Level 3 Digital Art BTEC Extended Diploma (Photography Pathway)

You will need 4 GCSE's at grade 4-9 including English and an Art-based subject. Or a relevant Level 2 qualification.

If you do not have an art and design based GCSE then you will need to be interviewed with a portfolio of artwork / photography (a good range of images between 12 and 20).

You will be taught through a combination of practical lessons in the photography classroom, studios and darkroom, developing practical and digital skills, gaining knowledge about the photographic industry.

The course involves visits to regional/national exhibitions and workshops where you will study and record the work of various artists and photographers. You may even be producing work for local clients in industry through our live briefs.

Assessment is carried out through the creation and submission of your practical photographic work and through coursework and digital journals in which you record your research, ideas and ongoing work.

Maths and English are important life skills that will help you to achieve your best in your studies and progress to your dream career.

Ideally, you will have achieved a grade 9-4 in GCSE Maths and/or English at school, however, if you have not achieved this, we will help you to improve your skills.

Maths and English are also embedded into the coursework. Different design applications, as well as studio and darkroom processes, involve the measuring and calculation of artworks in their processes. In theory lessons and in coursework journals you will be broadening your industry specific knowledge and vocabulary.

You have the opportunity to take part in a placement in your second year of the course. This will be a subject-related work placement with a local business within a photographic or a related arts industry organisation.

Placements are crucial in providing our students with an understanding of how their skills can be applied to employment, as well as helping students develop their professionalism and people skills.

We have a number of links with local businesses connected with photography, graphics and the arts. This includes local photographers, designers, agencies and art galleries, to ensure you gain an outstanding learning experience with us and are equipped with the skills and knowledge needed to progress to a career in industry.

In recent years, students have experienced industry talks from established designers and art directors.

You will study for 13 hours per week on your course, which will include personal development with your course tutor and an additional hour and a half of skills development.

You will also be expected to study outside of set college hours.

The aim of this course is to develop your skills and knowledge in photography.

You will explore the subject of photography in practical, digital and theory sessions over the two years, combining these sets of skills. An example of some of the areas covered in this qualification would be studio photography, location photography, portraiture, product photography, darkroom and chemical based photography and website design.

As well as learning to use industry designed digital software - such as Photoshop - the course will assist, develop and improve your technical and creative skills in photography, providing an insight into photography as a business and as a potential future area of employment.

The successful completion of this course will support your progression into a career in the creative industries or on to Higher Education.

Year 1 -

- Skills Development- Exploring and Developing Art and Design Skills
In this unit you will explore a range of skills and processes in photography, experiencing image taking on location and in the photography studio. There will be hand-based practice, as well as digital computer skills with industry software.

- Creative Project - This unit is a response to skills learnt in your first module. You will use these skills to create a body of work with a final outcome linked to photographic industry.

Year 2 -

Personal Progression - The aim of this unit is set you up ready for your next steps industry or further education You will research into all areas such as, universities, jobs as well as self employment. From there you will discover your personal attributes, long term goals and attend a mock interview to build your confidence. To complete the unit you will prepare a portfolio to support your progression.

Creative Industry Response - This module encompasses all of the units completed on the course You will write a brief linked to industry and your chosen progression. A body of work will be produced with experiments, development of ideas and a final outcome. The work will then be exhibited at our end of year show.