J 318/325 Photography I Fall 2010 Mon/Wed 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. CMA 6.168 Unique # 07255 and 07260 Assigned lab hours: 1-5:00 p.m. Wed./Tues. 5-9 p.m. Instructor: Dr. Sherre Paris Office Hours: By appointment in Photo Lab CMA 6.200. slparis@mail.utexas.edu Photo Lab and J318/325 Teaching Assistants: Names and Contact Information TBA Office Hours: during their shifts in Photo Lab CMA 6.200. Lab Manager/Equipment Check-Out: Ray Ballheim, ray.ballheim@austin.utexas.edu 471-1968. Prerequisite: Journalism 316 with grade of at least a C, and a major in the College of Communication or consent of instructor. Text: (Optional): Photography by Bruce Warren Second Edition (Aug. 2001), paperback 608 pages, ISBN: 0766817776. Course Overview Welcome to Photography I. This course is designed to provide a strong foundation in photographic technique and image analysis, preparing you for more advanced visual communication courses in the program. Though this course emphasizes technical aspects of using black and white photographic materials, it is not merely a how-to course. Instruction is directed toward the execution of well-done photography to fulfill assignments. It is also intended to provoke thinking about how your work relates to photography in a larger sense its meanings and applications - as an impacting communication medium. Course Structure The course will consist of lecture, photographic assignments, wet-labs, critiques, and possible guest lectures. I will not show a lot of slide examples in class/lecture. There isn t time. The emphasis in the course is your work. One class a week will be devoted to explanation of assignments and discussion, and the other to critique. You are expected to be looking at photography books and magazines, and pictures in both print and online news media. Objectives/Learning Goals The course is designed to provide you a basic understanding of the nature of black and white photography. This involves both technical and aesthetic understanding: learning the nature of your materials - film, paper, and chemistry; shooting a variety of subject matter under a variety of conditions; processing your own film, editing and printing your own photographs, exhibiting your prints in class critiques; and learning how to read, analyze, interpret, and discuss photographs as a visual communication medium. Because the class consists of photojournalism majors and non-majors, the overall intent of the 1
course is to help prepare majors for professional careers in visual communication and to lay an enduring foundation of knowledge and experience in imagery for non-majors. By the end of the course, you should have a strong working knowledge of 35mm cameras and mastered the skills of proper exposure (metering), controlling depth of field (making equivalent exposures), flash, using a variety of lenses, b&w darkroom printing, as well as working with subjects (posing and establishing rapport) and multi-image storytelling. You ll also be introduced to the process of digital photography shooting, manipulating and printing in digital lab and learning the basics of Photoshop, Photo Mechanic, and negative scanning. Goals per assignment(each one building on the concepts of previous assignments) Assn 1: Shooting: well-exposed, sharp images. Darkroom: film processing and printing. Assn 2: Metering natural light and making proper exposures. Working with subjects: posing. Darkroom: Burning and dodging, using filters Assn 3: Shooting: Controlling depth of field by making equivalent exposures. Assn 4: Shooting: Experimenting with wide, medium and long focal length lenses. Scanning negatives. Assn 5: Shooting an event with film. Editing multiple images for visual narrative. Working with subjects. Basics of Photo Mechanic. Assn 6: Using fill flash in photojournalism and portraiture. Basics of Photoshop. Assn 7: Using flash indoors (techniques of bounce and slow-sync flash) Assn 8: Using Photoshop to produce quality image files. Digital printing. Assn 9: Shooting with digital cameras. Storytelling through multiple images. Download images. Assn 10: Final project: Picture story. In-depth assignment that utilizes all of the skills learned throughout the semester. In keeping with the mission of the School of Journalism, the objectives of this course also concern: 1) Ethics, Professionalism, Personal Integrity. This means meeting deadlines and being mature and responsible in the way you approach assignments and interact with your subjects. Photojournalists work with the public and the public sees their images. Be accountable for your own actions and respect the privacy of the people you photograph. NEVER make promises to subjects (i.e. I ll send you a print. ) that you do not intend to keep. 2) Writing skills. This is essential in photojournalism. It is imperative that photographers are able to write clearly and effectively in order to produce accurate captions and describe their work for critiques, interviews, web sites, magazine articles and books. 3) Critical thinking skills developed through subject choice, image analysis and critique, and editing with an appreciation of and sensitivity for diverse audiences. Students with Disabilities Please tell me if you have a disability-related need. UT Austin provides upon request appropriate academic accommodations for qualified students with disabilities. For more information contact 2
Services for Students with Disabilities, 471-6259 (voice) or 232-2937 (video phone). Policy on Scholastic Dishonesty The University defines academic dishonesty as cheating, plagiarism, unauthorized collaboration, falsifying academic records, and any act designed to avoid participating honestly in the learning process. Scholastic dishonesty also includes, but is not limited to, providing false or misleading information to receive a postponement or an extension on a test, quiz, or other assignment, and submission of essentially the same written assignment for two courses without the prior permission of the instructor. By accepting this syllabus, you have agreed to these guidelines and must adhere to them. Students who violate University rules on scholastic dishonesty are subject to disciplinary penalties, including the possibility of failure in the course and/or dismissal from the University. Equipment and Supplies Students should own or have regular access to a 35mm SLR film camera body, a 50mm lens, and an off the camera flash. (You will not need a flash until the Flash Assignment). Industry standard Nikon or Canon equipment, if possible, is highly recommended. It is also recommended that you invest in a light meter, especially if you plan to pursue photography professionally. Limited equipment is available for check out from the photojournalism dept. (Ray Ballheim, Photo Lab Manager). You should meet with Ray and find out what available equipment is compatible with your system. Equipment may be checked out for 2 days during the week and from Friday to Monday on the weekends. Check Ray s door for equipment check-out hours. For the digital assignments, digital cameras are available for extended check-out times. You may use your own digital camera only if it is equivalent to or better than the lab equipment. NOTE: You must have the manuals for your particular camera body and flash. If you don t have the manuals, download them off the internet. It is your responsibility to understand the functions of your equipment. In Austin, you may purchase supplies at Precision Camera, University Co-op, and Holland Photo (take your ID and ask for a student discount). You should call first for supply availability. You may want to purchase some items, especially film, from larger photo outfitters who have better prices and may not charge tax. Several I can recommend are: B&H in NYC - www.bhphotovideo.com East Coast Photo in Brooklyn - www.eastcoastphoto.com Freestyle Photographic in Hollywood - www.freestylephoto.biz In this class, you will be using 35mm black-and-white film exclusively. I recommend that you use Kodak Tri-X or Ilford HP5 (both 400 ASA films). Only shoot 36 exposure rolls. Rolls with 24 exposures will not be accepted. It is a good idea to stick with one type of film until you are comfortable processing film and happy with your results. Note: When buying film, a brick of film is 20 rolls. Discounts should apply if you buy a brick. (If you intend to continue with film, I highly recommend investing in a bulk film loader, some canisters, and purchasing film by the 100 ft. roll.) 3
Other items you will need: 8x10 Photographic paper. I recommend Ilford Multigrade RC paper (matte, pearl, satin, glossy). Photo sponge. For squeegee-ing your wet, developed negatives before drying them. Fine point Sharpie-type pen for labeling your contacts,negatives and CDs. Clear plastic negative preservers that hold strips of FIVE negatives. All negatives must be page sleeved in fives in order to make contact sheets on 8x10 paper. THREE folders for turning in assignments (must close with an elastic band or velcro). Paper for digital printing (not needed until the digital assignment and I will tell you the type of paper). Lock for darkroom locker 5B pencil for writing on the back of your prints Several CDs for burning your digital images. Canned air (Dust-off, etc.) for spraying dust off negs before printing. Optional, but highly recommended: two 35mm film reels and a glass thermometer. Items you can share: Spotone and a brush, Negative cleaner and Q-tips Assignments Though the class schedule will remain flexible to accommodate possible guest speakers, assignments will be due on a weekly basis until later in the semester when you are required to complete an extended documentary project. The assignments will include darkroom procedures, technical exercises such as flash, a portrait assignment, coverage of an event, understanding framing and composition, creation and production of visual narrative, caption writing, and a final personal documentary project. The range of assignments will expose you to the technical rigors of attaining professional quality photographs and also afford exploration of your creative potential. The course is designed to provide a very good mix of pure technique, photographic fulfillment of specific standards and the expectations of others (of which working on assignment as a staff, agency, or freelance photographer consists), and self-expression. While you may find some of the assignments more tedious and technical than others, you should strive to be creative with every assignment using framing, composition, awareness of light, sense of place, positioning of subject, and choice of subject matter. Remember to move around and use varying points of view and angle. I encourage you to experiment beyond the assignment requirements. Assignment Turn-In Procedure Assignments are due at the beginning of each class, and all images must be taken by you in the week the assignment was due (with the exception of the event and final project, which must be shot during the semester, but you will have more time for these assignments). ***Late assignments are not accepted. An assignment not complete and ready to go on the wall at critique will receive a nonnegotiable grade of zero. Do the best you can in the time you have. ***All film must be processed by you absolutely no out lab. 4
1) Use a pocket-style folder (velcro or elastic band) for turning in each assignment. Put ALL work for the assignment in the folder: written documentation, negatives, contact sheets, CDs and enlargements. The folder should be labeled with your name, course #, assn. number and semester. For example: Susan Smith, J325, Assn 7, Fall 2009. Contacts, negatives, prints and written statements must also have your name and assn. # on it. If you don t wish to write on the back of your prints, you may type or clearly print this information on a piece of paper or label and attach it to the back of your prints. 2) Include negatives. They must be cut in strips of five and put in clear plastic negative preservers with the first shot on the roll in the upper left and last shot in the lower right position. Have the base side of the film facing up so the negative numbers read correctly left to right. Using a Sharpie, label the top of the negs with your name & Assn. #. Also indicate R1 for roll 1, R2 for roll 2, etc. 3) Include contact sheets. On the back of each contact sheet, print the same information you put on the negative preserver, including R1, R2 etc. Make readable contacts of good exposure. If your negatives are consistently exposed there should be no problems. If a good part of your roll is of a different density (exposure) from the rest, you may want to make two contact sheets - one of optimum density for each part. Make sharp contacts! Unsharp contact sheets occur when there is not enough pressure on the glass. 4) Required enlargements. Unless otherwise instructed, make required prints on 8x10 paper, using the dimensions given in class. Print everything full frame (the whole image) preferably with a black border. You have the option of using a filed-out negative carrier if you want your prints to have a sloppy black border. (Cropping of prints is not allowed until the final project). If you have an image that you really want to crop, make an extra print with your cropping and bring it to class for the critique. Minimize dust spots by using canned air or spot-tone. Do not mount prints. Everyone is expected to dodge, burn and use filters to produce high-quality prints. 5) Written Statement /Technical Data. For every assignment include a one-two page, typed, 12 pt., double-spaced statement that indicates any comments, questions, observations or problems you had regarding the assignment. Consider where the assignment went well, where it did not, and why. Include technical information when required. This is a professional program, so spelling and grammar count. Assignment Re-do Assignments may be redone for a better grade only if the assignment was originally turned in on time. Redoes must include all requirements of the original assignment, including written statements and technical logs. Redoes must be turned in by the end of the semester (see syllabus for date). If you do not hand in an assignment on time, it may not be redone. You may not redo the final project. Be sure to hand in your original assignment and grading comments along with your redo. If you redo an assignment, write redo on your materials and include your original assignment and grading sheet in the folder as well. 5
Grading Although, what defines a good photograph can be debated as a subjective issue, for the sake of clarity, work produced in this class will be judged according to three basic categories: technical, aesthetic, and subject content. Such as: exposure, sharpness, compositions that enhance the subject) and aesthetic quality (images that communicate a mood, moment or convey information about a subject or event), print quality (good tonal range, burning and dodging as needed), as well as how well you experimented with your shooting style (varying exposures/depth of field, using both horizontal and vertical formats, trying different lenses) and explored your subject (interacting with them when necessary, moving around to improve composition, and shooting an appropriate amount). Written comments accompany all grades. Assignments (7) - 1 unit each Event Assignment - 3 units Picture story - 5 units Particular Criteria for Judging Work: Criteria for grading will change according to assignment requirements. For example, for your first few assignments, I will grade you on the quality of your negatives as well as your printing, but toward the end of the semester and you are doing your event and personal projects, I will be grading according to overall coverage, editing, printing and presentation. So, though each project will be judged according to criteria specific to that assignment, there are some common standards of quality expected: Negatives Negatives must be sleeved and labeled according to instructions and accompanied by contact sheets. Clear, well exposed and well processed negatives are the goal. Grossly over or under exposed, fogged, muddy, pink-blobbed, short-fixed negatives will be graded down. Prints Sharpness Even if using an extremely shallow depth-of-field, some important part of each print must be critically sharp. Images that are almost in focus will not work. You could not submit a soft image to a personal client or photo editor and expect them to either purchase or publish it. Quality of Printing - Prints must have good exposure, contrast and range of tones. Over or under printed, or flat, muddy prints will be graded down. Dodged shadows shouldn t look faded and burned highlights shouldn t look scorched. Condition of Print - Prints with messy surfaces (scratches, stains, french-fried finger prints, tears or wrinkles) or that are tainted looking due to short fixing will be graded down. Written comments accompany all grades. Assignments (7) - 1 unit each Event Assignment - 3 units Picture story - 5 units 6
The following point system will be used to determine your grade: A+ = 17, A=16, A-=15, B+=14, B=13, B-=12, C+=11, C=10, C-=9, D+=8, D=7, D-=6, F=5 Work not turned in = 0. To determine your grade, divide the number of points obtained by the number of total units. The plus/minus grading system will be used for your final grade. Grading Comments Your assignments will be returned to you with my grading comments. KEEP these comments until you have received your final course grade. In case of a grading problem, they are your evidence of an assignment grade received. If you turn in an assignment redo, remember to include the original work and grading sheetalong with your redo. Attendance and Participation Attendance is mandatory, in class and the lab and you are expected to be in class on time and prepared for critique and/or discussion. If you are going to miss class, notify me in advance by email. Excused absences usually involve personal or family illnesses or emergencies, which require written documentation. Routine medical appointments, job obligations, computer problems, missed buses are not valid reasons for missing class. You are responsible for material covered in each class. You are allowed 3 excused absences. Any absences beyond those will result in a deduction of 5 points off your final grade. I expect everyone to participate in discussions and critiques. It is expected that each student will conduct him/herself as an adult enrolled in a professional environment. This class will require time, energy, discipline, and commitment. Your success will depend not as much on talent as on personal initiative and determination. Religious Holy Days By UT Austin policy, you must notify me of your pending absence at least fourteen days prior to the date of observance of a religious holy day. If you must miss a class, an examination, a work assignment, or a project in order to observe a religious holy day, I will give you an opportunity to complete the missed work within a reasonable time after the absence. Things to keep in mind Be professional.this is in regard to your work ethic as well as your conduct and presentation. Be professional in the way you deal with your subjects. Plan aheadand be prepared for the unexpected. Things will go wrong when you least expect it, so have a back-up plan. Subjects not showing up, bad weather, batteries dying, etc. are not excuses for late or incomplete work. Pay attention to detail. The minutest detail (waiting another second, moving one step in a different direction) can be the difference between a boring image and a compelling image. Challenge yourself.what you get out of this class depends significantly on what you put into it. Select good subjects and locations. Give yourself plenty of time to complete assignments. University Honor Code.All students are expected to abide by the University of Texas Honor Code, which reads: The core values of The University of Texas at Austin are learning, discovery, freedom, leadership, individual opportunity, and responsibility. Each member of the university is expected to uphold these valuepeers and community. 7
Blackboard and Class Communication In this class, I use Blackboard (a Web-based course management system with passwordprotected access at http://courses.utexas.edu) to post course materials, assignments, and announcements. You can find support in using Blackboard at the ITS Help Desk at 475-9400, Mon. - Fri., 8am to 6pm. I will also use email to notify the class of schedule changes or course updates. 8