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Photography A Level (Alton)

A Level

Close up of a Canon camera lense in HSDC's A Level Photography course

Availability & Details

Photography - A Level AF1-PHOTAL/C01

Venue
Alton Campus

Type of study
A Levels

Dates
Academic Year 2027-28 (2 years)

Examination board
AQA Education

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Overview

Our Photography A Level is an inspiring and creative course exploring genres and techniques within the world of photography. Photography has an exciting history and now encompasses many ideas from documentary and street photography, fashion or fine art photography and this course will allow you to develop your interests within these frameworks. We have a fully equipped darkroom to practice traditional skills as well professional standard studios to create high quality imagery. You will have use of our DSLR cameras and trips to galleries and exhibitions are organised to help with critical study.

Five GCSEs at grade 4 or above including English Language. You should have studied an art or design based GCSE and achieved a minimum of grade 4 in the related subject. It may be possible to gain entry to this course without a GCSE in an art or design related subject by submitting a portfolio showcasing your practical work at interview.

Photography is a coursework assessed subject with an exam board set task which culminates in 15 hours of supervised time, and a personal investigation project where you can explore a theme and specialism of your choice, both of which you complete in year 2.

Year 1 is spent gaining skills and knowledge through a series of guided projects. You will learn to control the DSLR camera, use effective studio lighting and effects and well as experimenting with a range of lens. Project themes include portraiture, landscape and experimental photography and will introduce the use of Photoshop for editing. All students have access to Photoshop at home as well as in class and the course has strong links with UCA Farnham where students enjoy an annual taster session from degree level staff.

Lesson activities are wide-ranging and stimulating from theory-based to practical exploration. You will develop your own ideas by researching other artists and be encouraged to examine the world around you visually.

You will work through a variety of techniques and learn to work with appropriate media, materials and processes. Photography students are expected to annotate work, to express personal and creative ideas and produce final outcomes using a range of approaches and methods from the darkroom to digital.

60% personal investigation, 40% externally set task. Externally set task includes a 15-hour controlled element.

Students will need to purchase a Photography starter pack which includes an
SD card for digital work and other materials needed to complete the film
photography project. Some students may need to supplement this with personal
purchases, however this will depend on their chosen project.


My courses were all especially interesting, I thoroughly enjoyed all of them. All of my lecturers were extremely knowledgeable and I have learnt a lot from them.

Lottie Warren, A Level student

The teaching and support was really great, the quality was really great, all the teachers really care about your education as well as your wellbeing, they take everything into consideration and they’re great.

Katie Whittingham, A Level student

I would say it’s a college that really balances academia with fun, there is lots of extra-curricular stuff that you can get involved in. It has a really good work/life balance.

Laura Hagedorn, A Level student