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A Level Photography

“At this moment in human history, I truly believe that photography is the most universal language on the planet. I think it’s the one language that everyone understands no matter what class they belong to, no matter what education they have, no matter how much money they have, no matter what verbal language they speak — photography is a profoundly rich visual language that is open to all to use and to understand.” - Jim Casper, founder of LensCulture.

Key information

Art & Design / Media, Photography & Games / Full Time / A Levels and Equivalent

Why choose this course?

Photography is an art of observation, it has little to do with the things you see and everything to do with the way you see them, allowing us to tell our story and vision through the lens. This course provides opportunities to engage in a broad range of projects to encourage creativity, observation, investigation, analysis and experimentation as a means of both developing technical, creative and critical skills.

The course encourages a firm understanding of the broad visual and theoretical contexts in which contemporary photographers operate. Learners will begin the course by questioning how photography functions both culturally and socially, along with how it will contribute to their future progression. Students learn a broad range of technical skills including digital and post-processing, utilising Adobe Camera Raw, Bridge, Photoshop and Indesign. Analogue skills include shooting, processing and scanning film, darkroom printing and alternative photography techniques.

What will I learn?

Students complete a diverse range of projects working in the studio, the darkroom and on location. Exploring a range of contemporary and historical contexts, learners cover key photographic genres including landscape, portraiture, personal space, mixed media, fashion, documentary and street photography. Each project is designed to develop the skills required for students to undertake their own self-directed project during the second part of the course. The photography department is treated as a professional, creative, working studio, with all the necessary resources required for students to acquire the information, knowledge and inspiration required to create images competently and professionally.

Assessment Arrangements

Foundation Projects Year 1: Introduction to photography, Landscape, Portraiture, Street Photography, Personal Space, Documentary, Mixed Media, Fashion and Studio Photography. Each project is designed to introduce the learner to a range of skills to support them through Components 1 and 2.

Year 2 Component 1: Component 1 is a coursework project based on an area of photography, a genre or specific theme chosen by the learner. 60% of the mark is determined via the creation of the coursework based Personal Investigation consisting of a major in-depth, practical, critical investigative project/theme-based portfolio. Learners will be required to carry out an extended critical and contextual written analysis.

Spring Term and Summer Term Year 2: Component 2: The Externally Set Assignment requires learners to independently develop a personal response to one of a varied range of stimuli. You will develop your response during a preparatory study period culminating in a 15 hour sustained focus study. All projects are assessed at regular intervals and constructive feedback is given.

Where will it take me?

The photography courses offered are designed to enrich and empower learners with a number of technical, visual and analytical skills that are transferable to a range of employment opportunities. Due to the accessibility and broad reach photography has, many job roles in a range of sectors now specifically request ‘photographic skills’. The creative industries is currently one of the largest employment sectors and successful completion of the course can lead to further study or employment in all areas of lens-based media and visual arts including: art foundation or BA honours in media, film, multi-media, graphic design, journalism, advertising, illustration and PR. More specific photographic roles include: assistant, commercial, forensic, police, armed forces, product, fashion, architectural, wedding, travel, wildlife, sports, editorial, journalist and medical photographer, along with stylist, re-toucher, picture editor, writer and curator.

What will I need?

Five GCSEs at grade 4 or above including grade 4 or above in an art-based subject and English Language or Literature at grade 5 or above.

Callywith College provides all the industry standard equipment required to complete the course - cameras, tripods and lenses can be loaned out for a period of two days. Students will be required to purchase film, sketchbooks, photographic paper, memory cards, pens, glue and pencils, along with a few other things that are all available at cost from the college Art, Media and Photography store.

Additional Information

Awarding Body:
Eduqas

To obtain more information about this course, please call: 01208 224000 or email enquiry@callywith.ac.uk

From the course

Molly Grace Holly

Molly

Progression: Journalism with Photography - Plymouth Marjon University

Courses studied:  A level English Language, Photography and Sociology

Previous School: Wadebridge School

How are you finding your course/experience at university?

"I'm currently studying BA Hons Journalism with Photography at Plymouth Marjon University, which I'm enjoying very much. I've had a great experience so far with learning more of the theory behind Journalism, and how to build on my writing skills. The photography side of the course started a bit later, however I have had access to all the equipment I need, even during lockdown, meaning I can shoot images as often as I like. Both sides of the course are coming together now, and it is really interesting learning how to tell stories through images. From next week we will be going to the BBC studios to learn the more practical aspects of Journalism, including radio and tv broadcasting. Starting University in 2020 has definitely been a very different experience, with such a huge majority of online lectures. However, I have still produced work I'm satisfied with and my lecturers have been there to help support us with any help we may need."

How did your time at Callywith influence and support your choice of/transition to university?

"From studying Photography, English Language and Sociology at A level, the combination of courses got me thinking about how I could use the skills I had learnt, to find a University course which I would enjoy. Callywith were great in helping me start the process of applying for different University courses and my lecturers were supportive and helped me to improve my work, in order to achieve grades I was happy with."

What do you enjoy in particular about studying Photography?

"I have always enjoyed photography from a young age, as there are so many different aspects to it. It's a really creative and fun way to express yourself and enables you to tell meaningful stories. The amount of kit and facilities I had access to at Callywith was amazing, and I learnt so much, from inspirational photographers to help inform my work, to new ways of editing and shooting images."

How have your A Level studies helped you in your degree?

"I knew from studying Photography at Callywith that I would want to include part of it in my course at University, and I'm glad I did as it allows me to combine both my writing and photography skills. The techniques that I learnt whilst being at college I have taken with me into my University course, and I hope to only develop them further."

What are you hoping to do in the future?

"In the future I would like to become a Photojournalist, or just be involved in some kind of role within the Journalism industry, as there are such a wide range of jobs available in the media."

Grace

Progression: Media and Communications - University of Sussex

Courses studied: A Level Geography, Media Studies and Photography

Extra activities: Academic Academy 

Previous school: Callington Community College

How are you finding your course / experience at university?

Obviously during these crazy times my university experiences have altered since my first year. However, I have just been making the most of it with my housemates, living with you best friends in an incredibly diverse city such as Brighton definitely has its perks. In terms of my course that’s a tricky one, we all miss in person teaching, but having recorded lectures and seminars that I can return to when I need extra help writing an assignment is actually really useful. We're all just hoping that next year things are back to normal.

How did your time at Callywith influence and support your choice of / transition to university?

I’m actually the first member of my family to go to university, and it was a really nervous time for me applying and even how loans work because I didn’t have a family member to explain everything to me. However, Callywith was amazing in explaining the process to me, and my parents.

What do you enjoy in particular about studying media?

To put it simply, media is in our everyday lives, it’s unavoidable. It’s a reflection of societies values and constructs which have major influences. I wanted to study Media to understand these themes better, to gain an understanding of the ways in which it controls us. It’s an extremely relevant area to study, where important topics such as race, class, gender and feminism is debated in most classes. We study the serious issues, and that’s what I enjoy most. 

How have your A levels helped you in your degree?

Doing your A Levels is an extremely difficult point in your life, endless hours of revision and studying, but the truth is, it’s worth it. A-levels for me revealed the areas of academics that I really enjoyed, and provided me with notes and skills I still reflect on to this day. From key theorists to understanding the difference between quantitative and qualitative data my A level work still shows use in my university assignments.

What are your plans for the future?

The media industry is so vast I’m still unsure exactly what area I want to go into. From a personal point of view though, I would much rather work for a smaller independent company focusing of change and working with facts that bigger media conglomerates and Newspapers such as The Sun.

Holly

Progression:  Film Production - University of Gloucestershire 

Courses studied: A Level English Language, Media Studies and Photography

Previous school: Liskeard School

How are you finding university?

I am absolutely loving it. I have met some great friends on my course despite restrictions as we were lucky enough to have three in person lessons a week in first semester, which has really helped my initial progress as almost everything is practical group work.

How did your time at Callywith influence and support your choice of / transition to university?

My time at Callywith really helped me to become more independent and was a great stepping stone from school to university. The lecturers were incredibly supportive with everything, especially applying to university.

What do you enjoy in particular about studying Media at university?

I chose to study at Gloucestershire because the course had everything I wanted out of a film degree and Cheltenham is also a lovely town to live in. I love studying film as it allows me to be creative but the collaborative nature adds a nice social element.

How has your A Level Media Studies helped you in your degree?

Studying media subjects at college has really helped in my degree so far with practical skills such as knowledge of editing software but also group skills such as organising a shoot and working alongside a crew. 

What are you hoping to do in the future?

In the future, I am hoping to work on feature film sets as a production designer or 1st Assistant Director, and it would be amazing if I could travel around the world doing this job too.

How to apply to Callywith College

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