GCSE photography, do you need to be arty?

[creamteas]

DS3 is in the process of choosing options and is potentially interested in GCSE photography. He has a good camera and this is a hobby of his. But he has ASD which means that his interest in photography is technical rather than arty, and he struggles with imagination and anything beyond literal interpretation. One of his photos won a third place in a local nature photography competition so he can produce good shots.

I've looked at the Edexcel spec and it reads to me as if being good technically would be ok. But the Head of Art thinks only DC who are arty in general have a chance of success. Is this likely to be the case? Anyone have any experience of this?

creamcakes I dont have any expirience with GCSE yet ..only up tp yr 7 ! But sounds like a fab one to do especialy he he likes it ! .Surely"arty" can be percieved in different ways...and I would have thought a technical appraoch would be good ?....lines/lighting/coulours/tones sort of thing ???

All "artists"(and indeed everyone ) percieve things differently...and see things differently .

My ds is supoosed to be good at art (teacher said) but his picture of a shepherd last week looked like yr1 work......but his own design of a family crest of arms(not a shepherd in sight !!) was amazing !!!

My ds3 would love this (awaiting a dx for "something ??)

Good luck !!

(So jelous actually of the choices they get now !!)

My DS did A level photography without doing the GCSE. However, I expect the procedure is similar. My DS too is not arty, didn't do GCSE art and has ASD traits. Technically he had no problems and his final photographs were great.

At A level they also have to produce a sketch book and this is the part that might need the arty tendencies. I would suggest that if sketch books etc are part of the GCSE I would ask to see some of the current students' books and I am sure that would help you and your DS decide whether it was the course for him. My DS found there was also a bit of "playing the game" in presenting their work. Once he understood this it was reasonably straightforward. If your DS is a straight A/A* student then maybe he would need some arty skills to get a similar grade in photography. It is also depends on what the photography teachers definition of success is too?!

DD is in the first year of GCSE Photography - there seems to be quite a bit research of different photographers, developing opinions of them etc. That side of it seems very similar to GCSE Art. It does seem to have been developed as a sort of parallel course.

Actually DD who is sort of 'arty' has struggled a bit with that so far (tbf there is a bit of laziness there, she would rather spend hours just drawing or painting rather than look at other artists but obv. it's good that she's being made to).

Most of the assignments don't require a great deal of technical proficiency - they could be done with a point & shoot camera, but equally I can't see how being technically good would hamper you.
There have been a couple of things like pinhole camera making which would appeal to the technically minded, but they might be pitched a bit low if you were really technical.

If the GCSE isn't suitable for your DS, but he still wants to study photography out of school, something like a Btech or a City & Guilds at a FE college (not sure if it's still true, but I was told the C&G used to be VERY technical, which was why my local college switched to the easier Btech) might be good if you are lucky enough to find a weekend or evening course.

Or even a local college or camera club which does short, specific, courses - these often have great teachers (not really cheap but quite intensive, a world away from learning at school).

Thanks for your help, it is usual to know of other's experiences. I think I'll ask if we can have a bit of a chat and see some existing work before we decide. This is the most appealing choice in the option block, but I don't want to set him up to fail.