GCSE Photography

TomWaterfall

TomWaterfall

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Tom Waterfall
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Well, im a very keen photographer, and wish to get a job involved with it in the future, yet at my school a Photography GCSE was not available, and i have chose like ICT + DT etc, related to photography and practical. Now i was wondering if my Future lack of Tography GCSE will lead to me not being able to participate In Tography A levels etc.
Any thoughts? :) Not worrying, jes thinking
 
I can't see a GCSE in Photography doing much to be honest! Much better to not try and specialise too early. I very much doubt any Photography course at a college will require you to have a GCSE though.
 
My school didn't offer it either at GCSE or A-level so therefore i took a computing route. If they do not offer it and you are sure that is what you want to do then do alot of practice, maybe do a course or get a part-time job as a photographers assistant or work experience. I'm not sure whether this helps you in your decision but its advice that i've been given.
Thanks,
Justyn
 
Haven't heard of an A Level in Photography (probably just my ignorance) but if you wanted a career in Photography then a National Diploma is along the same lines. You can enrol on a National Diploma (ND) in Photography so long as you have at least a 'C' in Maths and English. Least thats how it is right now for a few colleges in my area but I think every college has a different take on 'what you need to get in' but it'll never be anything higher than needing a C in English and Maths. I'd suggest you get at least a C in Maths and English. Anything else doesn't really matter but hey, you never know, you might need at least 5 Cs for some colleges so it don't hurt to try. For me, it didn't matter (but I still had the grades as backup) but I think it all counts towards getting into Uni so you may aswell give it a shot.

Look around some colleges and I'd suggest doing a two year National Diploma in Photography. I did an ND in Graphics and then decided I liked Photography more than the graphical side but because its a slightly related field and I've got a few "decent" portfolio shots, I'll be able to latch onto a Higher National Diploma or a HNC course in Photography anyway. You'll pass the ND, go on to do another 2 years with HND or HNC and then maybe a Degree at Uni in Photography, Photo Journalism or whatever you feel like. But plenty of people land jobs after the HNC or HND course and some even after the ND. Hell, my tutor at college was in the middle of a HNC course while he was doing wedding photography and teaching photography so you don't necessarily need the grades to make it. Although it obviously helps in certain situations and having the contacts from Uni helps a great deal.

I'm rambing... but nah, you don't need any background qualifications to get onto Photography courses at college so long as you've got a basic understanding of English and Maths like I said above.
 
I did photography at A Level and it was a good start, moved on to study it at Uni which is an entirely different kettle of fish i can tell you. I highly doubt a GCSE in it exists, might help to be doing something like GCSE Art though. Even the ND would be a good start. although i highly recommend doing something like an english a level alongside, helps if you do it at uni when you get to doing the big Dissertation.
 
I did a GCSE in Photography when I did my a-levels... ( A long long time ago ) I got a B :D
 
A gcse photography exists, but to enrol on a A Level type corse you need 5 c's or above...
 
I did GCSE Photography (was the only person in the school doing it) - its wasnt great to be honest, was pretty much just art, but I was able to create a photo at the end, not a drawing/painting. Wouldnt say not having it would affect you possibilites in the future. Most colleges will go on general GCSE results, like getting 5 at C or above etc. I did a National Diploma (like purplefungus) but mine was in media. That enabled me to do a media degree, with which I could have done some photography modules (but unfortunatly didnt).

To be honest as long as you are in the right ball park area most colleges and unis will accept you onto a course. Hell in this day and age not many places turn people away!
 
GCSE does exist, but I probably wouldn't bother with it even if it was offered at your school. My sister did A-level photography without a GCSE in it. The course seemed alright from what I could see, lots of messing around in the darkroom and different things. How useful it would have been if she'd wanted to move towards professional togging I don't know (she's in textiles and fashion design now, so slightly related I guess).

My ex-girlfriend did an ND photography at college without studying it beforehand. She then went on to do an HND at Blackpool and the Fylde and now works in editorial photography and web-design. She said it was a good course and I think more practically based than some degrees can be.

There's a lad on my course now (in Australia) who did 4 years of photography for his VCE (sort of between GCSE and A-level I guess). All its given him is very little talent and a very big head full of useless semi-knowledge.

Jamie.
 
For a career in photography, you need to be talented. Have an eye for what makes a good photo. GCSE's and A-Levels teach you how to use a camera, and how it all works, but as Morpheus says in the Matrix, "I can only show you the door, you are the one who has to walk through it."
 
I did a GCSE in photography during my a levels too. Didn't go to any classes at all (having more A Levels than i care to remember to study for).. and got an A.or A* if they had started then (I can't remember!) It was more because I fell in love with photography than anything, and so the time was spent learning learning learning. I don't believe you need any formal qualifications.

Skill, an eye (or two), some form of business acumen, personality. These are all way more important. One or two can be acquired through courses, but not all!
 
At a slight tangent, but also helpful & informative....

My son decided he didn't want to do A levels, but still wanted to go to Uni, so he went down the path of a "BTEC" National Diploma which consisted of 18 modules, equivalent to 3 A levels.

His was an IT subject, but I wouldn't be surprised if there is one in Photography, you may just have to find college that caters for it. My son is now studying IT Security at UWE in Bristol. (I say studying, I'm not sure when he fits that in between working, drinking, and girls :nono:)

As others have said though, work hard at English & Maths, they are backbone of everything else you'll likely to do. Physics can come in handy for photography too.

Steve
 
Jelster said:
My son decided he didn't want to do A levels, but still wanted to go to Uni, so he went down the path of a "BTEC" National Diploma which consisted of 18 modules, equivalent to 3 A levels.
Steve
Click to expand...

Yes, this is the ND I alluded to in my post (that the ex did). I think the usual route is just to do the one subject, ie photography, as opposed to 3-5 A-levels that most do at college. Although some colleges insist on key skills or some rubbish alongside as well.

I studied mechanical maths and physics at college. There's obviously some correlation between them and photography, but nothing that will really make you a better photographer. Just like understanding how a jet engine works doesn't make you a fighter pilot. Nice to know, but of little consequence (on the most part).
 
BTEC is what i did, given that it was media production and not photography. I would 100% advise anyone to do them. They tend to be much more practical than A-levels so therefor have less paperwork :)
 
It really all depends as what level you want to go to in Photography. If you are looking at Uni or College then try to find the course you might be interested in. The see what qualifications you are going to need and then aim for that.

When I did my Photography course ( a very long time ago) They were more interested in Maths and English than any photography qualifications. Probably will have changed a bit since then though.
 
I'm surprised it hasn't been mentioned yet, but business studies is also something that is likely to be very useful if you ever wanted to become a freelance photographer.
 
All you need really is an eye for a good image, ideas, understanding. All of which just comes from playing with your camera and getting out there.

I have a mate who is at Uni doing photography, but they don't really understand how a camera works, just good a writting essays and stuff. It's funny thou as they don't really see what is a good image they just take what they have been told to due to the brief which has been set.

Thats not a photographer!! Photographers have ideas and know what they are doing.
 
I did photography GCSE in 6th form then went straight into a degree in Photography which is unusual. Generally I woudn't rate the A-level in photography but in either case further education in the subject is more down to your portfolio than anything else. I should point out I was the only person on my course who'd done the GCSE, everyone else had done Art Foundation or were mature students. I suspect the GCSE has change now and is more digitally orientated rather than some proper darkroom processing which is essential IMHO not to mention good fun.

I'll also second the business studies thing. You can be the best photographer in the world but if you don't understand business you will fail.
 
I'm currently doing photography A level, and did it at GCSE which is pretty simple.

However there are people on my course who hadn't even done GCSE and they allowed them to do the A level. All GCSE does is familiarise you with the darkroom, and how to write about photographs, so i can't see them asking for it to alevel etc. Really just show an interest.
 
lol replys!
I dont have the choice!
I was just wondering lol, i do photography so often, i know how a camera works and how to use one, what good composiition is etc so yeah
Im a bright person at school to, so 5 c's etc will be pretty easy.
 
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