Digital Photography A level
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DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY A Level WES
Exam Board: EDEXCEL
Qualifications needed to start the course
- A*,A or B grade in Art and Design, or an Art or design based subject (Graphics, Photography, DT, media studies)
- A portfolio of Art and Design work including digital artwork.
AS Course Specification Digital arts is a specialised subject area studied along side Art and Design, and as such will include a heavy emphasis on creative work. Students can evidence this work in a varied and personal way, reflecting their own programme of study and experiences as they progress through the course. There will also be a written element to the course, taking the form of personal investigation into a variety of Artists, artwork and related issues. Students will be expected to meet the course deadlines set, which are designed to enable students to achieve the highest possible grades at both AS and A2. Students who successfully complete the course will be awarded a GCE (AS and A level) in Art and Design (Photography).
Unit 1: Coursework unit based around the exploration of a theme. Students will develop their own work and ideas, producing a record of their work in the form of sketchbook/ photographic diary. Students produce a range of finished work in a variety of media and techniques, linking their work to the work of other digital artists.
Unit 2: An exam centred project, with a timed element, that aims to demonstrate and build upon the skills, knowledge and understanding gained from their experiences in unit 1.
A2 course specifications The A2 course is a continuation of the AS course, as the AS marks make up 50% of the final A2 grade:
Unit 3: A combination of practical work and a personal study that should take the form of a written and illustrated dissertation. This can be presented in a number of ways, ranging from a study in book form to a moving image work or website, with a text of no fewer than 2000 words.
Unit 4: An exam centred project, with a longer timed element, that aims to reflect the student's true potential and build upon the skills, knowledge and understanding gained from their experiences in unit 3.
Type of work and skills involved As a specialised subject area, students will be working mostly with Digital photography. The teaching and learning will focus on the use of light, colour temperature, viewpoints and composition as fundamental elements of photography. During the course, students will be using a variety of image editing and manipulation techniques aimed at producing both screen- and print-based media. This will include programmes like Adobe Photoshop and Macromedia Fireworks, and a range of hardware, including scanners, graphics tablets, printers and cameras. Students will also have the opportunity to work with analogue photography and digital video as they develop their own project work. Students will be expected to own or have access to a digital camera, preferably one with manual capabilities (such as a digital SLR). Print media and materials are subsidised, and available at a substantially reduced rate to students on the course. The course covers a wide range of applications for the use of digital media, and as such will aim to provide participants with the best possible foundation in the use of tools, equipment and techniques related to the digital art world. Students will also have the opportunity to explore and experiment with their own ideas.
Future Prospects Digital Arts and imagery have a wide role in modern society. Virtually all the images we see on TV, on our computer screens, in movies and in print are produced using digital media/techniques and equipment. The skills developed on this course would provide a solid foundation towards a career in any of these fields, as well as a pathway to further education. Students can go on to university to study Photography, Photo journalism, Graphic design, Animation, Web Design, Art and Design, Film Studies, and a whole range of degrees related to the media industries (film, TV and print).