Richard Avedon, Instructions for his printer.
PHOTOSPRING
2012
“Hotography”
PH204 Photographic Media I 3 credits
This course introduces the basic tools, techniques and concepts
of photographic media. Students are introduced to a variety of photographic
methods for generating and outputting images, with a primary emphasis on lens
based representation and production. Modes of image generation and output that
are addressed include black and white and color film, digital, and time-based
visual imaging systems. Students explore the aesthetic aspects of photography
while they complete a series of assignments geared towards developing their
technical and conceptual abilities. Issues related to camera vision,
representation and picture interpretation are also explored.
Prerequisites:
Fulfills: Lens, Technology, Time Elective;
Introduction to Photographic Media Requirement (Photography and Graphic Design
students); Studio Elective
What this means is
that in the first part of this course, you will learn how to use a 35 mm film
camera using black and white film. You will also learn to develop film and make
black and white prints in the darkroom. The second part of the course will
involve using digital 35 mm cameras and Photoshop to learn the basics of
digital photography. You will do a series of assignments that will teach about
how to use the equipment and also challenge your creativity and inventiveness.
You will be making prints for each assignment, participating in critiques and
making brief presentations about contemporary photographers. While we are doing
this, we will be tracing the history of photographic technology the history of
photography as art. Including contemporary photographers. And finally you will
be discovering and developing a point of view or “voice” in the way you see and
use images in your work regardless of your area of concentration.
You are not required to
own a 35 mm camera in order to take this course, although it would be helpful
if you could have access to your own camera. The college has equipment for sign
out at specific times, If you choose to sign out equipment you will need to
plan accordingly.
This course engages with
the technology of photography but the primary aim of introductory courses is to
expose you to technology and forms of expression, which you may not have
considered as options for your work as an artist. You are not expected to
become “a photographer” You are expected to engage with the terms and forms of
this way of making images in doing the assignments for this class.
CRITERIA FOR CREDIT
Engagement: You will be expected to do work outside of class
time in order to complete the assignments for this class. You will also be
expected to engage in critiques and discussion during class time. Your
engagement can take other forms as well; you may do extra work, repeat
assignments, or invent projects.
Communication; I expect you to be in communication with the
instructor regarding questions about assignments, technical information and
absences, If you need to miss a class, I expect to communicate with me before
the fact.
Attendance I expect you to attend every class. Some classes
such as critiques cannot be made up. If you miss a lecture or demonstration of
technique you will need to get the information from the class blog or another
source.
Synthesis; I assume that you will be connecting the work
you do in this class with the work you do in other classes. Basic issues of
design and composition pertain to the consideration of photographs as well as
other dimensional work. There are concepts and terms that relate to
photographic representation that you will be learning as well. We will be
learning these terms and concepts connecting them to what you have learned in
other classes and applying them to discussions
and critiques
Production: You are expected to complete every assignment on
time. Late assignments will be marked down. In critiques you may hear comments
about how you might improve an idea or revisit a choice you had made, you have
the option to incorporate changes into redoing an assignment.
While the marketing
of photography creates an impression that ALL photography is digital, many
photographers and filmmakers use traditional means to produce their work.
Consequently, the darkroom experience is important since much of the
terminology and many techniques used in digital photography editing programs
refer to the conventions of traditional photographic practice. Although the result is the same (a two
dimensional color or black and white photographic representation on paper), the
technology differs. For this reason we will need to pay attention to the formal
and aesthetic issues that are particular to photography, traditional
photography, and digital photography. E Berry 2012
