Digital Photography

Digital Photography
ART 82 - 4186
Spring 2004

Location:
Room 1261

Class Schedule: Lecture / Lab, Wednesday 4:00 - 7:00 PM
Office Hours: 3-4 Wednesday

Instructor: John Sappington - john@basearts.com

Course Syllabus

Online Syllabus: http://www.basearts.com/DigitalPhotoSRJCspring.htm

DESCRIPTION:

This course is an introduction to approaches and techniques of digital imaging with a focus on the use of the digital camera and Adobe Photoshop. The course will cover the technical and practical aspects of the digital camera, and the use of image editing software (Adobe Photoshop), covering traditional darkroom concerns and exploring the technical particulars and aesthetic potential of digital photography.

This course will present and overview of digital imaging techniques as applied to the art of photography. Traditional and new electronic photographic methods are studied as a vehicle to understand the implication of this medium as an art form. Emphasis is placed on the creative process while exploring electronic image making as a means of communication used by contemporary artists.

Outcomes and Objectives:

Explore digital photography.
Understanding and applicable use of the tools of digital and electronic photography.
Employ creative thinking skills in assessing visual images
Develop skills in manipulating photo images with new tools
Examing past work for relevance
Practice aesthetic criticism

Topics and Scope:

Synthesize digital tool manipulation with photographic images.
Produce work using a variety of digital equipment.
Investigate how digital tools change photographic images.
Analyze the work of current artists and designers using these tools.

Assignments:

1. Scanning Techniques
2. Digital Camera Operations *manual
3. File Management Practices
4. Printing Procedures
5. Text and Image, Alternative approaches to graphic use of photographic materials
6. Presentation Methods *Web/Internet

Recommended Technical Texts:

Photography, Barbara London, John Upton, Ken Kobre, Betsy Brill, Prentice Hall
or
Photography, Revised Edition, Henry Horenstein, Russell Hart Prentice Hall

"The Photoshop CS Book for Digital Photographers", Scott Kelby, New Riders Publishing, 2004
www.scottkelbybooks.com

Alternate Technical Texts:

Black and White Photography, A Basic Manual,, Little Brown and Company

"The Photoshop Book for digital photographers", Scott Kelby, New Riders Publishing, 2003
www.scottkelbybooks.com

"Photoshop 7 Professional Photographic Techniques", Janee, Nyree Costello, Gavin Cromhout, Vikas Shah, friends of Ed, 2002
www.friendsofed.com

"Photoshop 7 for Windows and Macintosh", Elaine Weinmann, Peter Lourekas, Peachpit Press 2003
www.peachpit.com

Required Supplies / Equipment:

A 2 Megapixel (or greater) digital camera is required.

Students are required to obtain backup media to store class example files and work in progress.

Optional media types are:

- 100MB/250 Mb Zip disks

- CD ROM/DVD-R, Write-once or Re Writable: Approx. capacity 700+MB

- Flash cards, memory sticks, etc..

Students are also required to have an e-mail account. This can be accessed through the lab and may be a free account like those available from Hotmail, Yahoo, Freemail, Excite, etc. The instructor will assist students in obtaining an e-mail account if necessary. Students will be expected to check this e-mail account at least twice a week. General class announcements will be reported via e-mail.

EVALUATION:

40% of student grades will be based on class participation. Students must attend class in order to effectively participate.

50% of student grades will be based on the completion of assignments. These assignments will not be graded for skill or content, but will be evaluated for technical completion.

10% of the student grade will be determined by the final portfolio presentation.

ATTENDANCE POLICY:

Students are expected to attend all of every class meeting unless they have received prior permission from the instructor. Attendance will be taken at the beginning of each class meeting. Anyone absent when attendance is taken will be assumed absent from the class. If you are late to class it is your responsibility to make sure your attendance is acknowledged by talking to the instructor.

If you are intending to drop the class, please notify the instructor. You should not assume that the instructor will automatically drop you because of absences. If you stop attending classes and you do not drop the class, and the instructor has not dropped you from the class; the instructor may be required to give you a grade of F for the class.

Digital Photography Schedule (subject to change)			Course Outline Recommended Reading List Updated Photography Resources http://www.basearts.com/resources.html#photography
Week 1	01.12.05	Syllabus Overview Expectations, Requirements, Objectives, Best Practices.	Assignment: Minimum 5 images in any form - representing your interests, motivations in photography. Email john@basearts.com with your current email address - include SRJC Photography in the subject line.
	Reading: Review Course Outline - http://www.basearts.com/curriculum/DigitalPhotoOutline.htm & Review Internet Resources Search Artists:
Websites for people who are researching cameras: http://dpreview.com www.steves-digicams.com http://www.keh.com
Week 2	01.12.05	Lecture: Digital Technology Camera / Scanner Scanning Procedures Transferring images from camera/media to system. Begin fundamentals of visual phenomenology / camera technology.	Lab: Assignment:
	Reading: Review Photograms and Montage works... Click Here Moholy-Nagy Man Ray Jerry Uelsmann Search Artists:

Week 3	10.19.05	Lecture Photoshop Introduction File Browser File Types, Formats Layers Camera Operation - Exposure basics	Lab Clean up scans/camera images beginng file preparations. Assignment: Bracketed Exposures - Choose a subject and make 5 bracketed exposures. 1st exposure according to meter reading. 2nd + .5 half step greater aperture selection or more exposure (over) 3rd + 1 whole step (full stop) greater aperture selection (over) 4th .5 half step smaller aperture selection or less exposure (under) 5th - 1 whole step smaller aperture selection or less exposure (under) *Be sure to make notes of the exposures in your journal. Experiment with the shutter speeds + and or - one shutter speed is equal to a full stop.
	Reading: Search Artist:

Week 4	01.26.05	Lecture Photoshop Cropping Selections Layers	Lab Assignment:
	Reading: Search Artist:

Week 5	02.02.05	Lecture: Photoshop: Saving Selections Adjustment Layers Masks	Lab Assignment:
	Reading: Search Artists:

Week 6	02.09.05	Lecture Adjustment Layers Color Modes Luminance / Color Corrections Curves Levels	Lab Assignment:
	Reading: Search Artists:
Week 7	02.16.05	Lecture Photoshop: Burn / Dodge Clone Healing History	Lab Assignments:
	Reading:
Week 8	02.23.05	Lecture Discussion	Lab Preparations for Midterm
	Reading:
Week 9	03.02.05	Mid-Term Reviews 20 Images Contact Sheets	Lab Assignment: Evaluation Form (Please Complete and Submit from your home system)

Week 10	03.09.05	Lecture Photoshop: Text Tools Batch Processes	Lab Mid-Term Reviews Continued...as required Assignment:
	Search Artists:
Week 11	03.16.05	Lecture Photoshop: Printing Reviewed File Types Color Management Resolution File Preparation Proofs / Printing Options from w/in PSD	Lab Assignment:
	Reading/Discussion:
Week 12	03.23.05	Lecture Photoshop:Printing Lighting - Utilizing Ambient Light - Backlight - Flash Modes - Corrections	Lab
	Reading: Printers - Materials - Supplies PS Print http://www.psprint.com/ Preparing files for print - Pagemaker, Illustrator http://www.psprint.com/helpcenter/preparingyourfiles/digitalcheck_pm.asp Digital Art Supplies http://www.digitalartsupplies.com
03.30.05 - Spring Break
Week 13	04.		Lab
	Assignment: Reading: Search Artists:
Week 14		Lecture Photoshop: Web Output Image Ready Optimization Automation Techniques	Lab Assignment:

Week 15		Lecture	Lab

Week 16		Lecture Legal / Copyright Issues Protecting your images Respecting the work of others	Lab
Week 17
Week 18		Final Critique