Cambridge Syllabus Notes

Photography – IGCSE Art & Design (0400)

Learning Objective

Develop a thorough knowledge of the skills, processes and contextual understanding required for photography, enabling students to plan, create, evaluate and present photographic work that meets the Cambridge IGCSE (0400) assessment criteria.

Key Topics

Visual research & recording (first‑hand & secondary)
Camera and lens fundamentals (including perspective, scale and sensor size)
The Exposure Triangle – aperture, shutter speed, ISO
Composition and visual language
Lighting – natural and artificial
Colour theory, colour temperature & white balance
Extended media & processes (camera‑less, photomontage, animation)
Historical & contemporary photographic contexts
Digital workflow – file formats, non‑destructive editing, metadata, archiving
Safety, ethics, cultural sensitivity & copyright
Assessment criteria, self‑evaluation and reflection

1. Visual Research & Recording

Research underpins every successful photographic brief. It should be both visual (colour swatches, texture samples, image thumbnails) and textual (notes, citations).

Research Notebook Template

Date / Location	Sketch / Photo thumbnail	Colour / Texture samples	Source (book, website, museum)	Key observations & ideas
2025‑09‑12 – City Park	Insert sketch	#3A2F5B (fabric swatch)	MoMA online exhibition	Contrast between light‑filled pathways and deep shadows
…	…	…	…	…

Collect first‑hand images (quick shots, sketches) while on site.
Gather secondary references – books, online galleries, museum collections.
Create mood‑boards or digital collages that show colour palettes, composition ideas and thematic direction.
Maintain a research journal that records sources, dates, and brief reflections.
Quote all sources using a consistent citation style (e.g., Harvard).

Reflective prompt: What visual language have you identified in your research that will support your intended narrative?

2. Camera & Lens Fundamentals

Understanding the camera as a tool empowers creative control.

Component	Function
Lens	Focuses light; determines focal length, angle of view, depth of field and bokeh.
Aperture (f‑stop)	Size of the lens opening; influences exposure and depth of field.
Shutter	Controls the duration of exposure; affects motion blur.
ISO (sensor sensitivity)	Adjusts the sensor’s responsiveness to light; higher values add noise.
Viewfinder / LCD	Provides a preview of composition and exposure settings.
Memory Card / Film	Stores the captured image data.
Sensor size	Impacts field of view, depth of field and low‑light performance (e.g., Full‑frame vs. APS‑C).

Quick‑Reference Box: Key Terminology

Focal length – distance (mm) from lens centre to sensor; determines angle of view.
Depth of field (DoF) – zone of acceptable sharpness in front of and behind the focus point.
Bokeh – quality of the out‑of‑focus areas.
Hyper‑focal distance – closest distance at which a lens can be focused while keeping objects at infinity acceptably sharp.
Crop factor – multiplier that converts a lens’s focal length to its 35 mm equivalent for smaller sensors.

Perspective & Scale

Camera height – low angle can emphasise power; high angle can diminish.
Distance to subject – moving closer enlarges the subject and reduces background detail.
Focal length – wide‑angle lenses exaggerate depth; telephoto lenses compress space.
Sensor size & crop factor – a 50 mm lens on an APS‑C sensor behaves like ~75 mm on full‑frame, affecting perceived scale.

Reflective prompt: How will your choice of lens, sensor size and camera height affect the perceived scale of your subject?

3. The Exposure Triangle

Correct exposure is achieved by balancing aperture, shutter speed and ISO. Changing one element requires an adjustment of at least one other to keep exposure constant.

Stop‑by‑Stop Table (Typical Lighting Situations)

Lighting Situation	ISO	Aperture	Shutter Speed
Bright sunny day (≈ EV 15)	100	f/16	1/100 s
Partly cloudy (≈ EV 13)	200	f/8	1/125 s
Shade / overcast (≈ EV 11)	400	f/5.6	1/250 s
Indoors, fluorescent (≈ EV 9)	800	f/4	1/60 s
Low‑light concert (≈ EV 7)	1600	f/2.8	1/30 s

Fill‑In Worksheet – Balancing the Triangle

Choose a scene, record the three settings, then change one parameter and calculate the new values needed to retain exposure.

Scene description	ISO	Aperture (f‑stop)	Shutter Speed	Change made (e.g., open aperture to f/2.8)	New ISO / Shutter Speed required
Portrait in shade	400	f/5.6	1/125 s	Open aperture to f/2.8	ISO ?  /  Shutter ?
…	…	…	…	…	…

Reflective prompt: If you need a shallower depth of field for a portrait, which two settings will you adjust and why?

4. Composition & Visual Language

Rule of thirds – place key elements on the intersecting points of a 3 × 3 grid.
Leading lines – use natural or artificial lines to guide the viewer’s eye.
Framing – incorporate elements (arches, windows) that surround the subject.
Balance & asymmetry – distribute visual weight intentionally.
Pattern & repetition – create rhythm; break a pattern for emphasis.
Perspective & scale – alter camera height, distance and focal length to change relationships.
Negative space – use empty areas to isolate and highlight the subject.

Comparison Slide – Rule Applied vs. Ignored

Reflective prompt: Which compositional rule best supports the story you wish to tell, and how will you apply it?

5. Lighting

Lighting shapes mood, contrast and colour.

Natural light – sun, overcast sky, golden hour; direction changes throughout the day.
Artificial light – flash, studio strobes, continuous LEDs; can be modified with diffusers, reflectors and colour gels.
Direction – front, side, back, top; each creates distinct shadow patterns.
Quality – hard (sharp shadows) vs. soft (gradual shadows).
Colour temperature – measured in Kelvin (e.g., 5600 K daylight, 3200 K tungsten).

Reflective prompt: How does the colour temperature of your light source affect the emotional tone of your image?

6. Colour Theory, Temperature & White Balance

White‑balance presets – Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, Tungsten, Fluorescent, Custom (Kelvin).
Colour temperature – lower Kelvin = warmer (more orange); higher Kelvin = cooler (more blue).
Colour harmony – complementary, analogous, triadic schemes can be used deliberately to create visual impact.
Basic colour grading – adjust curves, HSL sliders or LUTs to fine‑tune mood in post‑production.

Reflective prompt: Which colour scheme will reinforce the narrative of your series, and how will you achieve it in‑camera or in post?

7. Extended Media & Processes

The IGCSE syllabus expects exploration beyond conventional digital photography.

Camera‑less techniques – pinhole cameras, photograms (objects placed directly on photosensitive paper).
Photomontage – combining multiple negatives or digital layers to create a composite image.
Basic animation – stop‑motion or time‑lapse sequences exported as short video clips.

Suggested activity: Create a photogram using everyday objects, then digitally combine it with a conventional photograph to explore contrast between camera‑less and camera‑based imagery.

8. Historical & Contemporary Context

Understanding past and present practices informs personal style.

Ansel Adams – mastery of tonal range and the Zone System (landscape).
Diane Arbus – intimate documentary portraiture that challenges social norms.
Contemporary Instagram aesthetics – emphasis on colour grading, minimalism and rapid visual storytelling.

Students should analyse at least one historic and one contemporary photographer, noting technique, intent and cultural impact.

9. Digital Workflow

Import – transfer RAW files to a dedicated folder; never edit the original.
Backup – create at least two copies (external HDD + cloud).
Organise – rename files (e.g., “Series01_001”), add metadata:
- Author
- Copyright notice
- Keywords (subject, location, theme)
Edit (non‑destructive) – work in RAW‑based software (e.g., Lightroom, Capture One) using virtual copies or adjustment layers; the original file remains untouched.
Colour correction & grading – adjust exposure, white balance, curves, HSL; keep a record of settings for consistency.
Export – JPEG (sRGB, ≤ 2 MB) for web/portfolio; TIFF (CMYK, high resolution) for print.
Archive – store RAW files for at least five years; maintain a catalogue (e.g., spreadsheet) linking each archive file to its final export.

Reflective prompt: How does a non‑destructive workflow protect your creative decisions and support future revisions?

10. Safety, Ethics, Cultural Sensitivity & Copyright

Health & safety – protect eyes from bright flashes, use camera straps, avoid hazardous locations without proper gear.
Legal consent – obtain a signed model‑release form for any identifiable person you intend to exhibit, sell or submit.
Cultural sensitivity – research customs, ask permission when photographing religious sites or cultural ceremonies, and avoid stereotypical representation.
Copyright – the creator owns the image unless a contract states otherwise; always credit any secondary material used.
Environmental responsibility – follow “Leave No Trace” principles; do not disturb wildlife or heritage sites.

11. Assessment Criteria (IGCSE 0400)

Examiners evaluate work against five criteria. Each criterion is marked out of 8 (total 40).

Criterion	What is assessed
Technical competence	Control of exposure, focus, composition, lighting and post‑processing.
Creativity and originality	Innovative ideas, personal expression and effective visual communication.
Planning and research	Clear brief, mood‑boards, sketches, visual research and documented experimentation.
Presentation	Quality of prints or digital files, sequencing, layout and overall visual impact.
Reflection and evaluation	Critical analysis of strengths, limitations, ethical considerations and suggestions for future work.

12. Embedded Reflective Prompts (Quick Checklist)

After each technical topic, ask: “How does this choice support my intended narrative?”
Before shooting: “What research evidence informs my visual decisions?”
During editing: “What non‑destructive steps have I taken to preserve the original image?”
Before submission: “Have I obtained all necessary releases and considered cultural impact?”

13. Suggested Classroom Activities

Exposure Triangle experiment – shoot a static subject at three apertures (f/2.8, f/5.6, f/11) while keeping ISO constant; adjust shutter speed to maintain exposure. Record settings in the worksheet above.
Composition walk – each student captures images that demonstrate a specific compositional rule; present a slide‑show and discuss effectiveness.
Lighting lab – compare natural light at sunrise, midday and golden hour with a portable flash using a diffuser; note changes in colour temperature and shadow quality.
Extended media station – set up a pinhole camera, a photogram area, and a simple stop‑motion rig; students produce one piece in each medium.
Historical analysis debate – groups research a photographer/movement, present key characteristics, and discuss relevance to contemporary practice.
Digital workflow drill – import a set of RAW files, apply a non‑destructive edit, add required metadata, export JPEGs, and back‑up the originals within a timed session.
Ethics & cultural sensitivity workshop – examine case studies (e.g., street portraiture, sacred sites) and draft a personal code of conduct.

Figures (placeholders for visual aids)

develop knowledge of skills and processes relevant to photography