Externally-set Assignment
Overview
Pearson releases one theme on 2 January, and for a photographer that release starts a clock on something other people do not have to think about: the light you will need may only exist at certain hours, in certain weather, in certain months. A response that depends on midwinter dusk cannot be shot in May. The preparatory period is not just when you think, it is when the light is still available.
Then ten supervised hours, unaided, in which the final response has to be produced from your own sealed preparatory studies. This note is about what those hours can realistically contain in a photography department: what you shoot in the room and what you cannot, how long editing and printing actually take, what a darkroom adds and costs, and how to arrive with everything decided so that supervised time is spent making prints rather than making up your mind.
Objectives
- Present personal responses to an externally-set broad-based thematic starting point
- Complete preparatory studies in response to the externally-set theme
- Complete a 10-hour period of sustained focus under supervised conditions
- Submit three sheets of supporting studies (maximum A2) and one sheet of final outcome(s) (maximum A2)
Lesson Note
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Lesson Evaluation
Congratulations on completing the lesson on Externally-set Assignment. Now that youve explored the key concepts and ideas, its time to put your knowledge to the test. This section offers a variety of practice questions designed to reinforce your understanding and help you gauge your grasp of the material.
You will encounter a mix of question types, including multiple-choice questions, short answer questions, and essay questions. Each question is thoughtfully crafted to assess different aspects of your knowledge and critical thinking skills.
Use this evaluation section as an opportunity to reinforce your understanding of the topic and to identify any areas where you may need additional study. Don't be discouraged by any challenges you encounter; instead, view them as opportunities for growth and improvement.
- Why should seasonal or weather-dependent material be captured during the preparatory period? A) Because the specification bans shooting after 2 January B) Because during the supervised sessions a candidate works only from their own preparatory studies and cannot leave to shoot C) Because prints made from winter negatives are sharper D) Because the theme changes in spring Answer: B
- A candidate wants to bring their own photographic paper into the examination venue. What is required? A) Nothing, materials are always permitted B) Permission from the examination centre C) Approval from Pearson D) A note on the contact sheet Answer: B
- Which of these is the strongest reason to make darkroom or camera-less work early in the ten hours? A) The darkroom is warmer in the morning B) Wet prints need to dry and flatten before they can be mounted, and the gaps between sessions provide that time C) Chemicals expire during the assessment period D) The invigilator must witness the first print Answer: B
- What does a test strip establish? A) The contrast grade of the paper B) The correct exposure before a full print is made C) The depth of field of the lens D) The colour temperature of the light Answer: B
- A response consists of four prints of a constructed still life and one photogram. Why does consistency across the four prints matter for AO4? A) Because identical prints are quicker to mount B) Because a set that shares a light, a distance and an idea reads as a realised response rather than as a collection of separate images C) Because the specification requires four images D) Because inconsistent prints cannot be photographed Answer: B
Available on the Green Bridge App
Download the Green Bridge CBT app on your phone or computer to access full lesson notes, practice questions, and more.
Available on the Green Bridge App
Download the Green Bridge CBT app on your phone or computer to access full lesson notes, practice questions, and more.
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