2APHO

NCEA Level 2 Photography

Course Description

Head of Faculty - Kaihautuu: Whaea C. Tamihere.

Students in this Year 12 photography course will explore the technical and creative possibilities of photography as an art form and build their visual literacy and understanding of the creative process.

They will learn how to use a camera and build their understanding of image making and visual communication. This will include learning the technical skills of how to operate a digital SLR camera, the operation of studio lighting and techniques for post production using Adobe Suites.

The focus is on original and creative thinking, using a range of experimental approaches and photographic conventions. Students will work towards a folio or digital folio of their own photographic images, moving or still.

This course introduces contemporary technologies for producing photographic images. The fundamentals of using a digital single reflex camera are stressed. But the camera itself is redefined in this class and can utilise everything from cell phones, the scanner as a camera, disposable cameras, film cameras, video cameras  all as legitimate tools for creating photographic images.

This course introduces students to seeing, thinking and creating with a critical mind and eye on the world in which they live.  They bring this to the crafting and manipulation of photographic forms and meaning.  Students will become far more aware of and attentive to the richness and complexity of the physical world, culture and societies in which we live.  This subject will develop students as thinkers, deepening connections and awareness of themselves and others.  It has value beyond the development of Photography skills only.

 Students need to be committed to taking photographs outside the classroom and completing interesting, challenging homework requirements throughout the year, which will ensure that all students complete their portfolio of work to a high standard.

Course Overview

Term 1
Assessment and Folio Review
Course Overview
-extensions, credits, standards
-digital versus portfolio with examples/ what I need to be prepared for a digital submission
-board and digital film layout
Introduction to Photographic Conventions
Introduction to your camera / DSLR
-understanding exposure
-basic camera settings
-shutter speeds
-depth of field
-how to store and back up your images
Active technical workshops.
Principles of Composition
Introduction to Adobe
Photoshop / Premier Pro
How to unpack a theme
Introduction to 2.2 Internal / Site Investigation


Term 2
The Artist Model
-The Artist Model, how to research-journal entry-
Conventions versus thematic influence.
Applied in local field trips
Structuring, Sequencing and Series
Introduction to 2.3 Internal/ Idea development
Introduction to Threshold Concepts


Term 3
Introduction to Documentary Photography
2.5 Internal Produce a resolved body of work.
Introduction to Critical Analysis
Introduction to image sequencing /still and moving image

Term 4
Final editing of work and finalising sequences.
Printing and mounting of finished folio boards.
Critique.

Recommended Prior Learning

Ideally students will have studied one of our visual art courses in Year 10 or 11, but all students who are willing to commit to actively engaging in learning Photography, and to working in and out of class time will be welcome.  Photography is an active subject.  Students will need to commit to growing their self-management skills.

Pathway

Senior photography courses develop multiple life-long skills such as the ability to think in complex and divergent ways, creativity, positive learning dispositions and personal competencies, as well as specific skills in Photography. There are many career options and tertiary pathways involving visual arts skills, literacies and creative thinking. These span a wide range of industries and fields of knowledge. People with creative, original, high level thinking and problem-solving skills are highly sought after.

Career Pathways

Assessment Information

Assessment in this course is portfolio based. Students will develop their work throughout each term as they participate in learning activities and assignments. Students will be offered 3 compulsory internals worth 12 credits in total, and an external 12 credit portfolio submission.

Credit Information

You will be assessed in this course through all or a selection of the standards listed below.

This course is eligible for subject endorsement.

This course is approved for University Entrance.

Total Credits Available: 24 credits.
Externally Assessed Credits: 12 credits.
Internally Assessed Credits: 12 credits.

Assessment
Description
Level
Internal or
External
Credits
L1 Literacy Credits
UE Literacy Credits
Numeracy Credits
A.S. 91312 v2
NZQA Info
Visual Arts 2.2 - Use drawing methods to apply knowledge of conventions appropriate to photography
Level: 2
Internal or External: Internal
Credits: 4
Level 1 Literacy Credits: 0
University Entrance Literacy Credits: 0
Numeracy Credits: 0
A.S. 91317 v2
NZQA Info
Visual Arts 2.3 - Develop ideas in a related series of drawings appropriate to established photography practice
Level: 2
Internal or External: Internal
Credits: 4
Level 1 Literacy Credits: 0
University Entrance Literacy Credits: 0
Numeracy Credits: 0
A.S. 91322 v2
NZQA Info
Visual Arts 2.4 - Produce a systematic body of work that shows understanding of art making conventions and ideas within photography
Level: 2
Internal or External: External
Credits: 12
Level 1 Literacy Credits: 0
University Entrance Literacy Credits: 0
Numeracy Credits: 0
A.S. 91325 v2
NZQA Info
Visual Arts 2.5 - Produce a resolved work that demonstrates control of skills appropriate to cultural conventions
Level: 2
Internal or External: Internal
Credits: 4
Level 1 Literacy Credits: 0
University Entrance Literacy Credits: 0
Numeracy Credits: 0
Credit Summary
Total Credits: 24
Total Level 1 Literacy Credits: 0
Total University Entrance Literacy Credits: 0
Total Numeracy Credits: 0