Back to all courses

A Level

Photography

Photography plays an important role in an ever changing digital world. Whether digital or analogue, photography is about visually communicating. You will see and capture the world around us, composing images and manipulating lighting. There are work experience opportunities and links to creative industries.+

Entry Requirements

Any Art & Design GCSE Grade 4 or a Technology GCSE Grade 4 including Resistant Materials, Product Design, Graphics Products, Textiles or equivalent.

Exam Board Specification

Click to find out more

Course leaflet

Click here to download PDF

Apply now

What you will study

You will learn how to capture images across a number of fields of Photography including Fashion, Portraiture, Street Photography, Documentary, Sport, Fine Art and Studio. As part of the course you will also cover the following areas:

Digital Photography skills, techniques and technology to improve and enhance your ability to capture effective, interesting and engaging images
Digital editing and processing techniques and processes, including the use of Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom, Premiere Pro and InDesign
Traditional and chemical based processes within our photographic darkroom
Video capture and editing, including Animation
Studio Lighting techniques using a designated and fully equipped Photography Studio
Theoretical and contextual understanding to provide extended meaning and greater audience engagement

Assessments

100% coursework

Unit 1 Practical portfolio based on a theme of your choice (60%)
Unit 2 External Assignment (40%)

Course Support

Friendly, supportive tutors
Regular one-to-one tutorials
Feedback and guidance to progress your work
Access to a darkroom and lighting studio

Enrichment Activities

Workshops with industry professionals
Exhibitions to p[resent your work in public galleries
Local, regional and national competitions
Work placement opportunities

Gaining employability skills is an integral part of the course, and as a result we regularly offer work experience and internship opportunities, which have involved working with a number of companies, charities, galleries and arts organisations. Students have also been successful at presenting their work in local, regional and national photographic competitions.

Progression

Many students go on to study Photography at a Higher Education level within a range of leading universities. Our students have been successful in accessing a wide range of competitive degree courses or creative apprenticeships, based on the strength of their portfolio, skills and expertise which they develop through studying A Level Photography.

Studying A Level Photography at Carmel has been one of the highlights of my time here. I particularly loved having the freedom to explore different techniques and styles within the subject and being able to choose the themes and directions of my projects. I loved experimenting with different genres and styles of photography and I really enjoyed working on my projects – I was able to choose the theme and have complete control over the work I produced.

I’ve also learnt so many skills through A Level Photography, from digital editing techniques to studio and darkroom work. The facilities in the art department are amazing and we had the freedom to utilise as many as we wanted in our projects.

I highly recommend A Level Photography to anyone starting Carmel. You don’t even need to have used a digital camera before as we learn all the necessary skills in class, and it’s a fun, creative and rewarding subject which allows you the freedom to develop your skills while creating projects tailored to your own interests.

Katie Shepherd, Photography

De La Salle

photography artwork of a girl with a pixilated face

photography image of a lighthouse in black and white