Photograph by Luke Gartside, A Level photography student from Stratford-upon-Avon College.

A part-time photography student from Stratford-upon-Avon College last month received an A* for his A Level Photography.

Luke Gartside joined the evening AS Photography group in September 2009 and it was clear from the outset to his lecturers that he was very keen and extremely creative for somebody so young. For the second year of his A Level, Luke joined the daytime course to fit around his subjects he was studying at Sibford School in Banbury.

Luke chose the College because it allowed him to study the photography course whilst still at school. He said, “I chose the College because it allowed me to study the course in a very accommodating and flexible way. It also came very highly recommended from my sixth form. The lecturers at the College really supported me. They really helped me through their commitment and enthusiasm towards both me as a pupil and the subject. I now plan to go travelling in Europe and Brazil before starting a degree in Photography at Plymouth University next September.”

Mark Iggulden, Photography Lecturer at the College, commented, “Luke has real natural talent. During the course I tried to harness and encourage this creativity. Luke soaked it all up and began to produce exciting and elaborate shoots in his own time, including an underwater shoot in a friend’s swimming pool for his finals.”

“Emma Lambert, one of our lecturers, worked closely with Luke in his second year to push his creativity further and actively take him out of his comfort zone of extreme sports photography. It’s no surprise that Luke is already receiving paid commissions. We are all very proud of him and excited about his future. He is a real talent to watch out for over the next few years! We wish him every success as he embarks on his course at university.”

For more information on the A Levels on offer at Stratford-upon-Avon College visit www.stratford.ac.uk|.  To view Luke’s photography visit http://lukegartsidephotography.co.uk/|

For more information please contact marketing@stratford.ac.uk| or 01789 266245