Instructor: Elizabeth Bieber Title: Photography I Catalog Number: ARTS /05 Credit Hours: 3 Contact Hours: 60 Dates: 1/17/17 5/11/17

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1 Instructor: Elizabeth Bieber Title: Photography I Catalog Number: ARTS /05 Credit Hours: 3 Contact Hours: 60 Dates: 1/17/17 5/11/17 Section 04: Tuesdays & Thursdays, 12:15-2:45 pm Section 05: Tuesdays & Thursdays, 3:00-5:30 pm Office hours: by appointment ebieber@smccme.edu Text: Course Description Course Syllabus This class will introduce and explore the technical, historical, & contemporary concerns of photography as a form of artistic expression. Much of the work will be done in the digital environment, but projects will include other forms of photography. Students will gain a working knowledge of Adobe Photoshop as it relates to more traditional modes of image making. The central goal of the class is for students to learn & expand the vocabulary and grammar of the medium & find their own way of using it creatively to express original visual ideas and unique perspectives. Discussions will focus on gaining an understanding of the contemporary and historical contexts from which we work. Class time will be devoted to lectures, demonstrations, critiques, slide talks, and visits to galleries and museums. Students should have (and bring) a camera for the duration of the course. Course Objectives 1) Establish an understanding of the historical & contemporary aspects of photography

2 2) Employ comprehension & vocabulary of photographic concepts to engage in critical discussions. 3) Develop software skills in image file management, viewing & editing software 4) Present & display a thematic portfolio of work Course Requirements Arrive to and depart from each class on time; actively participate in shooting projects, lab, discussions and critique (25%) Complete 5 shooting projects for critique deadlines (25%) Produce a digital or print portfolio of final project (25%) Take three multiple-choice quizzes based on reading and lectures (25%) Submit at least one photograph for a contest, publication, or show by end of semester. TEXT, TOOLS & SUPPLES FOR THIS CLASS Please bring in the supplies below to every class. Materials Book: We won't be using one book but there will be reading assignment throughout the semester. Tony Northrup s DSLR Book: How to create Stunning Digital Photography ISBN: Digital Camera (Preferably with manual controls). Computer or access to a computer with adequate RAM Memory (2-4 Gigabytes) and sufficient hard drive space. An external hard drive for your images. Internet Connection have a back-up plan in place if your Computer/Internet is not working! (going to a library, computer lab, using your phone or an ipad...) Local Photographic Supply PHOTO MARKET, 945 Forest Avenue, Portland ( ) HUNTS PHOTO & VIDEO, 220 Maine Mall Road (next to Petco), South Portland ( ) ARTIST & CRAFTSMAN SUPPLY, Woodfords Corner, Portland ( ) Mail Order B&H PHOTO, 420 Ninth Avenue, New York City ( or ACALUMET PHOTOGRAPHIC, 890 Supreme Drive, Bensenville, IL ( )

3 FREESTYLE PHOTOGRAPHIC, Hollywood, CA ( Tools Notebook and pen, Digital Camera with manual ie non-automatic settings, at least 2 memory cards, External hard drive AT LEAST 16 GB, and photo paper (the paper will be a shared classroomm cost of about ten dollars per person). Recommended: When we have mid and end of semester print photo presentations, we will be printing on our Epson printers. To pay for this, we will be pooling some money together $10 a person to buy a roll for the class. We will use a roll of Epson Premium Lustre inkjet photo paper (size 10 x 100). This is available at Hunts or B & H photo online. A Word about our Software.. The software programs we will be using: Flickr (an online viewing program where you will post your assignments), Adobe Bridge (a digital photography management program) Lightroom & Photoshop CS5.5 (digital photo editing program). If you are shooting in RAW ( as opposed to Jpeg) files, we have Adobe Camera RAW. You will generally have lab time on Tuesdays to cultivate skills in these programs. To those of you new to these programs there is an abundance of Photoshop manuals available. I recommend any of Scott Kelby s books. In addition, there is now an abundance of online video tutorials, many on Youtube. Contact with professor: I look forward to in-person and communication throughout the semester! *CLASS POLICIES 1.Check your SMCC school before class to be updated on class cancelations or changes. Please arrive to class on time & attend the duration of class. If you are unable to attend a class, please try to me about it before the day of class. 2. There is a strict no cell phone, sidechatting or computer browsing policy during class; following these policies is expected and applied to your participation grade. 3. Three or more consecutive absences without documented reason or excused by the professor results in automatic failure. Excessive absence (4 or more times total) also results in failure. LATENESS: (2 lateness = 1 absence; Leaving class early = 1 lateness)

4 *LATE ASSIGNMENTS NOT ACCEPTED AFTER THE WEEK THEY ARE WEEK DUE GRADE BREAKDOWN Quizzes: 25% Projects: 25% Participation: 25% Final Portfolio: 25% Quizzes 25% There will be 3 short multiple choice quizzes based on the readings and lectures. Shooting Assignments 25 %: There are 5 photo assignments including a midterm photo assignment. All assignments require a one page write-up. Please post each one in a separate album on your Flickr page before class begins on their due date. Thanks! Participation: 25%: points earned by participating in in-class discussions, commenting on peer s photos in class and in our Flickr photo group, and on one presentation on a photographer. Final Critique: 25% A one page project description/ artist statement & a series of ten authored photographs presented in a print or digital portfolio. *Final Project presentations start Thursday 5/4/17 COURSE SCHEDULE OF TOPICS *THE FOLLOWING SCHEDULE FOR THIS CLASS MAY BE SUBJECT TO CHANGE. PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO REVIEW AND WRITE DOWN THE DUE DATES FOR QUIZZES, FIELD TRIPS & SHOOTING ASSIGNMENTS. **LAB TIMES are (usually) on TUESDAY - you are expected to bring in photos from shooting assignments to work on. If you

5 don't that is considered being unprepared and can affect your participation grade. 1/17 & 1/19 WEEK 1: INTRODUCTION Concepts Review of class / syllabus History of Photography How cameras work Class 2: SHOOTING ACTIVITY Exposure Photo Activity: Keep ISO the same; adjust f-stop and shutter speed using Aperture and Shutter priority settings. Look for interesting shapes, patterns and light sources. Make sure your exposure is correct. Pay attention to your light meter and histogram when setting up the shot. ASSIGNMENT DUE FOR 1/19 CLASS 2 1. MAKE SURE YOU CAN LOG ONTO COMPUTERS. 2. LOG ONTO BLACKBOARD TO ACCESS ASSIGNMENTS AND POST YOUR WEEKLY WRITE-UPS. 3. SIGN UP FOR FLICKR AND JOIN OUR FLICKR GROUP. SECTION 04: SECTION 05: 4. REMEMBER YOUR USER USER NAME/ PASSWORDS. 5. LEARN HOW TO MOVE IMAGES FROM YOUR CAMERA TO THE COMPUTER, AND COMPUTER TO FLICKR. CREATE FOLDERS ON YOUR PERSONAL HARD DRIVE FOR EACH WEEK S ASSIGNMENTS. DUE TUESDAY 1/24: PREVIOUS WORK Directions: BRING IN 3-5 PHOTOS (no more!) that best describe what you enjoy about photography. The work can be your own and/or photos that others have taken but are meaningful to you. We will be looking at them on the big screen so bring them in digital for

6 Due Tuesday 1/31 Complete the Seeing Like a Camera Assignment by 1/31 Post all photo assignments to flickr and writeups in Blackboard Discussion Post. 1/24 & 1/26 WEEK 2: CAMERA BASICS CONTINUED 1/24 HISTORY OF PHOTOGRAPHY Concepts: Bracketing, Sunny F-16 Lab: Overview of Digital Darkroom, Navigating Flickr Exercise 1: Choose a project from the Seeing Like a Camera assignment found in the Blackboard handout folder. Consider the time of day and quality of light you shoot in. Due 1/31 DUE END OF DAY ON 1/26: Flickr Field Study Using what you learned from the exposure lecture, take a photo walk. From this walk, post at least 3 images of your choice into your flickr account. Post the photos in the flickr group. Create titles for each photo and comment on at least 3 classmates' photos. 1/31 & 2/2 WEEK 3 Concepts: Review Manual Camera Functions, Exposure, Sunny F-16 Thursday 2/2: QUIZ 1 Exposure Review of lecture and inclass quiz.

7 toning, duo-toning 2/7 & 2/9 WEEK 4: BLACK & WHITE Lab: Photoshop Black & White conversion, filters, Concepts: grayscale vs full-range tonality, contrast, traditional vs. contemporary styles Slideshow: A look at The Master Photographers Thursday 2/9: DOWNTOWN PORTLAND FIELD TRIP DUE 2/16 Exercise 2: Research and Write / Take photos that Emulate a Master Photographer 2/14 & 2/16 WEEK 4: PORTRAIT Portrait Exercise (In-class) Lab: Uploading & Organizing Photos Using Lightroom: create a collection of best images PHOTOSHOP: Convert to black and white FLICKR: Post in an album labeled Black and White Due on 3/3 2/21 & 2/23 A Deeper Look at Photography 2/21: Bring in Portrait photos for Lab Lab: Lightroom and Photoshop - We will look at techniques and filters that emulate film Guest lecturer on History of Photography in Maine 2/23 Film activity: If you have, please bring in a film camera and a roll of color film. 2/28 & 3/2 WEEK 6: Composition concepts: cropping, placement, dynamic framing,

8 rule of thirds, points and lines, Lab: straightening, tilting, cropping, adjusting ratio DUE 3/09 Exercise 3: Composition Exercise 3/7 & 3/9 WEEK 7: PHOTOGRAPHIC ELEMENTS Concepts: pattern, shape, texture 3/7 QUIZ 2 Composition Lab: Printing Critique on Composition Projects Week of March 13th NO CLASSES - SPRING BREAK! 3/21 & 3/23 WEEK 8: STREET PHOTOGRAPHY Concepts: The Decisive Moment Read and Discuss: InPublic Website, Street Photography for the Purist Exercise 4: Street Photography Due 3/30 Street Photography for the Purist (free download online) 3/28 & 3/30 WEEK 9: Critique Street Photos QUIZ #3 4/4 & 4/6 WEEK 10: Evaluating Photographs, Determining group and individual themes

9 Lab time: TBA 4/5 Critique and Peer Review of Exercises 1 4 Final Project Theme due (see handout) Concepts: Developing a theme, peer review Discuss: Individual & Collective themes 4/11 & 4/13 WEEK 11: TBA, Open Lab 4/18 & 4/20 WEEK 12: Concepts: Photo Assembly, Harmony, Theme, Series Lab: Final edits, Sequencing, Printing 4/25 & 4/27 WEEK 13: ASSEMBLY GUEST PHOTOGRAPHER Mock Critique, Discuss holes in series; reshoot as necessary Exercise 5: 20 Theme-based Work Prints & Project statement due for review 5/7 & 5/9 WEEK 14: CRITIQUE Concepts: Web & Print Portfolio WEEK 15 PORTFOLIO with Project Statement DUE 5/7 Lab You will be provided with Adobe Photoshop in class. Approximately half of he class will be emphasizing post-production methods of photography, and digital

10 image workflow. We will be using Adobe Photoshop, with attention to using the following tools: 1. Digital Image Capture & Workflow 2. Image Storing & Organizing 3. Straightening & cropping 4. Working in layers 5. Levels & Curves 6. Color balance 7. Brightness & contrast 8. Black & White Conversion 9. Preparing for Printing 10. Digital Portfolio GRADING YOUR PERFORMANCE. Criteria for evaluation include: completion of exercises; level of self-challenge, time & effort spent; quantity & quality of work produced; understanding of concepts covered; & growth & development of aesthetic sensibility. Grades will be assigned as follows: A The highest level of commitment, effort & enthusiasm, demonstrated by working independently & carrying through ambitious & challenging projects. B A high level of effort & enthusiasm. The student demonstrates a sincere level of commitment & a devotion to learning the skills of the class. All or most exercises are complete. C A sufficient level of achievement in quantity & quality of work. Multiple exercises are incomplete or rushed. D Deficiency in commitment & accomplishment. Many exercises are incomplete. F Extreme deficiency in commitment, understanding & accomplishment. Very few exercises are attempted. Grading Breakdown 92.5 and above = A = B = D = A = C = D = B = C Below 60 = F = B = C- End-of-Course Evaluation

11 In order to gain access to final course grades, students must complete evaluations for all courses. Students can now evaluate their SMCC courses online and anonymously by going to Academics on the SMCC homepage and choosing Course Evaluations. This feature is typically available the last two weeks of every class (in most cases, this will be the last two weeks of the semester). ADA Syllabus Statement Southern Maine Community College is an equal opportunity/affirmative action institution and employer. For more information, please call If you have a disabling condition and wish to request accommodations in order to have reasonable access to the programs and services offered by SMCC, you must register with the disability services coordinator, who can be reached at There will be some documentation for your teachers that must be supplied before accommodations can be given. Further information about services for students with disabilities and the accommodation process is available upon request at this number. SMCC Pay-for-Print Policy Students can print 100 pages per semester for free. If you print over 100 pages, you will be charged 10 cents per page to your Beacon Bucks account. Left over pages will roll over to the following semester but will zero out at the end of the academic year. A pilot project tracking public printing has shown that this amount of free printing meets the needs of the vast majority of students. The College's pay-for-print system monitors printing on all public printers (i.e., those in general access labs, library printers, the LAC, and technology labs). Each time you log in to the system, the print station displays the remaining print quota. Once the printing quota has been exceeded, users will be charged $0.10 per page on their Beacon Bucks accounts. Color printouts will be charged at 11-page units. This means each color printout will count as 11 pages toward the quota and cost $1.10. Students can add money to their cards using a credit card online. Add-Drop Policy Students who drop a course during the one-week add/drop period in the fall and spring semesters and the first three days of summer sessions receive a 100% refund of the tuition and associated fees for that course. Please note any course that meets for less than the traditional semester length, i.e., 15 weeks, has a prorated add/drop period. There is no refund for non-attendance. Withdrawal Policy

12 A student may withdraw from a course only during the semester in which s/he is registered for that course. The withdrawal period is the second through twelfth week of the fall and spring semesters and the second through ninth week of twelve-week summer courses. This period is pro-rated for shorter-length courses. To withdraw from a course, a student must complete and submit the appropriate course withdrawal form, available at the Enrollment Service Center (no phone calls, please). The designation W will appear on the transcript after a student has officially withdrawn. A course withdrawal is an uncompleted course and may adversely affect financial aid eligibility. Failure to attend or ceasing to attend class does not constitute withdrawal from the course. There is no refund associated with a withdrawal. Plagiarism Statement Adherence to ethical academic standards is obligatory. Cheating is a serious offense, whether it consists of taking credit for work done by another person or doing work for which another person will receive credit. Taking and using the ideas or writings of another person without clearly and fully crediting the source is plagiarism and violates the academic code as well as the Student Code of Conduct. If it is suspected that a student in any course in which s/he is enrolled has knowingly committed such a violation, the faculty member should refer the matter to the College s Disciplinary Officer and appropriate action will be taken under the Student Code of Conduct. Sanctions may include suspension from the course and a failing grade in the course. Students have the right to appeal these actions to the Disciplinary Committee under the terms outlined in the Student Code of Conduct.