and Decay During this project you will explore: A number of different photographers and artists who have used the theme growth and decay to

create and base their photographs on. You will learn: depth of field, basic computer editing, using

lighting, creating backdrops, viewpoints and stop motion animation.

3. Alphabet

During this project you will explore: This is a mini project to show a more personal response to a brief. Using the skills you have gained so far to create words/letters out of objects. This project will really boost your observational and compositional skills.

At the end of year 10 you also have to opportunity to review, reflect and improve these projects using

the feedback given. Remember these projects count towards 60% of your final grade.

Year 11 In year 11 you will begin the mock exam work. You will be given the exam themes at the start of year 11 and

have the whole of the Autumn Term to investigate and develop your ideas ready for the 10 hour mock exam at

the end of December. The work you complete for this mock can be counted towards your portfolio work.

After the Christmas holidays you will be given the exam paper from the exam board. You will then have to select

from one of the themes given and begin your preparation work. Your final 10 hour exam will take place in the

spring term. All work completed for this exam will count towards 40% of your final mark.

Teacher Feedback

During the projects you will be given written feedback on your sketchbook/portfolio work. I will highlight any pieces of work that I feel are particularly great and also I will give you a list of things that I feel you could work on/ improve or complete that will help you to improve your final grade in this subject. The feedback you receive will be linked to the assessment objectives and will indicate your strengths and targets for development. Your grades will also be tracked using the internal tracker and broken down into the assessment objectives, you will receive a print out of this at the end of each project to show where you can improve your portfolio grade.

During lessons you will also be given verbal feedback which you can use instantly to improve your work!

Home Learning Tasks

Home learning tasks are set regularly to help boost your portfolios and build up the number of shoots you can submit. These tasks can consist of research based homework’s, completing tasks set in lessons, or producing more shoots. Taking photos outside of school is a good opportunity to use different locations and lighting sources. This also allows your ideas to develop which will help your overall grade. You have access to the school cameras which you can book out when needed, however be aware that all photography students can book out the cameras so it is a ‘first come, first served’ policy. You can also book out the studio during break times and lunch times to help develop your projects. Home learning tasks will be personal to your projects, and will be linked to your feedback to help you create a unique and personal project.

Assessment Objectives Explained

All of your work will be marked according to how well you have met the 4 assessment objectives.

Assessment Objective 1

AO1 Developing Ideas

You must develop your ideas for your projects by investigating various photographers, artists or designers.

You should also undertake trips out of the classroom to gather photos that will aid your ideas.

You must analyse and annotate your images with your thoughts and

opinions. Always link your ideas back to your original research.

The Project Brief Decide on what

direction you which

to take your project

and who will be your main influences. Other

Inspiration Find other sources to

inspire you also, such as

locations, art movements,

photo manipulation styles

etc...

Gather Images Analyse Photos Recreate

Use the analysing Try to recreate elements

Find examples of of the photographers

photographers help photographers work work. This will enable

sheet to write about that inspires or you to understand how

the work you have interests you. they created their found. photos.

Develop Ideas Using all your

research start to develop your

own ideas



AO2 Experimenting

You must show that you can explore and refine your ideas through experimentation. You

should select different techniques, process, methods, resources, media and materials. It should be clear how you are developing your ideas and that you are improving your work as you go.

Link Use similar

techniques, settings

and processes to the

photographers you

have researched.

References Use sources to

develop your ideas -

refer to the work of

Developing

your own ideas

Experiment You should take a

wide range of photos that link to

your ideas and show that you can

experiment.

Practice Experiment and practice

with new techniques,

processes and materials

as well as the ones

you're familiar with.

Techniques Explore different

techniques, processes and materials to find out what effects you

can achieve.



AO3 Recording

You can record your ideas, observations and insights in visual, written and other

forms. You should work from a range of experiences and stimulus materials. You must talk and describe your work; what you have achieved at each stage and what you will do next.

Fill Fill your sketchbook

or online record with

photographs,

sketches, notes,

annotations and

experiments.

Primary and Secondary

Use first and second

hand sources to help

develop your ideas.

Study Take photos that

show an

appreciation of

other photographers

work

Enlarge Print your most successful

images bigger. If digitally

altering photos always

show the original image

too.

When recording

your ideas you

should....

Annotations Make sure you add

notes alongside your photos / experiments that help to explain

your thought process.

Analyse Don't just describe

what you have

done. Analyse and

evaluate what you

have achieved. WWW and EFI

Try Try out different

compositions or

combinations of

your subject matter

Organise Your sketchbook or online

record must show clearly

the sequence of your

thought pattern and

development of ideas.

Collect Find images/

photographs from

a variety of

sources (making

sure to give credit

to the source).

Sequences Make organised

sequences of

photos to show

how your ideas

have progressed

Contact Sheet Print all your photos

from a shoot and

annotate it using

the writing frame

given to you.



AO4 Present

You must present a personal, informed and meaningful response to the brief You should demonstrate analytical and critical understanding throughout. You must present the culmination of your journey in a finished piece or pieces.

When presenting

your final piece(s)

you should....

Realise Evidence Your intentions must Provide evidence of the

be clear in both your development of your

preparation work finished ideas from the

and your final initial brief to the finished

piece(s). work.

Experimented Record Show that you have Record your ideas,

experimented with observations and different techniques, insights into both your

processes and work and that of media. others.

Select Present Show that you used, in

your final piece(s), Understanding

Present a personal

response to your some of the techniques,

processes and media Analyse and evaluate what chosen theme or

you have done at each brief. you experimented

stage to show your

with.

understanding throughout

the project.

Evidence Skill Make sure you show Show that you can

evidence of link select and work

between your work skilfully with a range

and the sources you of techniques,

chose to research. processes and media.

Grade Information

Below are a series of statements that explain the difference between the top 3 grades in Photography.

Analysing and Presenting your work

How do I...Present my work?

1. Your Intentions for the shoot What were your intentions and initial ideas for the shoot? Ensure you discuss any artists who you have investigated and how they influenced your work

2. Contact sheets Contact sheets must be printed for each shoot you do, Annotate and circle the ones you are editing/have chosen to develop, This will help show a critical understanding of your work, ideas and intentions.

3. Enlarged Images Present your strongest images on a larger scale in your sketchbook neatly and clearly. Show the unedited versions next to your edited versions, however make them smaller in size, so not to seem more important and draw attention away from your “best” work.

4. Experiments Take your best images and experiment with them, exploring possible variations using appropriate techniques, for example Photoshop techniques, printing on different materials etc.

5. Annotations on Image/Series:

• What is the image/series about? Explain what your intentions were.

• What concept, message or meaning did you intend to communicate or explore?

• Describe the image visually. What is the image of? What is the main focus?

• Describe the image visually using key features and vocabulary.

• How have you achieved your meaning, concept or message?

• What techniques have you used to create the meaning/concept or message?

• Remember to discuss composition, colour, lighting, perspective, body and facial language and camera effects

• How will you develop your work for the next shoot?

What would you like to build on and develop in your next shoot?

• How will you further enhance your project using aspects of this shoot?

AO2

AO3

Analysing Photographs

During the course you will be expected to look at other photographers, designers and artists to help inspire your own photographs.

When presenting this investigation in your sketchbook or online you should always provide a written analysis of their work alongside images of their work.

How do I...Analyse a photographer’s work? AO1 1. Basic Information In your sketchbook or online record make sure you include the following as a minimum:

• The name of the photographer • What country are they from? (This is important as it puts the work into context). • The name and date of the series that you are interested in • The name and date of any images you choose from the series to analyse • What is the image/series about? • Research and explain what the artist's intentions are. What concept, message or meaning did the artist want to communicate or explore?

2. Visual Qualities

• Why do you like about the image? • What is the image of? • What is the main focus? • Can you talk about any of the formal elements? Line, Colour, Shape, Form, Texture, Pattern, Tone... • How has the artist achieved the meaning, concept or message in their image? • What techniques has the artist used to create the meaning/concept or message? • What composition style have they used? Leading lines, golden section, the rule of thirds... • How have they used the lighting in the image? • If they have used people in their photos can you read any body or facial language?

3. Analyse what the photographer is trying to communicate What do you think this work is about?

What techniques has the artist used to create the meaning/concept or message?

What do you think they are trying to communicate? And to whom?

Is there a deeper meaning to this work? Why take these types of photos?

4. Relate to your own work This is VERY important so do not leave it out! By answering these questions you will be explaining to the examiner just how you intend to use this investigation work to inspire your own work.

• How will you be influenced by this artist? • What techniques, concepts or visual effects are you most inspired by? • How will you take this influence and use it in your work?

Other Websites and Resources

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/art/ Course advice and tips from the BBC

http://www.pinterest.com/ A visual discovery tool that you can use to collect ideas for the different projects and themes (great for finding artists and other

examples of GCSE artwork)

http://www.nhm.ac.uk/visit-us/wpy/gallery/2014/

index.html

Images from the Wildlife photographers competition. This is an annual

competition, which also has a category for young photographers.

http://photofocus.com/ Photofocus is a helpful and educational resource for the aspiring

and professional photographer. This is a “blogazine” style website

that has content from accomplished photographers and artists.

http://expertphotography.com/ Lots of tutorials and guides on how to achieve a wide

range of photographic techniques.

https://www.flickr.com

A great source for inspiration, most photos will also have the exposure information about the photo.

http://www.digitalcameraworld.com/ More tutorials, hints and tips and articles about all things photographic.

the gcse photography - amazon s3 · the photography gcse is made up of two elements, portfolio work...

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