Ffotograffiaeth

This year will be the twelfth year that Photography A-Level courses have been offered at Ysgol Gyfun Emlyn. In that time, the department has blossomed from one containing a single student to a department seeing over 30 candidates each year coming from as many as three different schools. The department has also grown in capability, offering better access to a range of traditional photographic techniques and also expanding and developing the digital photography aspects of the subject. The school offers students dedicated tuition from a fully qualified teacher with an Art and Design Photography degree. Class sizes are kept relatively small; usually between 10 and 15 students per class. This enables students to have a high level of one to one support and good access to the facilities that the department provides.

The Photography course gives students exciting opportunities to translate their ideas and thoughts into images. The courses are structured to allow students to work within certain limits and also to encourage them to experiment with a range of photographic techniques both traditional and digital. Students at AS Level come from a wide range of backgrounds, some keenly interested in Art and English courses and some more interested in Maths and Science arenas.

The department also aims to show Photography within the setting of the world of work and the world outside school. Placements are organised to enable students to work alongside professional photographers, talks take place within school by working artists and photographers and educational visits to exhibitions take place regularly. The aim is for students to recognise the potential of the subject both to help them achieve a good set of A-Level results and to help them realise their personal best.

In 2012, Photography A-Level Teacher Mrs Kilvington collaborated with local sculptor Paul Clarke to create a new visually striking addition to the school foyer. The sculpture, unveiled this year, combines the use of metal, hand-carved wood plates and etched glass photographic plates. The piece was funded by the Carmarthenshire Heritage and Culture Grant Scheme with help and a great deal of support offered by our PFA to secure the funding and ensure the smooth running of the project.

The work is a celebration of the history and culture of the local area and deals with the woollen industry, the farming background of the area, the fishing history of the area, the castle and the fact that the first commercially printed book in Wales was produced in the town. This very special book is now housed in a special casement in Carmarthen Town Library.