Level 3 Photography

First Year: Students will be given in depth practical instruction on all the equipment and processes we have at Northampton College. This will include all formats of camera, 35mm medium format, studio and digital cameras. Students will work with studio lighting in the studio and on location; they will investigate the many styles of photography including advertising, fine art, fashion, photo documentary and landscape. These projects will include professional practice.

The first year will be a mixture of traditional and digital, using computers and software such as Photoshop. Students are required to keep a full and complete set of sketchbooks that include assignment drawings, notes, handouts and ideas.

Students are introduced to Historical and Contextual Studies broadly based around photography and the photographic image. Gallery and exhibition trips during this course will be arranged and we strongly advise students to make the most of these opportunities.

Second Year: The second year offers opportunity for personal and professional development, and working towards a final major project when students work more independently on advanced projects with tutorial input. This is intended to help the student gain either employment or a place in a College or University of their choice at HND or BA level. During the second year, photographers from various backgrounds may visit the college and talk about their work. These may include Police (SOCO), Medical, Studio, Newspaper and Fine Art photographers.

At the end of the second year the student organise and present a show of work as part of the Summer College Exhibition. Ultimately, students should leave with a portfolio of work that best reflects their career aspirations.

• Visual recording and communication
• Critical and contextual studies in art and design
• The creative process
• Materials, techniques and processes in art and design
• Developing an art and design portfolio
• Managing a client brief
• Developing and realising intentions
• Photographic materials, techniques and processes
• Fine art materials, techniques and processes
• Studio photography
• Location photography
• Digital image capture and editing
• Non-digital photographic techniques
• Curating an exhibition

The units you will study are likely to include:

Core Units: Diploma

1. The Creative Process
2. Developing Creative Practise
3. Responding to a set brief

Core Units: Extended Diploma

1. Researching a Specialist Industry Practice
2. Specialist Technical Skills Development
3. Specialist Creative Outcome

This course is ideal if you have an interest in photography, and would like to progress to university or related employment.

Assessment is continual throughout each unit, with progress being monitored through tutorials and continual feedback.

The course has internally and externally assessed units.

On the UAL Level 3 Diploma in Art and Design students will take a total of three units to complete the diploma qualification and six for the extended diploma. All work is internally set and assessed and unit 3 and 6 are externally moderated by the exam board.

All units are graded and students are required to achieve a minimum of a pass in each unit to achieve the full qualification grade. Units 1 & 2 and 4 & 5 are awarded at a pass grade only. Unit 3 and 6 provides the overall qualification grade either P (Pass), M (Merit), D (Distinction).

If you are aged 16-18, you will join a Study Programme this could be a vocational or technical qualification. We will make sure you are working at the right level on your core qualification and are challenged to achieve the highest level of qualification you can.

Work experience will be part of your study programme and complement your college study and prepare you for employment. You will also get involved in activities to help you develop life skills and to build your confidence so you can make progress in your career.

If you have chosen to study for a T Level qualification, this will involve college-based theory and practice lessons along with relevant work placement to enable you to gain the knowledge, skills and behaviours that employers are looking for.

Weekly timetables will include tutorial support which may comprise of full group activities or one to one sessions to discuss individual progress or support needs.

All students will continue to improve their maths and English and if you don't have a grade 4 (C) at GCSE, we will work with you towards achieving that goal (subject to specific entry requirements for particular courses).

• A range of different artists, crafts and designers both from current art practise and in art history and other cultures

• The creative industries relevant to a specific chosen area of focused interest

• Sustainable practise in the creative industries and how this can be applied to student's own studio practise.

• Develop specialist skills in a range of art and design materials, techniques and processes relevant to the chosen course of study

• Develop skills in applying design ideas, problem solving and to be able to apply them to specific design project briefs

• Develop skills in presenting art work in a portfolio of work, both digital and practical to prepare for progression to employment or university.

• To be able to plan and organise your own work to meet industry standards and expectations in the creative industries and to meet specific timescales

• To be able to work as a reflective practitioner, evaluating and analysing work practise and action plan to make changes and improvements to own work practise

• To be able to take responsibility for your own work through project management and development, responding to feedback from potential clients or stakeholders.

Students will be expected to purchase some basic equipment relevant to the course. This will be conveyed to them in the form of a kit list, sent via email during the summer before they enrol.

There may be opportunities to go on trips throughout the year, the cost of these will be discussed with students ahead of time.

After successful completion of this course you may consider applying to University or seeking employment.

4 GCSEs at Grade 4 including English & a portfolio showing your skills & particular interest. This can include GCSE art/photographic work & personal work produced at home. The level of course you enrol on will be based on the quality of your artwork.

We recommend that you attend one of our exciting open events so that you can look around the department, the college and meet the tutors. You are welcome to do this before or after you apply. These events have proved very successful in ensuring students and their families see the best of what the college has to offer such as our inspirational teaching areas, teachers, library facilities and places to eat.
Once you have applied our experienced Enrolment Team will consider your application carefully and will let you know, by email, if the College would like to make you a conditional offer based on you meeting the specified entry requirements. If your predicted grades or career aims suggest that an alternative subject area or course level would be more appropriate for you at this stage, we will contact you either by telephone, email or text. If you have told us that you have some additional support needs we will contact you to find out more so that we can help you.