Photography Syllabus

 Knut LSG Hybinette

Office Hour: Monday and Wednesday 11:00-13:00

Email: hybinette@talteron.edu

Steam: dippymonkey

CLASS WEBSITE/BLOG http://tarletonart.blogspot.com         

COURSE DESCRIPTION AND OBJECTIVES

This class will introduce students to digital photography techniques and concepts. Technically, students will learn the proper use of digital cameras, basic and advanced techniques in Adobe Creative Suite 6, and professional photographic printing. Concurrently, students will gain an understanding of the cultural, conceptual and creative ramifications of digital imaging.

While photography should be fun, it takes time to master the skills. It also takes times and effort to be out shooting with your camera to find the good shots. There is an enormous amount of information to learn about camera technique and design software.=

The class will move quickly early on to cover all this information. Each assignment students will present their work to the class and will be critique. Students are required to write a final project proposal near midterms. After this point, photographic assignments will drop off to allow students time to create and develop their projects.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

- You will create a portfolio of images by shooting 50 plus images a week (800 the whole semester), and you will post those images online on the your own Flickr.com page.

- You will become proficient with Adobe Creative Suite 6 on the Mac.

- You will learn how print and present your work professionally.

- You will learn about the history of photography as an art, be able to exam and critique the work of yourself and others, and you will learn how to effectively communicate your ideas both visually and verbally.

CLASS TIME

Class time will involve:

- A combination of lectures and discussions on pertinent issues within the medium
-Application demos and technical instruction
- Introduction to other photographers that significantly connect to class projects
- field trips and on-location camera exercises
- work time for projects
-Lectures of many photographers you should know. Weekly (Monday)
- Critiques of projects

Outside of class, homework will be mostly centered around shooting images for homework assignments. The best way to improve in this medium is to shoot as much and as often as possible. You are expected to work around 4 hours a week outside of class.

REQUIRED TEXTS / SUPPLIES

Text: There is no textbook. Any required reading will be posted on the blog. However if you prefer to have a take home textbook, I recommend: A Short Course in Digital Photography by Barbara London and Jim Stone and Adobe Photoshop for Photographers by Martin Evening (used copies run cheaper).

Supplies

1. A working digital camera (A digital SLR with removable lenses, manual settings, and shoots in an uncompressed digital format will give you the most versatility and you will be able to get better results easier. You may use a point and shoot, but you are expected to understand the limitations of what your camera can do. Please no phone cameras (Automatic F) for everyday use.) 2. Memory card for camera, at least 1 gig

3. USB drive ALWAYS back-up your work, you may save things to your lab computer, however it is a public lab so anything is possible, and hard drive crashes are not a viable excuse for late work. Or get Dropbox.

4. Prints - you will soon be required to print your work in a professional manner. This means purchasing output media to print on such as, photo quality ink-jet paper, inkjet canvas, transparencies, iron-on transfer sheets, etc. You need not purchase this until we discuss paper in class.

The estimated cost for this course will be around 50 - 100 dollars.

SCHEDULE

Schedule Subject to Change, and I promise it probably will

Week 1: intro to camera function and digital processing, another point of view project-Brief History of Photography

Week 2 – composition, digital photo editing, manual camera settings, lighting life project

-Critique

-Photography Show

Week 3
– Critique

-Photography Show

Week 4 – landscape photography, advanced digital output home project

Week 5 Critique

-Photography Show

Week 6 – narrative storytelling, Photoshop compositing, narrative

Week 7 Critique

Week 8 – long exposure photography, night time project

Week 9 Critique

Week 10 photojournalism 101, research strategies, photojournalism project

Week 11 Critique

Week 12  Fashion and Portrait

Week 13 - Critique

Week 14 Studio and individual meeting- final project

Week 15 Studio and individual meeting, final project

Week 16 - final project display (book, website presentation)

COURSE RULES

1.) Blog: http://tarletonart.blogspot.com/: All assignments and required source material will be posted online. Specific Xeroxed articles, tutorials and other online source material will be assigned and posted on the blog as the course progresses. You will post your own photos on the class Flickr page.

2.) Attendance: mandatory at all class sessions. Class moves fast and it is extremely difficult to catch up unless you take responsibility and look up anything you missed. More than three

absences (excused or unexcused, they are all the same) lower your final grade 1 grade down each absence. If you miss 4 classes you will receive an F. Come unprepared for work in class or you will receive an absence. Since most class material is covered at the beginning of class, being notably tardy (15 Minutes) also counts as an absence. Checking Facebook/internet (expect for research)  or texting during class lectures or videos will make you absent for the day.

I don’t have remind any students about this. If student is being nuance or wasting time in class I will ask the student to leave the class and this will count as one absence. If you going to shoot. You have to post all photos on Flickr.com.

3) Projects: There will be seven or eight key assignments in this course. About Every other week there will be deadlines for those assignments. They are always due at the beginning of class on the deadline date.

4.) Critiques: Students are expected to participate in class critiques of works, both completed and in progress. As the term evolves, we will orient towards weekly progress critiques. Talking about your work and others is a crucial aspect of assessing whether your images communicates effectively.

If you miss any or anyone’s Critique you will receive an F on your photo project or assignment.  If you miss the Final Critique you will get F for the class.

5.) Grading: each project is worth 100 points and will be graded by:

• FOLLOWING DIRECTIONS– 34%- does the project match the online description?

Did the photographer take enough images, are they presented correctly and on time?

• CREATIVITY – 33%- originality of thought and expression.

Does the artwork show innovation and uniqueness? Did the artist solve the given assignment problem in an expected or unexpected way?

• CRAFTSMANSHIP -– 33%- attention to detail.

Does the artist skillfully manipulate the images so they look their best? Are all details carefully finished and/or intentional-looking?

Grading

1.Composition, digital photo editing 10%

2.Landscape photography 10%

3. Narrative storytelling 10%

4. Long exposure photography 10%

5. Photojournalism 10%

6 Fashion and Portrait 10%

7. Final Project  30%

8. Class participate in class 10%

6.) Equipment check out: A student may check out equipment that is available by the Fine Arts department. You assume responsibility for the item and you are required to return it before the next scheduled class. Some of the items we have are: Nikon D5000 Digital SLR Camera, Canon Digital Rebel

SLR Camera, Portable Studio Lighting Kit, Strobe Flashes, Tripods, Video Cameras, and more.

7.) Lab Etiquette: Always back up your work. Data loss—from a lost, fried and/or stolen hard drive, or satanic software - cannot be used as an excuse for late or missing work.

Students are not permitted to use the internet or any electronic devices during lectures or student presentations. Cell Phones must be turned off unless instructed otherwise. If I see you use unwanted internet or Cell you will get one absence.

ACADEMIC HONESTY

Cheating, plagiarism (submitting another person’s materials or ideas as one’s own), or doing work for another person who will receive academic credit are all impermissible. Turning in work made before this class, or from other classes, is also a violation of academic honesty. Disciplinary action may be taken beyond the Department of Fine Arts. All work turned in for this class must have been made during this class!

STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES

It is the policy of Tarleton State University to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (http://www.ada.gov/) and other applicable laws. If you are a student with a disability seeking accommodations for this course, please contact Trina Geye, Director of Student Disability Services, at 254.968.9400 or geye@tarleton.edu. Student Disability Services is located in Math 201. More information can be found at www.tarleton.edu/sds or in the University Catalog.