PHOTOGRAPHY II - AR 331
3 credits                                                                          Ms 16

 

                    Professor:                                       Pamela Keller
                    Office:                                             Founders Hall 205. 
                    Contact:                                          (256) 233-6546
                                                                             pamela.keller@athens.edu
                    Office and On-Campus Hours:
                    2-8 Monday
                    3-6 Tuesday,
                    3-6 Thursday
                    1-2 Friday

 

Any student with a disability that will require special attention or accommodation should inform the instructor as soon as possible, preferably within the first week of class.

THIS COURSE IS TIME CONSUMING AND COSTLY.  STUDENTS CAN EXPECT TO SPEND ABOUT $50.00 IN ADDITION TO THE LAB FEE ON PHOTOGRAPHIC SUPPLIES.  STUDENTS MAY NEED TO USE THE LAB EQUIPMENT AFTER CLASS HOURS TO COMPLETE COURSE WORK, DUE TO LIMITED EQUIPMENT.

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course is an exploration of advanced techniques IN DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY with emphasis upon creativity. Advanced camera problems and Digital manipulation techniques will be explored through a variety of assignments.  Aesthetic theories and presentation of work will be taught.  Critique participation is mandatory.

 

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

*Students must attend class regularly.  More than three absences usually require the student to take an incomplete for the course, and/or more than three absences can lower a grade.
*Students must turn in 10 photographs. These must be professionally printed and may require printing purchased off campus. One of these prints must be professionally framed.
*Students will be assigned lab work, shooting, reading, critiquing or all three, weekly.
*Students must participation in group critiques/presentations/lectures.

 

COURSE OBJECTIVES
*Students will be able to shoot, manipulate (both in the camera and using Adobe Photoshop) and print for aesthetic purposes.
*Students will have a working knowledge of photographic manipulation using the camera, software and printing equipment.
*Students will know basic materials and equipment related to the digital image process.
*Students will understand communication and expression via images and will practice criticizing photographs of their own and of noted photographers.
*Students will understand quality in photographic works, both aesthetically and technically.
* Students will gain experience in asking questions about the nature and relevance of art and will learn to find some answers in the art of past and contemporary masters.

COURSE MATERIALS
* 1 folder larger than 8" x 10"    for printed materials
* A digital camera:  (SLR CAMERAS WITH MANUALLY ADJUSTABLE F/STOP, SHUTTER SPEED AND FOCUS AND A WORKING LIGHT METER are preferred but not required)
* Mat board or foam core for mounting
*disks formatted for PC and for MAC
*Adobe Photoshop software for home use is handy but not required.

ASU BORROWED LAB MATERIALS MUST BE RETURNED TO THE LAB BEFORE FINAL GRADES ARE RELEASED.STUDENT LAB FEES PROVIDE EACH STUDENT WITH SOFTWARE AND COMPUTER LAB USE.

COURSE TEXTS

A Short Course in Digital Photography.  Jim Stone.  Required.
Adobe Photoshop Classroom in a Book.  Recommended.
All students not familiar with Adobe Photoshop must read the tutorial in its entirety. See research assignment for additional reading.


COURSE GRADING  

100 possible points

 

Grade Scale

92-100  - A
83-91  -  B
73-82  -  C
63-72  -  D

 

 

 

YOUR ASSIGNMENTS FOR THE SEMESTER ARE CONTAINED IN THIS SYLLABUS.  EACH WILL BE EXPLAINED TO YOU VERBALLY BUT THE SYLLABUS IS A NECESSARY REFERENCE.  ASK FOR CLARIFICATIONS IF NEEDED.  PLEASE DON'T HESITATE TO ASK FOR ANY KIND OF HELP IN PHOTOGRAPHY.

 

The schedule and procedure of this syllabus are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances. Please READ all assignments right now and begin thinking about your projects.
         


Class Schedule and Assignments


AUGUST 23rd, 2010               Class One:

LECTURE:
COURSE OVERVIEW
          BASICS IN PHOTOSHOP
          BASICS IN DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY
          STEP BY STEP IN CLASSROOM IN A BOOK ASSIGNMENT
CLASSROOM:
          Read Photoshop manual, play on computers in Photoshop and watch Photoshop DVD. Read your camera manual, become familiar with Photoshop CS4 Classroom in a Book.  Set your camera so that you can work manually if possible. Set your camera so that it is capturing images in Camera Raw format. If you do not have that menu option, use the TIFF format. Find your histogram on the camera. Comprehend all assignments in this syllabus. Bring all supplies next class. Read chapter 1 in the textbook in class.

HOMEWORK:
          SHOOTING
          Get ready for next week’s assignment; you’ll need three pictures…..take many then cull them when you are in the classroom next week. 
          1)  A digital photo of the newly remodeled Waters Hall with view of the sky and no clouds or few clouds in the sky.
          2) Dramatic clouds and sky with no landscape.
          3) A photo of something interesting, different and artistic related to ASU. You will be creating a new photograph in class by manipulating these images with Photoshop. With the software 1) eliminate the background sky that was in your picture and add a dramatic sky. 2) add some sort of object to the foreground of the work that wasn’t there when you took the picture but because of your genius on the computer, looks like it was! 3) Increase the contrast of the main area of emphasis 4) sharpen the main area of emphasis 5) be sure all additions are seamless 6) print beautifully

         READING
          Chapters 1, 2, 3 and 7.

 

 

 

 

SEPTEMBER 13th, 2010                   Class  Two:

LECTURE:
          DIGITAL MANUAL CAMERA SETTINGS EXPLAINED, Histograms, lenses,
         f/stops, shutter speeds, ISO, flash, burst, white balance.DOF.
          PRINTING BASICS EXPLAINED
          TEXTBOOK CHAPTERS 2-3 EXPLAINED
          CRITIQUE EXPLAINED USING PHOTOJOURNALISM. POV.
         
CLASSROOM:
CLASSROOM IN A BOOK  Chapters 1 and 2 in class.

PORTFOLIO ASSIGNMENT 1
DIGITAL IMAGE SEEMLESS MONTAGE-COLLAGE Design a work of art form assorted digital images taken of Waters Hall. In class, work on  Photoshop manipulations of an image taken digitally. Be sure you  have completed lessons in the tutorial if you are not familiar with Adobe Photoshop.  You will be creating a new photograph in class by manipulating these images with Photoshop.

With the software
1) Eliminate the background sky that was in your picture and add a dramatic sky.
2) Add some sort of object to the foreground of the work that wasn’t there when you took the picture but because of your genius on the computer, looks like it was! 3) Increase the contrast of the main area of emphasis
4) Sharpen the main area of emphasis
5) Be sure all additions are seamless
6) Print beautifully
One print, 8x10 or larger is due for Preliminary Critique on September 17th. Due framed by___________________________for juried show.

HOMEWORK:
          SHOOTING: Capture the ambiance and unique context of the Old Time Fiddler’s Convention here at ASU. Shoot A LOT. Work with POV and DOF. Think ART. Two prints will be due October 25th.
          READING: Read chapters 4, 5, & 6 for homework.
          WRITING AND RESEARCH:       In one paragraph, define photojournalism. Attach one example from a newspaper or periodical that appeals to you and describe why it is a good example of photojournalism. See http://www.newseagles.com/portfolio/writing/education/whatspj.html

 

 

October 4th, 2010                      Class Three:

LECTURE:
          CRITIQUE OF WATERS HALL ASSIGNMENT
          GRADING RUBRIC DISCUSSED
         DISCUSS PHOTOJOURNALISM, Culling, Organizing and Storing Photo’s
CLASSROOM:
PORTFOLIO  ASSIGNMENT 2
1
PHOTOJOURNALISM    In one paragraph, define photojournalism. See http://www.newseagles.com/portfolio/writing/education/whatspj.html
Attach one example from a newspaper or periodical that appeals to you.Describe why it is a good example of photojournalism. Then, complete a series of three 8” X 10” photos documenting something worthwhile from the Fiddler’s Convention, with content that informs and motivates. Think: Southern Living Magazine article. These will be handed in together as one assignment but this will count as 3 pictures toward the 10 necessary for the portfolio. 8x10 or larger. Due October 25th for preliminary critique.

HOMEWORK:
          SHOOTING: Portraits. Think standard and artistic. Create two standard portraits like one would purchase for senior pictures or engagement photo’s. Formal or informal, natural or artificial light, your choice. One, we’ll print standard, another, we’ll experiment with digital painting. Then, do a series of images that collage together to create a portrait WITHOUT a person’s visage. See the artist Robert Weingarten’s series, ‘The Portrait Unbound’, for inspiration. Using objects that represent someone manipulate and layer compositions in Photoshop until you find an artistic, ‘unbound’ portrait. Work at least 18x24 if not larger, for each. Due for critique November 15th, 2010.
WRITING AND RESEARCH : Begin work on short research paper.
          READING: Chapters 7, 8 and 9 in textbook.

 

 

OCTOBER 25th, 2010    Class          Four

 

LECTURE:
CRITIQUE OF PHOTOJOURNALISM
DIGITAL PATINIG DEMONSTRATION
PHOTOSHOP MASKING

PORTFOLIO  ASSIGNMENT 3

2

CLASSROOM:
CLASSROOM IN A BOOK MASKING TASKS
MASKING AND PORTRAITS Portraits. Think standard and artistic. Create two standard portraits like one would purchase for senior pictures or engagement photo’s. Formal or informal, natural or artificial light, your choice. One, we’ll print standard, another, we’ll experiment with digital painting. Then, do a series of images that collage together to create a portrait WITHOUT a person’s visage. See the artist Robert Weingarten’s series, ‘The Portrait Unbound’, for inspiration. Using objects that represent someone manipulate and layer compositions in Photoshop until you find an artistic, ‘unbound’ portrait. Yes, one can be a self-portrait. No…one cannot be an animal. Work at least 18x24 if not larger, for each. Three works due for critique November 15th, 2010.

HOMEWORK:
          SHOOTING: Time and Motion in a Photograph.  See pg 154-5 in textbook for assignment. If you lack a tripod, set your camera on a level, immovable surface. Make a series of photo’s depicting motion in three different ways. Three works 8x10 or larger from this project are due by December 16th. Impose your personal sensibility on what is in front of the lens. For this project, we’ll be experimenting with alternative photographic processes, especially hand-altering a printed image on special papers.
          READING: Chapter 10.

 

November 15th, 2010   Week  Five

LECTURE:
CRITIQUE OF PORTRAITS

 

PORTFOLIO  ASSIGNMENT 4

 

CLASSROOM:
Time and Motion in a Photograph.  See pg 154-5 in textbook for assignment. If you lack a tripod, set your camera on a level, immovable surface. Make a series of photo’s depicting motion in three different ways. For this project, we’ll be experimenting with alternative photographic processes, especially hand-altering a printed image on special papers.
Three works 8x10 or larger from this project are due by December 16th. Impose your personal sensibility on what is in front of the lens.

 

HOMEWORK:
          Finish any redoing of older works. Ready portfolio for hand-in.

 

 December 6th, 2010     Week Six
Final critique of all works. Hand in portfolio for grading.
Research Due no later than December 8th at noon.