Ercall Wood Academy

“Photography is a way of feeling, of touching, of loving. What you have caught on film is captured forever… It remembers little things, long after you have forgotten everything.” - Aaron Siskind

Studying photography at Ercall Wood Academy allows students to expand their skills as they immerse themselves in the subject whilst surrounded by peers with the same passion for imagery. Students confidence as a photographer, learn about all aspects of the medium and its pioneers. The curriculum provides an accessible way for students to express their creativity through a range of digital and traditional techniques and embed a system for development of these ideas and guidance towards sophisticated outcomes with meaningful and thought-provoking intentions.

Students are required to undertake a number of written skills including image analysis and self-evaluation practises. The course encourages students to look beyond the objects in an image and find meaning behind them through critical analysis. The curriculum is set up in a way that students access the skills needed in an order that makes sense and relates to the working world. This allows not only a hands-on approach but also a realistic insight into potential career prospects. Students develop visual literacy and key words and phrases and learn post-production skills in stages, gradually developing from basic tools to application and refined manipulation of multiple techniques that can be used in a wider range of projects in later life.

The course introduces students to “threshold concepts” which transforms basic works of art into collaborative pieces engaging with other areas of the curriculum. Subjects we potentially work with include Textiles, Product Design, Literacy, Mathematics, History and Ethics. Students are inspired and encouraged to develop confidence in their own abilities. They share resources, work as groups and independently. Further skills are developed in problem solving and research skills, understanding in appropriate behaviour in a workplace environment, respect for other students, building relationships, engaging with controversial topics, workshops participation and learning about photography law and business skills.

The curriculum helps prepare students for the growing creative industries sector and provide them a range of transferrable skills to use in the real world.

Decision making, digital understanding, communication, self-confidence, presentation, collaboration, self-analysis, research and marketing skills are all essential elements of a professional photographers working practice and are therefore the foundation of any good photographic teaching.