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Year 10

The role of a photography journal in developing your style

I can use my photography journal to develop my style and guide my artistic choices.

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New
New
Year 10

The role of a photography journal in developing your style

I can use my photography journal to develop my style and guide my artistic choices.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

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These resources were created for remote use during the pandemic and are not designed for classroom teaching.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Despite diverse backgrounds and approaches, common threads emerge in how photographers develop a journal.
  2. Photographers use journals to think through ideas and develop concepts for future projects or photoshoots.
  3. Journals are a space for practising techniques, experimenting with styles, and testing materials without pressure.

Keywords

  • Develop - to improve and refine artistic skills, ideas, or techniques through practice and experimentation

  • Journal - a personal space to explore, experiment, and develop artistic skills

Common misconception

Photography journals are always in book form.

They can also exist digitally or as collections of images, notes, and sketches in various formats.


To help you plan your year 10 art and design lesson on: The role of a photography journal in developing your style, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Have a variety of student or artist examples ready to discuss, showcasing different approaches to photographic journaling and styles.
Teacher tip

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Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Prior knowledge starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What is the primary purpose of a student journal in GCSE photography?

Correct answer: To document your learning journey from a starting point to a final outcome.
To record the technical specifications of your camera equipment.
To store a collection of your best photographs for portfolio review.
To keep track of the dates and locations of your photoshoots.

Q2.
Fill the gap: A photographic style is what makes your work .

Correct Answer: unique, stand out, distinct, personable, recognisable

Q3.
Photographers might use their journals to ...

Correct answer: research contextual and other sources.
Correct answer: gather visual inspiration and resources.
present only final outcomes.
Correct answer: plan a photoshoot location, layout and lighting etc.
cut and pasted information on photographers from the internet.

Q4.
What is an accurate definition of documentary photography?

Correct answer: The practice of capturing real life moments.
The practice of fashion photography.
The practice of staging photographs with props.
The practice of capturing only posed portraits.
The practice of focusing solely on abstract or conceptual images.

Q5.
How does a well-maintained journal impact a student's GCSE Art grade?

It has no effect on the final grade.
Correct answer: It enhances the grade by demonstrating thorough research and idea development.
It replaces the need for a final project.
It is only assessed if the final piece is incomplete.

Q6.
How can a journal be used to effectively meet the GCSE Art Assessment Objectives?

By only including final polished photographs.
Correct answer: By experimenting with materials, techniques, and approaches.
Correct answer: By recording successes and failures, applying what is learnt to final pieces.
Correct answer: By exploring themes, artists, photographers and cultural influences.
By limiting entries dictated by my teacher.

Additional material

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