SYLLABUS

 

 

CMM/ART 254.01                                                                             Professor: Tom Loehr

Introduction to Photography                                                               e-mail: tloehr@shc.edu

Fall, 2009; TR 1:00 – 2:15                                                                  Office Hours: 

Room 129, CA Building                                                                     MWF: 10:30 – Noon; 3:00-4:30

Web Site: http://faculty.shc.edu/tloehr/index.html                               TR:      9:00 – Noon; 2:30-4:30

                                    Office phone: 380-3844

 

                                                           

Description and Goals: The primary goal of the course is a greater appreciation for and understanding of  the artistic potential of the medium of still photography.  In a beginning course, the study of the straight, unmanipulated image is primary.  Such images and their method of production began photography over 160 years ago and are, in many ways, much the same today.   However, the electronic still, digitized image has become the form for todayÕs image making & processing. We will be spending nearly all of the time examining this technological breakthrough and its implications. You will produce work in both color and black and white—color, through shooting with digital cameras; and black and white, through both digital means and through the shooting, processing and printing of one roll of film negatives and enlargements.   Various methods of image manipulation will be discussed and examined but their serious study is best suited for more advanced courses.   ÒOrdinaryÓ image manipulation – color, exposure and contrast corrections, dodging and burning, etc. will be addressed and are not considered ÒextraordinaryÓ manipulative techniques.  Photoshop is the program used for digital manipulation of images.

Basic Objectives are: learning to expose digital or film materials with an adjustable digital SLR or 35 mm camera and to utilize the cameraÕs controls for aesthetic, journalistic and commercial purposes and then to produce prints – digital color and black and white from inkjet printers and analog black & white from negatives.

These will sensitize you to the unique potential of the medium for communication and especially artistic expression.  Both are inherent in photography and will be stressed throughout—in your own photographic assignments, in the critical response to each otherÕs work and in the study and written analysis of past and present journalistic & art photographers.  One of the primary goals is to become Òphoto-image literateÓ, i.e. to be able to intelligently and accurately discuss and write about photographic images, their meanings, strengths, weaknesses, uniqueness in the visual world, etc.

More Specific Goals are:  Being able to

1.   Understand, describe & utilize in assignments basic photographic concepts.

2.   Communicate ideas  - to begin to conceptualize and prevision their photographic expression.

3.   Critique and analyze - in class sessions and in written analyses their own, other studentsÕ and major artistsÕ work.

4.   Identify the major historical components and dimensions of photographic imagery, especially within Art and Photojournalistic/Documentary formats & traditions.

5.     Begin to appreciate the social influence that photography has had throughout its history.

 

As a Fine Art credit in the Core for anyone who is NOT a Communication Arts major, this class is designed to allow you to appreciate and respond to the visual in our world in creative ways – through this medium that reproduces that world so realistically, yet that allows for unique and individual expression.

 

Quizzes and tests, both objective and essay, on the material covered in class & in the text, will be an important addition to the actual photography in gaining a thorough background for understanding this technological medium and will significantly influence the final grade.

TEXT: London, Upton and Stone—PHOTOGRAPHY, 9th edition.

I will be placing notices – assignments, schedules, links, some power point presentations, possible quiz and extra credit questions and other helpful material on my website regularly throughout the course. The specific page is: http://faculty.shc.edu/tloehr/WebPages/CMM254CurrentNotices.html.  It is an integral part of the course and each student is expected to go to the page regularly (daily) for updates.    

 

COLLEGE WIDE THEME FOR THIS YEAR:  Renew The Face Of The Earth

 

CLASS SCHEDULE:          (Although you will not find the specific information below, we will be attempting to  briefly profile the life and work of one photographer – either current or classical – per week throughout the semester.  Individuals will be chosen as appropriate for where we are in the semester schedule.  This information will be posted on the web page above.)

 

1st Week, Aug. 25 & 27,                                                                    

1.   Intro: assignments, expectations, expense, time involved, etc.

Early history and technology: the camera obscura; pinhole camera experiment.

2.     Camera basics: body, film & digital types, shutters, etc.; lens, metering, etc.; guidelines for 1st assignment.

READING for Thursday: Text: First three Chapters, pgs 2 – 65.

1st Major ASSIGNMENT: shoot 20 – 30 digital images – subject matter TBA, DUE: Thursday, Sept. 10th. 
Other small assignments will be given prior to this.  They will be given in class and be posted on the website.

2nd Week, Sept. 1 & 3,

1.   Camera basics continued: more on lenses – focus, aperture ratings, f/stops, focal lengths, etc.

      Practice with cameras; shooting various tests with digital SLR cameras.       
2.  More on: Exposure, Perspective, Depth of Field; specifics of 1st   assignment
3.  Brief quiz on material covered so far.

READING for Tuesday: Chapter 4 – pgs 66 – 92; and Chapter 17 – pgs 320 - 342 (on composition and design)

3rd Week, Sept. 8 & 10,

1.   Cameras and camera control continued; specifics of our SLR Digital cameras; viewing and evaluation various photographersÕ images; elements of composition and design, Chapter 17 in text.  How grading will take place with the first assignment.

2.   First Assignment Photos DUE and SHOWN IN CLASS – on CDs.

            READING: Chap. 7, Color, pgs. 138 - 161.
            2nd Assignment DUE: Thursday, Sept. 24th.

4th Week, Sept. 15 & 17,

1. Preview of the 2nd Assignment with the digital cameras: people, candid and posed; guidelines and examples;

    understanding and using natural light.

2. Perspective and Depth of Field, from text, examples and experimentation with cameras & lenses in class.

Working with people (2nd Assignment); exercises with cameras and examining images from the text and other internet      sources.                                        

READING: Lighting, Chapter 13, pgs 226- 259.   3rd Assignment:  Studio assignment done in pairs.  Times for shooting in studio: TBA.  DUE DATE: Thursday, Oct. 8th.

 

5th Day, Sept. 22 & 24,

1.     More on Depth of Field and Perspective; creative choices: examples; short quiz.

2.   2nd Assignment DUE and shown in class (on CDs).  Review of Quiz

           

 

6th Week, Sept. 29 & Oct. 1,

1.  Formal Portraiture – in studio and on location; studio lighting basics; intro to 3rd assignment: work in pairs on: Natural light and studio portraiture; working with a tripod.

2.   Lighting in our studio for portraits; color temperature variations; examples and practice in the studio with our specific lighting equipment.

            Assignment: portrait shooting both on location and in studio.

            Begin to review and study for Midterm Exam, Tuesday, Oct. 6.

            READING: Review previous sections from text for the test; also: Chapter 4 for B & W Film.

 

7th Week, Oct. 6 & 8,

1.   Midterm Exam; Discussion of the black and white silver process and its history.

      2.   Portrait Assignment CDs DUE and presented in class.

                        READING: Chap 5, Developing black and white negatives.

 

8th Week, Thursday, Oct. 15, (Fall Break: Monday & Tuesday)

1.   Midterm Exam returned and reviewed.

2.   Developing of black & white negatives – demonstration and practice.

READING: Chap. 6, making B & W enlargements in the darkroom (for the 9th Week, below).
ASSIGNMENT:         With a partner, shoot a roll of black and white silver, negative film. 
Subject matter: TBA.  Exposed roll is to be brought to class either next Tues. or Thurs.

9th Week, Oct. 20 & 22,

1.   Processing of the roll of 35 mm film – A – L – in the darkroom.

2.   Processing of the roll of 35 mm film – M – Z – in the darkroom.

READING:  More review of Chapters 5 and 6 as needed.
ASSIGNMENT:         4th  Assignment – Photography as fine art:  Shoot either a roll of black and white film OR (preferably)  40 – 50 digital images in the style of a major art photographer, from the Fine Art Tradition.  

 

10th Week, Oct. 27 & 29,

1.   Contact and Enlargement Printing in our darkroom: M – Z.

2.   Contact and Enlargement Printing in our darkroom: A – L.
READING: Chaps 8 & 9, Digital darkrooms and digital image editing; Chap. 10 on Digital Printing.
ASSIGNMENT:  Final analog prints & related materials DUE and SHOWN in class on
Tuesday, Oct. 27.

 

11th Week, Nov. 3 & 5,

1.     History of Photography as an Art Form; discussion of the Art assignment.

2.     Introduction to Photoshop and the setting up images with various inkjet printers available to us.

READING:  Chapter 18 in text on History of Photography, especially pgs. 364 – 377 on Art Photography.
ASSIGNMENT:  Prepare a short, 3 – 5 minute presentation with sample photos of a past or current Art photographer.  Also continue to work on Art Assignment.  It is DUE Tuesday, Nov. 17.

12th Week, Nov. 10 & 12,

      1.   Art Photographer presentations.

2.   More work on Photoshop and basic manipulations of the image.      

 
ASSIGNMENT: You will turn in – Tuesday, Nov. 17 – a CD with all your images for the Art Assignment as well as one or two printed on 8.5 X 11Ó photographic paper.

 

 

13th Week, Nov. 17 & 19,

1.   CDs and prints DUE and discussed.

2.   History of photojournalism & Documentary Photography; technical considerations.

ASSIGNMENT: This will be your final photographic assignment and will be in the final form of a Power Point presentation, with 4 – 6 photos – cropped, ÒfixedÓ and improved – each with accompanying text, covering a current event/issue.

 

 

14th Week, Tuesday, Nov. 24th (Thanksgiving Week)

     1. Photojournalism today; legal issues; more discussion on final assignment.

 

 

15th Week, FINAL WEEK OF CLASS: Dec. 1 & 3

1.     Review of course material for final exam.  Summary of the state of photography today.

2.     Photojournalism assignment Power Point presentations will be given.

 

GRADING:   Midterm Grade:

                                    2 assignments (50%) ; 2 quizzes (20% total) and midterm test (20%); participation: 10%

                      Final Grade:

                        1/3       - Midterm Grade

                        1/3       - Final 3 assignments: Black & White analog; Art; and Photojournalism/Documentary

                        1/3       - final exam and class participation, including any oral presentations, with the final exam counting for 60% for this final portion of the grade.

 

REMINDER:   As you are aware, plus and minus grades count toward your GPA.  Any visual work – CDs, prints, negatives, contact sheets, etc. - will obviously be graded with a letter grade.  Quizzes & tests are graded on a numerical basis, on the 90 to 100 scale.  I have always used pluses and minuses and will continue to do so.  Be advised of their importance.                                           

NOTE:  Unless otherwise stated, any assignment not turned in class on the assigned date, at the assigned time will be downgraded one letter grade.  If excessively late – over one full week – a two-letter reduction will take place.

 

Attendance:  Regular attendance is expected; participation will count toward your grade and classes missed, especially on a twice per week schedule, will put you far behind.  A student is liable for withdrawal (and most likely will be) from the class after :

3 unexcused absences.  You will be warned after the 2nd absence.

Reminder – Website for this class:

http://faculty.shc.edu/tloehr/WebPages/CMM254CurrentNotices.html

 

 

Students with Disabilities: Students who want to receive disabilities accommodations should contact Mrs. Ashley Dunklin, Coordinator for Student Support Services at 380-3470 as soon as possible so that warranted accommodations can be arranged.