Photography: Areas of Study Orientation
The areas of study within photography, and how a portfolio responds to a brief for a chosen audience.
Justify the choices, the way you are assessed
Free interactive practice on the decisions the assessment actually asks you to justify.
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Photography
Photography is the making of lens-based images, including moving image, to meet a brief for an audience. A photographer chooses an area of study to focus on, from studio work to documentary photography.
Words for the brief
Learn these four terms before you explore the areas of study.
Two areas compared
Different areas of study produce different kinds of image.
Every image answers the brief
To reach the top grades, tie every image to the brief and the audience, then explain the choices of subject, light and composition. Note that installation is shared with Fine Art.
Match the area to what it captures
- documentary photography
- studio photography
- location photography
- photo-journalism
- real events and everyday social life
- controlled shots taken indoors with lighting
- images shot on site in the real world
- images that tell a news story
Match the term to its meaning
- photography
- brief
- audience
- experimental imagery
- the making of lens-based images
- the requirements set by a client
- the people a set of images is aimed at
- images that try new techniques and effects
What is an area of study?
Which description best fits an area of study in photography?
- A distinct field of photography a photographer can focus on.
- The client who pays for the images.
- A single make of camera.
- One technique, such as long exposure.
Which are photography areas?
Select the TWO photography areas of study.
- Studio photography.
- Photo-journalism.
- Textile weaving.
- Architectural design.
Order the photography process
Put the photography process in order, first step first.
- Read the brief
- Research the audience
- Shoot and develop images
- Produce the final piece
Summarise the workflow
A photographer works from a _____ for a chosen _____. Areas of study include _____ photography shot indoors and _____ photography shot in the real world. Every image should tell a clear _____.
Count the objectives
A photography portfolio is marked against the assessment objectives numbered AO1 to AO4. How many assessment objectives are there?
Spot the photography areas
Tap the TWO photography areas of study.
- studio photography
- textile weaving
- documentary photography
- ceramics
- typography
Which area fits the task?
Match each task to its photography area of study.
- Posed portraits taken indoors with lighting
- Images that record a protest for a newspaper
- Candid images of daily life in a town
Respond to a brief
Explain how you would respond to a photography brief for a set of images. Refer to the brief, the audience and at least one area of study.
- Explain what the brief and audience tell you
- Name at least one area of study you would use
- Explain how your images suit the audience