Welcome to Stretford High Schools GCSE Photography Website
On this site you will find exemplar GCSE material, information about the units of work set, examples of some fantastic work produced by Stretford High school students and access to students portfolios of work.
Each student can also access their own individually tailored 'Progress Tracker', this identifies what grade the student is currently achieving and what their target grade is, the progress tracker also provides detailed feedback on how the student can improve their work.
Each student can also access their own individually tailored 'Progress Tracker', this identifies what grade the student is currently achieving and what their target grade is, the progress tracker also provides detailed feedback on how the student can improve their work.
Below is an overview of 2016 AQA guidelines of the course
Introduction
Candidates will be introduced to a variety of experiences exploring a range of lens-based and light-based media, techniques and processes, including both traditional and new technologies.
They should explore relevant images, artefacts and resources relating to lens-based and light-based media from the past and from recent times, including European and non–European examples which should be integral to the investigating and making process. 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 evidenced in the context of the content and skills presented, and of the importance of process as well as product.
Candidates may use sketchbooks/workbooks/ journals to support their work where appropriate.
Areas of study
Candidates will work in one or more areas of lens-based and light-based media such as those listed below. They may explore overlapping and combinations of areas:
Candidates are required to integrate critical, practical and theoretical study in lens-based and light-based media that encourages direct engagement with original work and practice. Where direct engagement may not be possible, the expectation is that work should include appropriate and explicit critical study.
Candidates will be expected to demonstrate practical skills in the context of specific chosen areas of study or any combined areas of study.
Knowledge, understanding and skills
Students must develop and apply the knowledge, understanding and skills specified in the Subject content to realise personal intentions relevant to photography and their selected area(s) of study.
The following aspects of the knowledge, understanding and skills are defined in further detail to ensure students’ work is clearly focused and relevant to photography.
Knowledge and understanding The way sources inspire the development of ideas, relevant to photography including:
Introduction
Candidates will be introduced to a variety of experiences exploring a range of lens-based and light-based media, techniques and processes, including both traditional and new technologies.
They should explore relevant images, artefacts and resources relating to lens-based and light-based media from the past and from recent times, including European and non–European examples which should be integral to the investigating and making process. 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 evidenced in the context of the content and skills presented, and of the importance of process as well as product.
Candidates may use sketchbooks/workbooks/ journals to support their work where appropriate.
Areas of study
Candidates will work in one or more areas of lens-based and light-based media such as those listed below. They may explore overlapping and combinations of areas:
- portraiture
- location photography
- studio photography
- experimental imagery
- installation
- documentary photography
- photo-journalism
- moving image: film, video and animation
- fashion photography.
Candidates are required to integrate critical, practical and theoretical study in lens-based and light-based media that encourages direct engagement with original work and practice. Where direct engagement may not be possible, the expectation is that work should include appropriate and explicit critical study.
Candidates will be expected to demonstrate practical skills in the context of specific chosen areas of study or any combined areas of study.
Knowledge, understanding and skills
Students must develop and apply the knowledge, understanding and skills specified in the Subject content to realise personal intentions relevant to photography and their selected area(s) of study.
The following aspects of the knowledge, understanding and skills are defined in further detail to ensure students’ work is clearly focused and relevant to photography.
Knowledge and understanding The way sources inspire the development of ideas, relevant to photography including:
- how sources relate to historical, contemporary, social, cultural and issues-based contexts and external considerations such as those associated with the cultural industries and client-oriented requirements
- how ideas, themes, subjects and feelings can inspire creative responses informed by different styles, genres and aesthetic considerations and/or an individual's distinctive view of the world.
- figurative and non-figurative forms, image manipulation, close up, and imaginative interpretation
- visual and tactile elements such as:
- colour
- line
- form
- tone
- texture
- shape
- pattern
- composition
- scale
- sequence
- surface
- contrast.
- Use photographic techniques and processes, appropriate to students’ personal intentions, for example:
- lighting
- viewpoint
- aperture
- depth of field
- shutter speed and movement
- use of enlarger
- chemical and/or digital processes
- Use media and materials, as appropriate to students' personal intentions, for example:
- film
- photographic papers
- chemicals appropriate to darkroom practices
- digital media, programs and related technologies
- graphic media for purposes such as storyboarding, planning and constructing shoots.