Wilmington Grammar School for Boys, Common Lane, Wilmington, Dartford, DA2 7DA
01322 223090

PHOTOGRAPHY

PHOTOGRAPHY

Our vision for the Photography Department is to create a dynamic and inspiring learning environment where students can explore and master the art and craft of photography. We aim to ignite a passion for visual storytelling, foster critical and creative thinking, and develop technical proficiency with both traditional and digital photographic techniques. Through a comprehensive curriculum, hands-on projects, and engagement with contemporary photographic practices, we prepare our students for success in higher education and professional careers, empowering them to make meaningful contributions to the visual arts and media industries.

Department Vision

  • All students have creative potential and through a well-structured & diverse curriculum we develop students’ practical, creative thinking and problem-solving skills.
  • We balance the teaching of skills whilst giving students a voice to communicate their thoughts, feelings and ideas through the artworks they learn about and create.
  • We guide our students to develop independent thinking skills and visual literacy along with a knowledge of and passion for art throughout history and in the contemporary world, alongside an understanding of the value of arts in society.
  • We provide a learning environment that encourages the students to embrace the schools PRIDE values, all of which underpin successful learning in the department.
  • Above all we aim to give students a safe and nurturing environment within which they can develop their confidence as creative individuals.
Post 16 at WG6

YEAR 12 PHOTOGRAPHY

 TOPICLEARNING OUTCOMES
TERM 1WHAT IS PHOTOGRAPHY?Make a camera obscuraDSLR Camera settingsAperture/depth of fieldShutter speed – slow/fast shutter speed photoshootsComposition – Rodchenko photoshootFocus/out of focus – Uta Barth photographer studyExposure – high key/low key photoshoot
TERM 2MELANCHOLY STREET PHOTOGRAPHYMINIMALISMCOMMERCIAL PHOTOGRAPHYPORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHYA study of the work of Sudek, Atget, BrassaiA study of the genre ‘Minimalism’How to shoot documentary photosHow to use light to create portrait photography
TERM 3THRESHOLD CONCEPTSPhotography has many genresPhotography is the capturing of lightPhotography is a hybrid kind of picture making, democratic and diversePhotography is an art of selection rather than inventionPhotographs are abstractions, shaped by technologyPhotographs rely on chance, more or lessPhotographs are not fixed in meaning, context is everythingPhotographs have their own visual language and ‘grammar’Photographs are not neutral; they are susceptible to the abuse of powerPhotographs warp our sense of time; they remind us of things lost
TERM 4PERSONAL PORTFOLIO/EXAM PREP Choose personal portfolio themeContextual researchDeveloping an idea 
TERM 5EXAM PREP/MOCK EXAMExperimentingRefining
TERM 6PERSONAL PORTFOLIO CONTINUEDContextual researchDeveloping an ideaExperimentingRefining

YEAR 13 ART & PHOTOGRAPHY

 TOPICLEARNING OUTCOMES
TERM 1PERSONAL PORTFOLIO CONTINUEDPERSONAL WRITTEN STUDYContextual research
Developing an idea
Experimenting
Refining
Essay 1000-3000 words
TERM 2PERSONAL PORTFOLIO CONTINUEDPERSONAL WRITTEN STUDYContextual research
Developing an idea
Experimenting
Refining
Essay 1000-3000 words
TERM 3PERSONAL PORTFOLIO COMPLETIONMOCK EXAMINATIONUNIT 2 LAUNCHRefining portfolio work
Mock exam
Coursework deadline 31st January
Unit 2 launch 1st February
TERM 4UNIT 2Contextual research
Developing an idea
Experimenting
Refining
TERM 5UNIT 2 & FINAL EXAMExperimentingRefining
TERM 6