Digital Photography

Know about photography materials, techniques and processes.

Photography practice in media products:

• Traditional film-based practice (film camera, aperture and shutter speed, equipment for film processing, chemicals for processing and printing, printing on paper)
• Contemporary practice (digital camera types and functions, memory cards, accessing computers, image manipulation software, printing)
• Genre (documentary, portraiture, fashion, press, advertising, studio, location)

Photography materials:

• Film cameras / Digital cameras
• Tripod / mounting a camera
• Framing
• Lighting (e.g. spots, flash, filters, floods, diffusers)

Photography techniques and processes:

• Planning a shooting schedule
• Booking resources (e.g. studio, equipment, models)
• Image capture (e.g. sharpness, exposure, depth of field, colour, light, white balance)
• Lighting
• Composition
• Image manipulation
• Storage (e.g. memory cards, file types, file size)
• Keeping a production log

Assessment Criteria

• 1.

  Explore the different materials, techniques and processes used in photography.

Be able to generate ideas for photographic images.

Propose ideas:

• Theme research
• Initial ideas
• Mood boards
• Mind maps
• Technical considerations
• Resources

Research sources:

• Primary sources (e.g. observation drawings, experimental photographs, trial shots, location visits).
• Secondary sources (e.g. practitioner research, books, websites, blogs)
• Existing products (e.g. magazine covers, adverts, websites, press)

How to generate ideas:

• Style of product
• Purpose
• Visual communication
• Visual representation
• Key messages
• Mind maps
• Sketches
• Layout designs
• Thumbnails
• Annotations

Assessment Criteria

• 2.1

  Use different sources to generate ideas for photographic images in response to a proposal.

Be able to produce photographic images.

Using photography materials, techniques and processes:

• Planning a shooting schedule
• Booking resources (e.g. studio, equipment, models)
• Image capture (e.g. sharpness, exposure, depth of field, colour, light, white balance)
• Lighting
• Composition
• Image manipulation
• Storage (e.g. memory cards, file types, file size).
• Keeping a production log

Presentation formats:

• PowerPoint presentation
• Group presentation
• Group critique
• Effective communication
• Digital portfolio
• Printed portfolio

Safe working practices:

• Importance of health and safety
• Working safely with equipment
• Working safely with computers
• Maintaining a safe working environment

Assessment Criteria

• 3.1

  Use photographic materials, techniques and processes to produce images in response to a proposal.

• 3.2

  Present photographic images in an appropriate format.

Be able to review photography work.

Review photography work.

Include reflections on:

• how well you worked to produce the photographs (strengths and areas for development in your way of working)
• the effectiveness of the photographs (how well they met their purpose/the brief)

Draw on:

• User feedback
• Own self-assessment
• Feedback from those who worked with you

Suggest improvements to own work

• More efficient or effective ways of working
• Ways to improve the photographs

Assessment Criteria

• 4.1

  Outline strengths and areas for development of photography work produced.

• 4.2

  Suggest improvements to own work.