Monday, January 9, 2023

Course Syllabus

 You can click below for the full text of the course syllabus:


FD 100E Drawing 1

ART 351 – Digital Photography – 3 Semester Hours

SPRING 2022

Monday 6:30-9:00 PM, Dickey Fine Arts 130

Bethel University

Instructor: Jason Cole

Office Hours:

MWF: 10-11am 12pm-1PM; T: 11am-1pm; R: 12-2pm.[1]

Office Location: DFAB 113

Office Phone: 731.352.4082

E-mail: colej@bethelu.edu

 

Course Prerequisites/Co Requisites:

None

 

Course Description:

Digital Photography is an introductory course that explores the fundamentals of digital photography, such as the basic operation of a digital camera, the organizing of compositions, and the application of photo-editing software.

Course Goals:

The student will:

1)     Demonstrate proficient operation of a digital camera.

2)     Demonstrate the ability to utilize editing software to enhance and transform digital photographs.

3)     Demonstrate the basic “structure” concept of photograph.

4)     Demonstrate various areas of subject matter (still life, landscape, portraiture, abstraction, etc).

5)     Develop skills of observation, personal expression, and abstract thinking.

Text:

None

Course Objectives:

The student will:

a)     Learn to operate a digital camera

b)     Understand and utilize camera settings

c)     Develop problem-solving skills.

d)     Strengthen self-disciple.

e)     Learn and apply the basic operations of photo-editing software.

f)      Observe, research, and learn from the work of other artists.

g)     Learn to think critically about the surrounding world of imagery.

h)     Develop and enhance his/her proficiency in the vocabulary of the artist.

i)      Actively engage in constructive critique.

Units of Study:

Unit 1 Basic History of Photography

Early history of photography

Photographic techniques and developments

Important photographers

Unit 2 Familiarization with Tools & Materials

Digital cameras, accessories, and peripheries

Composition/Focus/Exposure/Black & White

Using software to edit black & white images

Unit 3 The Digital Darkroom

Basic digital editing skills

Advanced digital editing techniques

Storage & output

Required Reading:

Various handouts, online videos, and online tutorials will be given throughout the course.

Suggested Reading:

Alonso, Rodrigo, and T. J. Demos. Vitamin Ph: New Perspectives in Photography. London: Phaidon, 2006.

Koch, Roberto, and Jimena Bargados. Photo:box. New York: Abrams, 2009.

Airey, Theresa. Digital Photo Art: Transform Your Images with Traditional & Contemporary Art Techniques. New York: Lark, 2005.

Methods Of Instruction:

Lecture, discussion, in-class work, outside assignments, online blog, critique.

Course Requirements:

1)     A personal online blogger.com blog is an important requirement of this course. It is a depository for ideas, visual observations, and written responses to anything (in-class or outside). Include research of artists of special interest, techniques, subjects, methods, media, processes, etc. Post your finished assignments. Research artists mentioned in class and post your findings. WRITE. Don’t do ANYTHING on the blog without also writing some notes about what you did.
The blog will be reviewed throughout the semester and graded at midterm and finals.

2)     Completion of weekly in-class assignments and related homework assignments is required for the course.

3)     A final personal photo project is due at finals.

 

Attendance Policy:[2]

o    IMPORTANT COVID-19 NOTICE:

o    Given quickly changing coronavirus conditions, students should be prepared for the imposition of a mask requirement and/or shifts to alternate means of instruction, including online instruction, at any point during the semester.

o    Students will be expected to follow the posted campus policies regarding virus safety procedures and practices. A student who fails to do so could be subject to penalty, which may include dismissal from a class session and a misconduct report filed with the Office of the Academic Dean.

o    Like excused absences due to participation in official Bethel University events (athletics, Renaissance, etc.), in the case of absences due to official COVID-19 quarantine status it is the student’s responsibility to contact the instructor, make up any missed work, and fulfill all assignments.

o    If you reach NINE absences (online or in-person) you will immediately fail the course. Nine absences means too much information and work has been missed for anyone to legitimately pass the course. The only guaranteed excused absences are for students who must miss class due to approved scheduled university extracurricular activities and quarantine absences that I have received official notification regarding. Medical absences can be discussed on an individual basis, but it is not guaranteed that they will be excused.

o    If you are unable to submit an assignment on its due date because of an approved scheduled university extracurricular activity, that assignment can be submitted at the beginning of the next class without penalization.

o    If you are having trouble with the course or have problems outside the class that are affecting your performance, please talk to me about it so that we can work out a solution. Do not wait until it is too late. I will be glad to help you in any way I can.

o    Lateness is not acceptable. It is disruptive and frankly disrespectful not only to me but to your fellow students to enter the classroom in the middle of a lecture, demonstration, or critique. Three late arrivals to class will count as an absence.

o    All students will work for the entire class period. The class runs from 1:00 to 1:50 p.m. Students will not leave the classroom unless excused. I am tolerant of discussion among students during class to a point. However, excessive talking, walking about or leaving the room will be noted in my grade book and counted against your final grade.

o    If you miss an assignment because of lateness or absence, get it from another student. If you then have questions come and see me.

o    If a student is forced to quarantine (or shelter from home) because of COVID-19, the student is required to contact the instructors immediately. If the student should become the primary caregiver of a family member (blood or chosen) and their ability to access materials by deadlines becomes compromised, the student is required to contact the professor immediately.

 

Methods of Assessment/Evaluation/Grading System:

Each assignment will be collected on a specific due date and time. Usually this is THE NIGHT BEFORE THE SCHEDULED CRITIQUE. The work will be graded soon as possible.

 

All assignments that have been submitted PROPERLY (on time) and graded may be re-worked and resubmitted for the possibility of a better grade.

 

Late Assignment Policy

o    Work is considered late if it has not been submitted by the beginning of class on the scheduled critique date.

o    Persons not handing in work on time will be penalized one full grade. (See the exception rule above.)

o    Late work cannot be resubmitted for the possibility of a better grade.

o    Late work must be turned in within TWO WEEKS of the scheduled due date in order to receive a grade. After two weeks, the assignment will not be accepted and the grade of “0” will remain.

o    If you fail to turn in THREE assignments, you will automatically fail the course, with no alternative path to improving your grade in the course.

 

Blogs will be graded at midterm and finals. It is expected that you will make extensive use of your blog throughout the semester to showcase all you are doing in this course.

 

Final grades reflect accomplishment in three areas:

o    Portfolio (50%)

o    Blog (25%)

o    Class performance/participation/attitude (25%)

Final grades will be determined by:

o    Completion of all assignments.

o    Consistency of effort

o    Development of skills in seeing and thinking.

o    Presentation and craftsmanship.

o    Participation in critiques and discussions.

o    General attitude.

Individual assignment grade definitions:

o    A - Excellent. Assignment is completely and creatively fulfilled. No significant problems.

o    B - All aspects of assignment are completely fulfilled and well done. A few problems remain to be solved.

o    C - Work fulfills the requirements of the assignment to the letter and is generally successful. Work is completely finished. Craftsmanship is acceptable. Some problems remain to be solved.

o    D - Work is not yet completely finished or has obvious technical or conceptual flaws.

o    F - Unacceptable in technique or craft or concept (or any combination of these).

o    X - Assignment not handed in. This assignment may not be re-submitted.

Final letter grade definitions:

o    A – The student earning an A has shown great effort and near-perfect success in all aspects of the class. Only students absolutely excelling far above expectations will be awarded this grade.

o    B - A very good job. The person earning this grade has worked very hard; has pushed his/herself to go beyond the mere fulfillment of each problem and has shown strong advances in technical and conceptual skills.

o    C - The student earning a C has fulfilled the requirements of the course, has a positive attitude, worked hard, shown growth in skills and thinking, and did an overall good job.

o    D - Below par. This grade indicates that the student has obvious difficulties with basic drawing skills and/or trouble in fulfilling the requirements of the class for some other reason.

o    F - This grade indicates a severe problem in one or more of the following categories: lack of interest, bad attitude, failure to complete assignments, excess lateness, or absence.

 

General Requirements:

o    I reserve the right to institute a masking policy in my classroom should the area COVID infection rates rise to a high enough level that I feel concerned. Due to the nature of this course, I have to spend a lot of time near you watching you work over your shoulder, so I want to be as safe as possible.

o    You are required to bring your camera and storage device (jump drive, external hard drive, etc.) to EVERY CLASS. You may also use a cloud storage service, but make sure that you log out of it at the end of each class period. If you will be using your own laptop rather than the machines in the computer lab, you must have that with you in class, as well. These items are crucial. Without them, it will be impossible for you to participate in anything done in the classroom on most days. Anyone arriving without this equipment WILL LEAVE THE ROOM AND BE COUNTED AS ABSENT FOR THAT DAY.

o    BACKUP ALL OF YOUR FILES! Technology loves to fail us when we need it most. It is YOUR responsibility to have your files stored on more than one device AND to keep up with those devices. “My laptop crashed,” or “I lost my jump drive” are not excuses for not submitting assignments.

o    All students are expected to participate in critiques. Failing to engage in discussions will be noted in the gradebook.

o    Prohibited from my classroom: Cell phones (you may have it pocketed, but silence it and DO NOT ANSWER IT), any device with headphones, tobacco of any kind, drugs or alcohol, Internet social networking sites, laziness.

 

Required Materials & Supplies

o    Digital camera (basic, midrange, or high-end) – No less than 10 megapixels

o    SD card – No less than 8 Gb

o    Laptop (I can’t guarantee that the computer lab will always be available to you)

o    External storage (jump drive, external hard drive, cloud storage, etc.)

o    Photo editing software (provided by instructor)

o    Lighting equipment (lamps, light fixtures, clamp lamps, bare light bulbs, etc. There is no need to purchase expensive equipment.)

 


Photographers Of Note:


Louis Jacque Mande Daguerre

Eadweard Muybridge

Julia Margaret Cameron

Alfred Stieglitz

Henri Cartier-Bresson

Man Ray

Lewis Hine

Margaret Bourke-White

Ansel Adams

Piergiorgio Branzi

Robert Capa

Robert Doisneau

Elliott Erwitt

Robert Frank

Jacques Henri Lartigue

Tina Modotti

George Rodger

Dennis Stock

Garry Winogrand

Eddie Adams

Josef Koudelka

Nick Ut

Larry Burrows

Eve Arnold

Bruce Davidson

Burt Glinn

Philippe Halsman

Mary Ellen Mark

Nadar

Alexander Rodchenko

August Sander

Jean-Paul Goude

William Eggleston

Sonia Landy Sheridan

Horst P. Horst

Helmut Newton

Howard Schatz

Edward Weston

Jane Evelyn Atwood

Martine Barrat

Nan Goldin

Dorthea Lange

Bettina Rheims

Edward Steichen

Francesca Woodman

Martine Franck

Steve McCurry

Trent Parke

Martin Parr

Alex Webb

Gianni Berengo Gardin

Daniele Dainelli

William Klein

Eugene Richards

Bernd and Hilla Becher

Bill Brandt

Lewis Carroll

Sergio Larrain

Herbert List

Duane Michals

Arno Rafael Minkkinen

Sarah Moon

Erwin Olaf

Jim Goldberg

Peter Lindbergh

Martin Munkacsi

William Henry Fox Talbot

Andrew Zuckerman

David Burnett

Annie Leibovitz

Giorgio Lotti

Peter Marlow

Tom Stoddart

Cristina Garcia Rodero

Li Zhensheng

Sebastiao Salgado

Rineke Dijkstra


 


Class Schedule

 


Week 1 (Jan 9-13)

Introduction

Familiarization with Tools and Materials

Getting Started

 

*MLK HOLIDAY – JAN 16*

 

Week 2 (Jan 18-20)

History of Photography

HISTORY OF PHOTOGRAPHY QUIZ (JAN 20)

Read Chapter DEFINING EXPOSURE

 

Week 3 (Jan 23-27)

Using the Camera

Shooting

Editing Black & White Images

Assignment #1: 5 Different Images of 1 Composition

 

Week 4 (Jan 30-Feb 3)

Continue Black & White

Assignment #1: 5 Different Images 0f 1 Composition

 

Week 5 (Feb 6-10)

CRITIQUE ASSIGNMENT #1 (FEB 6)

Motion & Depth of Field (DOF)

Assignment #2: 8 Images (4 experimenting with motion, 4 experimenting with DOF)

Read Chapters APERTURE and SHUTTER SPEED

 

Week 6 (Feb 13-17)

Continue Motion/DOF

Assignment #2: 8 Images (4 experimenting with motion, 4 experimenting with DOF)

Editing in color

 

Week 7 (Feb 20-24)

Continue Motion/DOF

CRITIQUE ASSIGNMENT #2 (FEB 22)

Discuss Portraiture

 

Week 8 (Feb 27-Mar 3)

BLOGS GRADED FOR MIDTERM (MAR 3)

Portrait Lighting

3-Point Lighting

Assignment #3: 6 Portraits

Read Chapter LIGHT

 

*SPRING BREAK MAR 6-10*

 

Week 9 (Mar 13-17)

Thinking about themes

Continue Lighting Exercises

PROPOSAL DUE (MAR 15)

Continue Shooting & Editing Portraits

Assignment #3: 6 Portraits

 

Week 10 (Mar 20-24)

Continue Lighting Exercises
Continue Shooting & Editing Portraits

 

Week 11 (Mar 27-31)

CRITIQUE ASSIGNMENT #3 (MAR 27)

Discuss Final Project

 

Week 12 (Apr 3-6)

FINAL PROJECT PROPOSAL DUE (APR 3)

In Class: Experimenting with Abstraction

Homework: Continue Shooting & Editing Final Project

 

*GOOD FRIDAY HOLIDAY APR 7*

 

Week 13 (Apr 10-14)

In Class: Experimenting with Abstraction

Homework: Continue Shooting & Editing Final Project

 

Week 14 (Apr 17-21)

In Class: Experimenting with Abstraction

CRITIQUE ASSIGNMENT #4 - ABSTRACTION (APRIL 19)

Discussing Artist’s Statements

Homework: Shoot & Edit Final Project

*GOOD FRIDAY: APRIL 19*

 

Week 15 (Apr 24-28)

FINAL PROJECT ARTIST’S STATEMENT DUE APRIL 26

Continue Shooting & Editing Final Project

 

FINALS WEEK

Thursday, May 4

o    CRITIQUE FINAL PROJECT – 3:30-5:30 PM


 



Month And Year of Syllabus Revision:

January 2023

 

Bethel University is committed to equal opportunity in education for all students, including those with documented disabilities. If you have a diagnosed disability or if you believe that you have a disability that might require reasonable accommodation in this course, please contact Disability Services at 352-4012. Bethel University policy states that it is the responsibility of students to contact instructors to discuss appropriate accommodations to ensure equity in grading, experiences, and assignments.

BETHEL UNIVERSITY is committed to and cares about all students. Support services are available for any person at BETHEL UNIVERSITY who is experiencing feelings of being overwhelmed, hopelessness, depression, thinking about dying by suicide, or is otherwise in need of assistance. For immediate help, contact the National Suicide Lifeline Number 1-800-273-TALK(8255) or Text 741741. Students and employees on the McKenzie or Paris campuses can also contact Bethel’s Safety and Security Office (731-415-7599) or the Mobile Crisis Number (1-800-353-9918). Emergency Services (911) should be contacted in the event of an emergency.



[1] I will hold office hours in-person this semester or virtually at the request of the student. If you prefer that I wear a mask during our in-person meetings, I will honor your request.

[2] This attendance policy is subject to change as developments in the global pandemic occur.

No comments:

Post a Comment