Hurtwood House School

If a picture is worth a thousand words it could be argued that the camera has done more to shape our opinions, our tastes and our view of the world than any invention since the printing press. Photography is now the most widespread form of image-making in the world. Newspapers and magazines and advertising hoardings feed us thousands of photographic images every day, and they are perhaps more influential than we care to admit. The camera is an instrument of record and information but in the hands of a Richard Avedon or a Helmut Newton it is also a potent instrument of persuasion and a powerful artistic medium. A photograph can make a career, destroy a reputation, sell a car, justify a war, make us laugh or move us to tears.

Iconic pictures by photographers like Don McCullin and Frank Cappa have also done much to shape our view of modern history: images of the marines hoisting the American flag at Iwo Jima, the naked child running from Napalm bombs in Vietnam, the twin towers burning, the 1966 World Cup team, Churchill’s victory salute – all captured in a moment of time through the photographer’s lens.

Since its inception photography has also been recognised as a major art form. Artists such as Cartier Bresson and Man Ray have shown us how to look at the world through new eyes. They inform. They provoke. They can delight us or dismay us. They paint with light and they repay study and appreciation.

This course may be for you as a future artist, photo-journalist, professional photographer or amateur enthusiast. One thing is certain – the skills and techniques you will learn will last for a lifetime and provide you with pleasure and fulfilment way beyond the confines of the A-level course.

Simon spent over 7 years working in print  and reprographics for various companies before taking a career break and traveling around the world for 2 years, during which time he worked as a croupier. Originally a '4 colour planner' he reskilled himself when the industry became digital and PC based.

Always a keen photographer he returned to further his studies and also to work in education, initially as technical support before moving to Hurtwood as a practical and classroom teacher. Simon has worked extensively with students for their practical work in DTP, video and web design. Digital Photography encompasses a whole range of skills and practice allowing very impressive portfolios to be built.

"I have always been an "enthusiast" and have a real passion for the subject which I hope rubs off on the students. The course is completely digital, which utilises my many years of Photoshop skills both in industry and academia. I demand very high standards, and this has been shown in the results and, more importantly, in the final exhibitions, portfolios and increasing Photography school places in Higher Education."

Tom Wichelow balances a freelance photographic career with his teaching days at Hurtwood house.  He has operated in the photographic industry for over 10 years and continues to work as a freelance artist and photographer for a variety of clients.  His work has been exhibited widely and printed in publications such as The Observer, The Independent Magazine, Dazed and Confused magazine, The Big Issue and Sleaze Nation. 
 
After several years in a number of jobs and several years on the road he graduated from the Brighton University Editorial Photography degree and has since taught photography at a number of establishments.  He is currently a Visiting Teaching Fellow at Sussex University.

Candidates are required to work in one or more area(s) of Photography, such as those listed below. They may explore overlapping areas and combinations of areas.

• portraiture
• landscape photography (working from the urban, rural and/or coastal environment)
• still-life photography, working from objects or from the natural world
  documentary photography, photo journalism
• experimental imagery
• photographic installation, video, television and film

The course will only use digital cameras so students should be aware that a developed sense of I.T. skills will be needed especially with respect to image manipulation and presentation. (photoshop).

The course will undertake looking many different aspects of photography; from the technical to studies of experienced practitioners and past masters, applying techniques and creating unique and individual pieces of personal work. We will arrange trips to galleries and exhibitions where possible. Discussions and individual tutorials will take place throughout the course and this will be combined with traditional classwork and practical tasks.

AS level work will involve basic camera knowledge, learning correct terminology and standard computer imaging skills, as well as studying images, their meanings / interpretations and placing them in context. Units will then be taught with students creating a substantial, and hopefully impressive, portfolio.

Candidates will be required to demonstrate skills in all of the following:

• the ability to explore elements of visual language, line, form, colour, pattern and texture in the context of Photography
• the ability to respond to an issue, theme, concept or idea or work to a brief or answer a need in Photography
• appreciation of viewpoint, composition, depth of field and movement; time-based, through such techniques as sequence or ‘frozen moment’
• the appropriate use of the camera, fi lm, lenses, filters and lighting for work in their chosen area of Photography
• understanding of techniques related to the developing and printing of photographic images, where appropriate, presentation and layout.

Candidates must show knowledge and understanding of:

• how ideas, feelings and meanings can be conveyed and interpreted in images and artefacts created in the chosen area(s) of Photography
• historical and contemporary developments and different styles and genres
• how images and artefacts relate to social, environmental, cultural and/or ethical contexts, and to the time and place in which they were created
• continuity and change in different styles, genres and traditions relevant to Photography
• the working vocabulary and specialist terminology which is relevant to their chosen area(s) of Photography.

Tutorials:
All students can request individual tutorials at any time. I will also regularly talk with students individually to discuss their work and progress in the subject.

Deadlines:
Dates are always given well in advance.
All practical work and sketchbooks to be handed in and stored away.
Other deadlines will be published at the start of the academic year. Students will be informed when they will be expected to hand either sketchbooks or assignments in to be graded. The grading will be carried out by myself which over recent years has been rated highly by the moderator.

Unit 2&4 Question Papers distributed to students 4 school weeks before the Easter break.
Preparatory studies must be completed in a third sketchbook. I will carefully go through the question paper together with the students pointing out a wide variety of approaches to each question and how it might relate to a student’s own work and personal experiences.

Term 3 (final)
Unit 2:  5 hour externally set assignment
Unit 4:  15 hour externally set assignment

This unit is set by AQA. Students select one question to answer from a range of questions. The Controlled Test is in two parts: a preparatory period when students carry out initial research and investigations and identify artists, designers and craft people whose work they wish to make connections with; and a timed five hour unaided test when students are required to respond to their initial investigations and plan further developments. At A2 it is 15 hours
Work presented for assessment must show coverage of each of the assessment objectives as outlined in the AQA specifications. The final presentation must include sketchbooks including an introduction, evidence of research, analysis, experimentation with media, idea development, outcomes and an evaluation.
Students must demonstrate an awareness of other artists’ work through transcriptions and critical writing.

We cover / explore at AS level in the first 6-7 weeks the following:

Book Presentation (Technical Book)
Basic questions
Speed and Aperture
Camera functions
Adobe bridge and Photoshop 1
Don McCullin
Alphabet task
Lenses
Practice at Ewhurst and B. Webb houses
Photoshop 2
Henri Cartier Bresson
Depth of Field
Foredown Tower trip
Photoshop 3
History essay and timeline
Composition 1-6
Photoshop famous five
NanGoldin
Panorama’s
The big test
Composition 7-12
Jeff Wall
Speed and motion* (time permitting)

After this is concluded we start on Visual news covering:
Documentary only
(additional works are added to the technical book until Easter)
This ends approx. Jan 31st

We cover / explore at A2 level in the first 6-7 weeks the following:

Book Presentation (indesign magazine - chapters) (Technical Book)
Summer Diary
Intro to Lightroom parts 1&2
Colour Theory
Indesign parts 1&2
RAW format
Line-Shape-Form
Centrepiece

"When it came to making a decision to which A levels I was going to do, I didn't want to choose a subject purely because it was on the list. I knew what I wanted to do, which in turn meant moving to Hurtwood so I was able study photography. I was always interested in the traditional methods of developing photographs in the darkroom, but knew that a digital course made a lot more sense seeing as this is the direction the industry has headed. To begin with we studied the core camera basics so we were really able get to grips with our cameras. We researched photographers, explored various digital/traditional techniques and got out there to experiment. All the time we were working on composition to turn regular snaps into something with more depth, meaning - and overall, an eye capturing photograph. 

After leaving Hurtwood I took a gap year as a chance to get some work experience and travel. When I returned I had no plans to go to university, instead I wanted to do something where I could ideally learn on the job. Photography is a very difficult field to get into and I thought of it as more of a hobby. As the photography course was digital I spent a lot of time learning the Adobe Creative Suite, which I really enjoyed using and picked up easily. This, as well as doing art and media is what ultimately lead me towards graphic design. After doing quite a bit of freelance work, building up a portfolio and doing the odd work placement here and there, about a year ago I started working for a marketing agency where I primarily work on web design and marketing collateral.  I really enjoy working here and the camera does come out every now again for odd jobs. One day -  and it’s probably everybody’s dream job - I would love to be travel photographer, gallivanting around the world taking photographs skipping the winter at every given opportunity!" Mark Kimber