Digital Photography
Spring 2006


ART 82 - 4185
Class Schedule:Lecture / Lab, Monday/Wednesday 4:00 - 7:00 PM
Course Outline

ART 82 - 7724
Class Schedule:Lecture / Lab, Tuesday 4:00 - 7:00 PM
Course Outline

Location:
Room 1261

Office Hours: 3-4 Wednesday by appointment.

Instructor:  John Sappington - john@basearts.com

Overview
Schedule
Resources

Course Syllabus

Online Syllabus (this page):

- Digital Photography-4185 & 7724 -

http://www.basearts.com/curriculum/SRJC.DigitalPhoto.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. Analogue and digital 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 digital 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 analogue and digtal photography.
Employ creative thinking skills in assessing visual images
Develop skills in manipulating photographic imagery 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:

"Photoshop CS2 for Windows and Macintosh", Elaine Weinmann, Peter Lourekas, Peachpit Press 2005
www.peachpit.com

"The Photoshop CS2 Book for Digital Photographers", Scott Kelby, New Riders Publishing, 2005
www.scottkelbybooks.com

"Real World Camera Raw with Adobe Photoshop CS2", Bruce Fraser, Peachpit Press, 2005

Recommended Photography Texts:

Photography: A Critical Introduction, Edited by Liz Wells, 1997, Routledge
Photography in Print, Edited by Vicki Goldberg, 1981, University of New Mexico Press
On Photography,By Susan Sontag, 1973, Picador.
Another Way of Telling, By John Berger, 1982, Vintage Books
The Sense of Sight, By John Berger, 1985, Vintage Books
Ways of Seeing, By John Berger, 1972. BBC & Penguin Books
The Object Stares Back: on the nature of seeing, 1996, Simon and Schuster, By James Elkins
Camera Lucida, By Roland Barthes, 1981, Hill and Wang
Image, Music, Text, By Roland Barthes, 1977, Noonday Press

-----------
Photography
, Barbara London, John Upton, Ken Kobre, Betsy Brill, Prentice Hall
Photography
, Revised Edition, Henry Horenstein, Russell Hart Prentice Hall
Black and White Photography, A Basic Manual
,, Little Brown and Company

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, RW, 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 evaluative assignments and one shooting field trip.  These assignments will not be graded for 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)

 

Week 1

Syllabus Overview Expectations, Requirements, Objectives, Best Practices.

Assignment:

  • Bring in a minimum 5 images in any form to the second class meeting- representing your interests, motivations in photography.

  • Email john@basearts.com with your current email address
    - include SRJC Digital Photo 4185 or 7724 in the subject line.

  • Locate and Read Camera Manual - Cover to Cover
    make notes in JOURNAL of questionable functions, settings, usage.

  • Set Camera to highest resolution / lowest compression.

  • TURN OFF THE FLASH!

  • Bring Camera to second class meeting with cables (usb/firewire), or card reader.

Reading:

Adobe Photoshop CS2 -
What's New Brief and New Features Expanded

Artists:

William Henry Fox Talbot
Diane Arbus
Andreas Gursky

Sites:

Masters of Photography - Good starter site for Analogue Masters
http://www.masters-of-photography.com/


Lomographic Society
http://www.lomographics.com

Camera Reviews


http://dpreview.com
www.steves-digicams.com
http://www.keh.com
 

Week 2

Lecture:

Digital Technology


Camera / Scanner
Scanning Procedures

Transferring images from camera/media to system.

Begin fundamentals of camera technology.

Lab:

4185 Class Only Please bring back your 5 images -
with all the file transfer confusion we ran out of time to
review those.

Establish Home Directories
Work with camera connection / file transfer

Assignment:

SHOOT IN THE DARK!
- 5 Exposures / 5 Locations - 5 pnts.
Shoot in low light situations without flash / ambient light only (indoor /outdoor, late evening, after dark, lit street).



Reading:

Camera Manuals continued - journal with questions/notes from the manual.

Digital Camera Review - Technical Glossary
http://www.dpreview.com/learn/?/Glossary/
http://www.dpreview.com/learn/?/Glossary/Camera_System/

Artists:


http://www.jonaslund.com/
http://www.jonaslund.com/jonas/walk
http://www.jonaslund.com/jonas/c_walk/


Historical :

Karl Blossfelt
Moholy-Nagy
Man Ray
Eudora Welty

Review Photograms and Montage works... Click Here

---

Contemporary :

Jerry Uelsmann
Robert Adams
Duane Michaels
Mary Ellen Mark


Sites:

Freestyle Photographic Supplies
http://www.freestylephoto.biz/e_main.php


B and H Photo Video
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/

-------------------------------------------------------------

LOCAL Photography GALLERIES

SF Camerawork
http://www.sfcamerawork.org

Robert Koch Gallery
http://www.kochgallery.com/

Fraenkel Gallery
http://www.fraenkelgallery.com
49 Geary Street
San Francisco, CA 94108
Map

Hours:
Tuesday - Friday: 10:30 - 5:30
Saturday: 11 - 5

(415) 981-2661 p.
(415) 981-4014 f.
mail@fraenkelgallery.com

Haines Gallery
http://www.hainesgallery.com
49 Geary Street, Suite 540
San Francisco, CA 94108

Tel: 415-397-8114
Fax: 415-397-8115
info@hainesgallery.com

Hours
Tuesday - Friday 10:30am - 5:30pm
Saturday 10:30am - 5:00pm


Urban Digital Color / Gallery 16
http://www.urbandigitalcolor.com/gallery16/galleryframe.html


Week 3

Lecture:

Camera Operation - Exposure basics

Photoshop Introduction

  • File Browser - Bridge
  • File Types, Format
Lab

First File Transfers

Assignment:

Bracketed Exposures - 10 pnts.
Choose 2 subjects and make 5 bracketed exposures of each.
*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:

Artists:

Historical :

Fredrick Sommer
Henri Cartier Bresson

Contemporary :

Stephen Shore
William Klein
Pablo Ortiz

Sites:

Sonoma County Museum - Archive from the 1906 Earthquake
http://basearts.com/curriculum/1906/



Photo Sharing

http://www.dpchallenge.com
http://www.flickr.com/
http://www.slide.com
http://www.kodakgallery.com/
http://www.snapfish.com/
http://www.shutterbook.com/home/
http://www.deviantart.com/
http://www.zoto.com/


-- Blue Pixels (www.bluepixel.net)
-- Extensis (www.extensis.com)
-- GretagMacbeth (www.gretagmacbeth.com)
-- Lexar (www.lexar.com)
-- Nik Multimedia, Inc. (www.nikmultimedia.com)
-- Wacom Technology (www.wacom.com)

Week 4 02.06.06

Lecture:

  • File Browser
  • Scanner - demo Analy

  • Photoshop Intro

 

Lab:


Tour Analy Hall Digital Lab Facility - SCANNER DEMO

Reading:

Camera Raw

Understanding Digital Raw Capture
http://www.adobe.com/digitalimag/pdfs/understanding_digitalrawcapture.pdf

Raw Capture, Linear Gamma, and Exposure

Why precise exposure is now even more critical when shooting digital raw.
http://www.adobe.com/digitalimag/pdfs/linear_gamma.pdf


Camera RAW Description
http://www.adobe.com/aboutadobe/pressroom/pressreleases/pdfs/200302/20030204RAW.pdf

Supported Cameras Page
http://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop/cameraraw.html


Artists:

Historical :

W. Eugene Smith
Minor White

Contemporary :

Robert Frank
Sophie Calle

Sites:

Animal Morphs - compliments of Antonina King
http://www.amon.dsl.pipex.com/index.htm

Week 5 02.13.06

Lecture:

Photoshop:

  • Contact Sheet
  • Automation Tools

  • Photoshop Intro Cont.
  • Size / Resize / Resolution


Review Bracket Exercise

Tour Analy Art Lab

Assignment:


Custom Digital Contacts - 5 pnts.
- 3 Subjects - 9 minimum shots exploring the subject presented via contact sheet II with customized layout and concern for creating a story of the object.


Reading:

"The Camera and the Pencil", Marcus Aurelius Root
"From Pigment to Light", Laszlo Moholy-Nagy

Recommended: John Berger - Ways of Seeing

Artists:

Historical:

Contemporary:

Sally Mann
Sherry Levine

Moriyama Daido

Sites:


02.20 & 21.06
NO CLASS

4185 Only 02.22.06 Lab / Discussion

Reading:

"The Camera and the Pencil", Marcus Aurelius Root
"From Pigment to Light", Laszlo Moholy-Nagy

Week 6
02.27.06

Lecture

Photoshop:

  • Layers Palette Introduction
  • Adjustment Layers
  • Levels Adjustment Layers



Lab

Adobe Instructional Resources Pages
http://www.adobe.com/education/instruction/main.html


Discussion 7724 :

"The Camera and the Pencil", Marcus Aurelius Root
"From Pigment to Light", Laszlo Moholy-Nagy

Artists:

Historical:

Ansel Adams
Edward Weston
Paul Strand

Contemporary:

David Hockney
John Baldessari

Sites:


The Art of DeTouch explores the manipulation of images related to the human form. Drawing photographs from existing online portfolio sites of professional re-touch artists, this application allows a user to explore precisely how the images were altered. Using Processing, an open source programming language and environment, before and after images are compared algorithmically pixel by pixel to generate visualizations of the alterations.

http://detouch.org/

Russell Brown Tips & Techniques
Image processor for Photoshop CS
http://www.russellbrown.com/tips_tech.html

Week 7
03.06.06

Lecture

Photoshop:

  • Working with and around Selections

  • Curves - Adjustment Layers
  • Channel Mixer- Adjustment Layers
  • Photo Filters- Adjustment Layers
  • Sharpening
  • History Brush

Lab


Assignment 4185:

Critique - 5 pnts.
- present best 10 images / contact sheets submitted
within home directory under "contacts".


Reading:

"A Personal Credo",Ansel Adams
"The Decisive Moment",Henri Cartier-Bresson

Artists:

Historical:

Henri Cartier-Bresson

Contemporary:

Nan Goldin
Uta Barth

Sites:


Robert Koch Gallery - Michael Wolf -
http://www.kochgallery.com/exhibitions/opening.html

San Francisco Arts Commission Gallery - Conversations 2: Marcel Dzama and Alice Shaw
http://www.sfacgallery.org/exhibits_sfacgallery_exhibition.fsp?id=229599

Week 8
03.13.06

4185:

Midterm Interviews - Monday
4:00 Dustin
4:15 Daryl
4:30 Derek
4:45 Angelica
5:00 Kristin
5:15 Lee Allen
5:30 Adam
5:45 Antonina
6:00 Rob
6:15 Rachel
6:30 Hassan
6:45 Megan


Wed.

3:45 KC T
6:00 Wendy
6:15 Diane
6:30 Ryan

Wednesday - Lecture /Disussion 4-6
Midterm Interviews cont. @ 6:00

Evaluation Form <--click here
(Please Complete and Submit from your home system)

    Photoshop:

    • Compositing
    • Blending Options

    • Roxio Toast

      CD and DVD Burning


    7724:

    Assignment :

    Critique - 5 pnts.
    - present best 10 images / contact sheets submitted
    within home directory under "contacts".


    Discussion:
    "A Personal Credo",Ansel Adams
    "The Decisive Moment",Henri Cartier-Bresson

    Week 9
    03.20.06

    Lecture:

    • Composition

      -tone

      -color
      -light
      -balance

      -line
      -framing

    • Lighting

    - Utilizing Ambient Light
    - Backlight
    - Flash Modes

    7724:

    Midterm Interviews

    3:00 Norman
    3:15 Sabrina
    3:45 Todd
    4:00 Molly
    4:15 Patrick
    4:30 Dominic
    4:45 Manfred
    5:00 Mohammad
    5:15 Jon
    5:30 Mimi /Laura
    5:45 Jenny
    6:00 Erin
    6:15 Elena
    6:30 Leela
    6:45 Audrey


    You are only required to show up for the time of your interview.

    Evaluation Form <-- click here
    (Please Complete and Submit from your home system)


    Discussion 7724 :

    "A Personal Credo", Ansel Adams
    "The Decisive Moment", Henri Cartier-Bresson

    Artists:

    Historical:


    Immogen Cunningham

    Harold Edgerton

    http://www.edgerton.org/biography.html
    http://www.josephbellows.com/dynamic/artist_artwork.asp?artistid=32

    Contemporary:

    David Hockney
    Richard Prince

    Sites:

    Week 10
    03.27.06

    Lecture:

    Lighting Continued...



    Photoflex - Lighting Resources Catalogue and Lessons

    Lab

    Assignment:

    3-5 Images selected to print for Student Show & Hanging on April 12th & 13th -
    5 points

    Tuesday April 12 - 7724 -
    Wed. for April 13 - 4185


    ----------------
    3-5 images of light -
    5 pnts. -
    Where light is the central subject or primary focus of the image.
    Consider both ambient or existing natural and artificial light sources and utiliting the flash.

    Be sure to also experiment with the flash in daylight. What impact does it have ... ?



    Artists:

    Historical:

    Margaret Bourke-White
    Tina Modotti
    Yosuf Karsh
    Irving Penn

    Contemporary:


    Judy Dater
    Annie Liebovitz
    Graciela Iturbide


    Sites:

    B&H - Flash Gel and Diffusion Samples

    This book has alot of filters for diffusion.

    http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=45184&is=REG

    This book has more colors.

    http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=45189&is=REG

    Only have to pay $.01 plus shipping ($4), no gimmick.

    Week 11
    04.03.06

    Lecture:

    Photoshop: Printing

    • Resolution (review)
    • File Preparation
    • Color Management
    • Color Modes


    Lab

    Reading:

    Susan Sontag, " In Plato's Cave"

    Artists:

    Date: April 6
    Time: 1 - 3pm

    Adobe InDesign presentation / demonstration / introduction

    to layout with graphics, photo graphics and/or text -

    This would apply to artists, designers and scrap bookers or amateurs with an interest in producing pamphlets, flyers or just photo collections for home use.

    Get a jump start on the next step in your production workflow and stop by for a free lecture.
    by Cyndi Reese
    Cyndi Reese, Computer & Information Sciences Instructor and certified
    Adobe Guru

    ----------------


    InDesign presentation by Cyndi Reese
    Room 2907, lecture room, 3rd floor, Maggini Hall
    Date: April 6
    Time: 1 - 3pm

    Week 12
    04.10.06

    Lecture


    Handout - Processing a Digital Image.pdf

    Photoshop: Printing

    • Resolution (review)
    • File Preparation
    • Color Management
    • Color Modes

    • Papers
      Surface/Finish
      Texture
      Color
      Weight


    Lab:

    Printing Demonstration in Analy - Epson Printer Driver

    Assignment:

    Final Prints for Student Show & Hanging on

    Tuesday for 7724 -
    Wed. for 4185


    ------------------------------------

    5 prints - 5 pnts. - 8x10 minimum


    Reading:

    Sites:

    Gregory Colbert's Ashes and Snow is an ongoing project that weaves together photographic works, three 35mm films, art installations and a novel in letters. With profound patience and an unswerving commitment to the expressive and artistic nature of animals, he has captured extraordinary, unscripted interactions between humans and animals.

    http://www.ashesandsnow.org/en/home.php
    http://www.ashesandsnow.org/en/portfolio/

    Printers - Materials - Supplies

    PS Print (LA based commercial printer)
    http://www.psprint.com/

    Preparing files for print - Pagemaker, Illustrator
    http://www.psprint.com/helpcenter/preparingyourfiles/digitalcheck_pm.asp

    Urban Digtial Color (SF, printer)
    http://www.urbandigitalcolor.com/urbandigital/udcframe.html

    Digital Art Supplies (San Diego based, print supply )
    http://www.digitalartsupplies.com


    Northbay Photo Supply (Santa Rosa, based photo supply)
    http://www.photosupply.com
    location map
    http://www.photosupply.com/aboutusindex.htm

    A great site on color and its impact on psyche, the body, the culture, the planet, design, etc.
    http://www.colormatters.com/entercolormatters.html -

    Quad Tone Ink Links - True Grayscale printing on an inkjet printer.

    B&W Inkset is a set of 4 archival black inks in which 3 have
    been diluted with a clear base stock to produce 3 shades of gray and 1
    black.

    http://www.inksupply.com/bwpage.cfm

    MIS ULTRACHROME EQUIVALENT CARTRIDGES - These cartridges contain MIS 7600
    Ultrachrome equivalent Archival color ink. Use for making fine art prints
    with high fade resistance. It is for both matte and glossy media.

    MIS PRO CARTRIDGES - These cartridges contain MIS PRO Archival color ink.
    It is an improved version of the MIS Ultrachrome Equivalent ink. It has
    less bronzing and higher gloss. Use for making fine art prints with high
    fade resistance on Epson C84, C86, C88, 4000, 7600, 9600 printers. It is
    for both matte and glossy media. It can be used for other Epson prints,
    but a profile will be required.

    http://www.inksupply.com/epsoncarts_xx.cfm

    http://www.inksupply.com/quadtone.cfm

    Below is the workflow provided by Paul Roark for making Variable Tone
    prints using an Epson printer and MIS VM or VMS inks. The MIS variable-mix
    ink and the adjustment curves produce beautiful prints that can be either
    warm-tone, neutral or cool.
    http://www.inksupply.com/workflow_roark.cfm

    Currently, the main vendors for quadtone inks are MIS Associates,
    Piezography, and Lumijet. Check their web sites for lists of currently
    supported printers.

    http://www.completedigitalphotography.com/index.php?p=32
    http://www.inkjetmall.com/store/piezok7/piezography-neutral-k7.html


    Additional Quad Tone Printing Resources

    http://www.basearts.com/curriculum/files/QuadTonePrinting/


    Spring Break
    April 16-22

    Aperture's Digital Photography Fundamentals

    Week 13
    04.24.06

    Lecture:

    Review: Images of Light, Spring Break photos

    Discussion : Susan Sontag, "In Plato's Cave"

    Lab:

    Printing

    Reading:

    Artists:

    Historical:


    Contemporary:


    Sites:

    San Francisco Society Photographs
    http://www.drewaltizer.com/

    Shutterfly Professional Photo Gallery
    http://www.shutterfly.com/professional_photo_gallery/how_it_works.jsp

    Week 14
    05.01.06

    Lecture

    Batch and Automation techniques


    Lab


    Printing
    Reading:

    Artists:

    Historical:


    Contemporary:

    Sites:

    Commercial Photographers - Online presence


    http://www.svenwiederholt.com
    http://www.nadavkander.com
    http://www.jockmcdonald.com/
    http://www.milesaldridge.com/
    http://www.marcleclef.com/

    Week 15 05.08.06

    Lecture:

    Photoshop: Web Output

    • Image Ready
    • Optimization

    Lab

    Reading:

    Artists:

    Historical:


    Contemporary:

    Sites:

    Week 16 05.15.06

    Lecture:


    Legal / Copyright Issues

    Protecting your images
    Respecting the work of others

    Creative Commons is a nonprofit organization that offers flexible copyright licenses for creative works.

    http://creativecommons.org/

    Lab

    Reading:

    Electronic Frontier Foundation
    http://www.eff.org

    Intellectual Property Online: Patent, Trademark, Copyright

    http://www.eff.org/IP/

    U.S. Copyright Office
    http://www.copyright.gov

    Digimarc
    www.digimarc.com
    http://www.digimarc.com/mypicturemarc/

    The Free Expression Policy Project
    http://www.fepproject.org/fepp/fairuseintro.html

    Artists:

    Historical:


    Contemporary:

    Sites:

    Week 17

    Week 18
    05.22 & 23 .06
    Final Critique

    Presentations of selections from individual portfolios 10-20 images.
    Beginning at 4:00


    Reading:

    Artists:


    Historical:


    Contemporary:

    Sites: