Scotland · SQAQ&A
PhotographyQ&A by dot point
A short Q&A bank for every Scotland Photography syllabus dot point. Each question and answer is drawn directly from our worked dot-point page, so you can scan key concepts before opening the long-form answer.
Analysis and Evaluation
- Analysing photographs: answering Section 2 (Analysis) of the question paper by analysing an unseen image's visual elements, technical and creative decisions, and explaining the impact and meaning these create for the viewer.4Q&A pairs
- Evaluating your own work: reflecting on and evaluating the effectiveness of your photographic practice and the quality of your images against your intentions, identifying strengths and weaknesses with reasons, and judging how well the work communicates.3Q&A pairs
- Photographers and influences: investigating selected photographers' work and practice, explaining how external influences (social, cultural, historical, technological) shape their photography, and using this understanding to inform your own personal approaches.5Q&A pairs
Course Assessment
- The photography project: the coursework overview - planning, developing and evaluating a personal photography project, presenting a series of 12 images, across planning and investigation (20 marks), development and production (70 marks) and evaluation (10 marks).3Q&A pairs
- The question paper: structure and demands of the externally marked question paper - Section 1 (multiple choice, 10 marks) testing technical knowledge and Section 2 (analysis, 20 marks) analysing an unseen image, 30 marks in 1 hour.5Q&A pairs
Image-Making Skills
- Camera handling and controls: aperture, shutter speed and ISO, the exposure triangle, and the camera modes (manual, aperture priority, shutter priority) that let you control exposure and creative effect deliberately.3Q&A pairs
- Composition and image-making: framing and cropping, viewpoint and angle, the rule of thirds and placement, leading lines, balance and the use of depth of field as a compositional tool to guide the viewer's eye.4Q&A pairs
- Exposure and light: light metering and correct exposure, the quality and direction of light, natural and artificial light sources, white balance, and using light deliberately for mood and effect.3Q&A pairs
- Genres, techniques and processes: the main photographic genres (portrait, landscape, still life, documentary and more), specialist techniques (long exposure, macro, shallow focus, panning), and the workflow of capture, post-production editing and presentation.5Q&A pairs