[Carlos92]

Do you have to be able to draw at all to be able to do A-Level Art: Photography?

Do you think it is a good subject to do, otherwise I'm doing strongly academic subjects (considering a Law degree) but I'd quite like to do AS Level Photography just for enjoyment, should I drop another subject to do this, take it as a fifth, or not do it at all?

[SuicidalLemming]

I never needed to be able to draw, and I got an A in AS Photography

[simmerz91]

I don't think you even need to have an education to do A-level photography.

[Hygge]

No drawing necessary. Photography can be quite time-consuming...but if you think you'll enjoy it you should definitely give it a go.

[Nayberay]

I would love to do AS Photography part time..My mate did it and she said she enjoyed herself throughout the whole course

[Carlos92]

Originally Posted by simmerz91

I don't think you even need to have an education to do A-level photography.

This is what I mean about I'm not doing it for academic purposes :P Just need some way to express myself creatively and photography sounds like fun.

So in terms of that, definitely do it as a fifth if I'm doing it?

Is it a heavy work load?

[Hygge]

It is fun! You get all these smarta***s going on about how it isn't a real A-level and that it's a waste of time, but if you're doing it mainly for enjoyment then what's the problem? I did it alongside more academic subjects and thought it was brilliant.

[Hygge]

Originally Posted by Carlos92

This is what I mean about I'm not doing it for academic purposes :P Just need some way to express myself creatively and photography sounds like fun.

So in terms of that, definitely do it as a fifth if I'm doing it?

Is it a heavy work load?

Yep as a fifth is fine, that's what I did.

You need to put quite a bit of time into presenting all the work nicely...but it's all good fun really.

[simmerz91]

Smartass? Its the general consensus that its a bit of a 'doss' subject and that universities tend not to favour it.

I was chatting to my friend at school who does it and he said that for the actual AS exam, he was simply being marked on editing some photos he'd taken beforehand, via computer and then putting them on some kind of board...wow, very tasking!

[Hygge]

Originally Posted by simmerz91

Smartass? Its the general consensus that its a bit of a 'doss' subject and that universities tend not to favour it.

I was chatting to my friend at school who does it and he said that for the actual AS exam, he was simply being marked on editing it, via a computer and then putting it on some kind of board...wow, very tasking!

Yes but who says everything you do at college has to be academic? The OP is doing 4 other "academic" subjects anyway so should be fine in terms of getting into uni.

[simmerz91]

You do have a point...surely, every A level you do should be ones that you enjoy...go for it.

[Carlos92]

Do you think it's inclusion with four academic subjects will harm my application to any top tier universities?

[Officer Dibble]

Originally Posted by simmerz91

I don't think you even need to have an education to do A-level photography.

lolz!

[ocelotrevs]

You'd may have to do a few sketches, to show that you've planned your photographs. But otherwise no.

[Hygge]

Originally Posted by Carlos92

Do you think it's inclusion with four academic subjects will harm my application to any top tier universities?

Not at all

[jammyd0dger]

i took photography this year for the same reasons, thought it would be 'fun' and something a little creative because i liked art but didn't want the time consumption art can create. boy was i wrong! probably have spent more time on photography than any other subject. found my particular course/teacher very poor.

also consider expense unless your college will provide the basics free. i had to buy 1 40 quid SLR, many rolls of black and white film at 4 quid a pop, many got ruined for unforeseen circumstances. photographic paper will set you back 27 quid for 100 sheets. you'll constantly need other stuff like big boards/getting professional print outs for final prints, photograph displaying books. lots of people in my class bought 400 quid digital slr's, i bought a new digital camera cus my old one wasn't up to scratch. it all adds up.

don't want to put you off but certainly look at the course outline/how much stuff they are willing to give you!

[Jadel_L]

I wouldn't take it if i were you. I've just finished my A Level in it and i don't enjoy photography as much as i used to. I used to go out most days taking photos of everything and now i don't bother, the last time i took any photos was when i was preparing for my exam in early march.

It's also really expensive, i was lucky because in my first year i didn't have to pay for anything but i did in my second year. It was a pound a sheet for the photo paper and we needed between 12 and 15 photos for each module, two in total, and you also have to allow for any mistakes which can be a lot.
And then you have the portfolio which can cost anything, mine was around £20 and they lost it, luckily it only had my first year stuff in but i was made to buy another one.

If you want to do it so much join a club, you'l find it a lot more enjoyable. The topics for the exams are also getting a lot worse and boring which isn't what photography should be about.

[ocelotrevs]

You 2 got it really bad.
£1 a sheet of paper. Whoa!

When I did it, it was all free, except the cameras. But we could borrow a college one. And I was given my camera.
So it'd be best to check that out first if you do it.

I found it really enjoyable, and started taking more pictures when I finished.

[Hygge]

No huge costs involved for me either, just a few quid per module for prints.

[sittingonthedock1]

i've just finished my two years of photography A level. Well fun. Don't really need to draw, but you need to have a good eye for stuff coz it's not a doss subject like lots of people think it is. and if you want to do well (like As) then there is quite a heavy work load,but i did fine art too,so i guess that makes me biased.
try it out if you like the sound of it