GCSE Photography Course.

Sponsored Links

15 Jul 2003 - 6:44 PM

• Options

Join ePHOTOzine for free and remove these adverts.

toby

8

15 Jul 2003 - 7:45 PM

• Options
  • Report Error / Abuse

0

Yea i can help.

I've done the AS level and the A-level.

The AS is basic & the A is more intense. I'd recommend the AS unless you are already very confident in your own ability.
Dunno about GCSE photography, sounds a bit easy & not challenging enough.

i can give you a rough idea of what kind of coursework the sylabus is if you want, just post again in this thread & i'll let you know.

Toby

SteveCharles

9

16 Jul 2003 - 8:24 AM

• Options
  • Report Error / Abuse

0

Hi Ade,

Have you thought about doing the City & Guilds course? I've just finished it, and would highly recommend it.

My tutor had taught A level previously, and she said that the C&G covered much more in comparison. I would assume that GCSE would cover less than A level.

I found it a bit simple at first, because if you already know a bit it covers a lot of familiar ground, but then any course will. It still helps to re-learn stuff in a structured way though.

There's a lot of work to do (3 workbooks, 30 final mounted prints + the assignments) but it's ok if you can devote the time - I've deferred handing my work in until later this year, but that's because I moved house while trying to do the course!

Steve

SteveCharles

9

16 Jul 2003 - 9:34 AM

• Options
  • Report Error / Abuse

0

Hi Khai,

I've no idea if C&G do correspondance courses! I did mine at college (evening classes once a week, 36 weeks) and enrolled at the college itself, as you would for any course done there.

I don't think it would work by correspondance, because of the studio and darkroom work involved. Although different colleges do different modules, learning to print black & white in the darkroom is pretty fundamental to the course.

Steve

pilotade

8

16 Jul 2003 - 11:10 AM

• Options
  • Report Error / Abuse

0

Thanks Steve

C&G is an option in another college.

Thanks again.

Ade

SteveCharles

9

16 Jul 2003 - 2:53 PM

• Options
  • Report Error / Abuse

0

Hi Michelle,

I was intending at some point to write an article on the C&G course for ephotozine, but it may be a little while coming due to work and DIY commitments! I won't give a breakdown of the course here (your college should be able to give you the course structure anyway), but I'll give you some tips based on my experience....

1. Don't be nervous! My tutor and class were very easy going, and we were all in the same age group (25-35). It started as 16 people, but gradually dwindled to about 8. Also, it starts right at the beginning (what is a camera?!), so no experience necessary.

2. You don't need the latest gear. I already had a Canon EOS autofocus SLR, which is perfectly fine for the course, but when the course started I borrowed an old Nikon FE, a manual SLR from the late 70's, and found it perfect for the course because (a) it is easier to focus manually, (b) the aperture ring on the lenses is great for learning to balance the controls, (c) it has a depth of field preview button (the Canon doesn't), and (d) it has a studio flash sync socket.

3. Budget for the extra expense. There's a few assignments in term one that of course require film and high street processing. Also, each module requires 10 mounted prints at the end - doesn't sound a lot, but 20 colour enlargements and mounting board are expensive, especially if left 'til the end like me!

4. Spread your work out. Try and work on your workbooks and final assignments as you go, you'll be grateful at the end! Believe me, if you end up with 3 weeks to go and 3 workbooks to do and 30 pictures to take/enlarge/mount, it won't happen. I still haven't completed mine!

5. Maximise darkroom time. Buy black & white film processing equipment & chemicals and process B&W films at home, instead of wasting valuble printing time in the darkroom doing it. When learning, it's easy to waste an hour of a 2.5 hour lesson just processing a film! You can get films processed without prints in the high street, but I think it defeats the object of learning to do it yourself.

I hope this helps. Any more questions, just ask!

Enjoy the course,

Steve

macroman

9

16 Jul 2003 - 7:34 PM

• Options
  • Report Error / Abuse

0

Hello Ade,

I can positively recommend th C&G courses.
Up till about 21/2years ago I was on the courses run by the local Adult Community College.
The courses were very good and I managed achieve three distinctions.
Unfortunately I never got the the last two as the college closed down all the photography courses a few weeks before the submission date for the modules.

Also as a bonus 5 C&G passes will allow you to automatically get your LRPS.

up2you7

8

19 Jul 2003 - 3:33 AM

• Options
  • Report Error / Abuse

0

Hi, I am new to this site and have been out of "proper photography" for about 20 years, but am enrolled on c and g 6923 at barking college in east london starting in september. I enrolled on wednesday and they said they still had quite a few places,they have told me it is in 3 parts and have explained it very well, I have never been to college, but it looks very good there and everyone seems helpful. Apparently, the catering students run the bistro inside the college to a high standard and it also has a well equiped gym! I have enjoyed reading the responses here and feel more prepared now,I hope everyone studying any course is successful and look forward to sharing with you all, our experiences on the road to academic wisdom.