Photography

A-level Course

Since its inception in 2002, Photography at Brighton College has blossomed into an extremely successful subject and one of the most successful in the College with all Photographer's gaining A or A* grades at A level in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2010 and 2011.

Facilities are impressive and the Department is housed in the fantastic Alexander Visual Arts Centre offering a photography studio, computer suite and purpose built darkroom housing eight enlargers.

Although it is studied as a separate entity to Art & Design, offering an alternative for pupils to pursue; the medium itself is set within the context of a much wider Art & Design world. In fact our Darkroom inspiration is contained within the phrase:

"Ultimately, fine art photography can be seen as another form of drawing; using light as its principal tool for mark-making".

Digital imagery is assessed and created along with the older image making from the darkroom. Historical and contemporary studies is embedded in workbook analysis in linking ideas to pupils own work.

Lower 6th (Year 12)

AS Level Photography. Candidates follow the three units outlined below:

• Unit 1: Personal investigation (60%)
  Pupils create a distinct project exploring a generic title employing techniques experienced during photo shoots & darkroom practice. This project culminates in the production of a series of 'finished prints'.
  This unit also constitutes a visual & written response to the work of a specific photographer or a general topic chosen by the pupils. The investigation will explore & analyse processes, techniques, subject matter & appropriate contextual links. The work is presented in a visual file and an illustrated essay of 3000 words.
• Unit 2: Controlled Assignment (40%)
  The candidates 'answer' one question from a selection provided by the exam board (OCR). They are given a number of weeks to prepare their response through their sketchbooks (using the same assessment objectives for the research projects). After this exploratory period, the pupils produce a series of prints during a designated exam slot (totalling a maximum of 5 hours).

Upper 6th (Year 13)

In A2 Level Photography candidates build on the knowledge gained through the AS course and complete the following units:

• Unit 4: Personal Study (60%)
  This unit constitutes one major project that explores the subject title in much greater detail. Emphasis is given to the 'finished prints' in terms of their development, finer control of the processes involved and in their appropriate display at the 'end-of-year show'.
  the academic element essentially this follows the same format as unit 2, but focusing on 'in-depth' analysis, placing the specific topic in a wider context and the discovery of more visual & critical connections with the subject matter. Pupils also conduct an appropriate element of primary research. The work is presented in both a workbook format & an accompanying illustrated essay of 4000 words.
• Unit 6: Controlled Test (40%)
  A response to a question set by OCR (exam board). This constitutes extensive exploration of ideas, critical analysis of camera techniques & creative control of darkroom processes contained within a sketchbook.

This culminates in an exam period spanning 15 hours, where the pupils produce a series of large scale prints (12in by 16in).

Trips/Extra-curricular: The studio is open each day up until 6pm for those who wish to work after lessons. Trips are regularly run to London Galleries and Museums and an annual trip, usually abroad, helps inform pupils of contemporary and older photograhic forms.