UCLA Extension Introduction to Digital Photography with Scott Jo X 438.9 Art 4 units Classroom Sessions: Monday (7:00-10:00PM) 07/11/11-08/29/11 1010 Westwood Center 416 Computer Labs: 10a.m.-1p.m. 07/30/11 & 08/20/11 Westwood B04 Instructor Information: Scott Jo 310-415-0184 scott@scottjophotography.com Course Description: In this practical hands-on introduction, the fundamental technical and aesthetic principles of digital photographic processes are addressed, including instruction on DSLR camera operation, composition, and digital retouching and manipulation. Instruction also includes Adobe Photoshop software acquisition techniques and output technologies. Discussion covers contemporary digital imaging and its application within commercial and fine arts. Assignments demonstrate mastery of technical skills and individual creative expression. Although no previous knowledge of photography or photo editing is required, students must be familiar with such basic computer operations as opening and saving documents, file management, and copy/paste functions, etc. Students are encouraged to bring their camera and instruction manual to the first class. Internet access required to retrieve course materials. Course Goals: This course will provide students with a strong foundation of knowledge in current photographic technology, techniques, and trends. Specific goals include: o The ability to identify and select appropriate digital cameras and lenses for specific purposes. o Demonstrate a professional understanding of Digital Asset Management o Develop a personal point of view using technique, composition, lens choice, etc. o Understand the importance of proper exposure including camera settings and custom functions. o A basic understanding of color management. o Demonstrate the ability to make a well toned and color balanced image. o Develop a vocabulary of photographic terms o Demonstrate the ability to verbalize strengths and weaknesses in photographs o Participate in class discussion and constructively critique oneʼs own and otherʼs work Required Materials: Digital SLR camera with manual setting capability 50mm fixed lens or equivalent zoom lens 1 gigabyte portable USB Flash Drive Session Schedule 1 07/11/11 Introduction to the class, your responsibilities, assignments, supplies (costs), the equipment you must have or need to buy right now. The basics on: camera operation and controls, Basic Exposure, ISO, f/stop, shutter speed, and white balance. Due 07/18/11 ASSIGNMENT #1: ISO & white balance (EGG) Set ISO to 200 for daylight Select White Balance (Appropriate Icon)
Select Shooting Mode (Av, Tv, & M ) 5 shots each Set ISO to 800 for indoor at night Select Shooting Mode (Av, Tv, & M ) 5 shots each Set ISO to 1600 for night shot Select Shooting Mode (Av, Tv, & M ) 5 shots each 45 Shots Total 45 shots total 2 07/18/11 Exposure continues with Aperture control (f/stop). We will be going over Depth of Field (DOF), metering, & Av mode (Canon) / A mode (Nikon). Characteristics of wide angle, telephoto, and zoom lenses. Different types of sensor size. Due 07/25/11 ASSIGNMENT #2: Aperture (White Eggs) Set your lens to 50mm 5 shots showing depth of field 5 shots showing shallow depth of field Total 10 shots 3 07/25/11 Exposure continues with Shutter control. We will be covering motion / camera blur, & how to photograph action in Tv mode (Canon) / T mode (Nikon). Due 08/01/11 ASSIGNMENT #3: Shutter (Blur) Set your lens to 50mm 5 shots motion camera blur 5 stop motion Total 15 shots Set camera setting to RAW + Jpeg 4 07/30/11 Computer Lab. Digital workflow: How to manage and organize files. File format (RAW vs. JPEG), RAW processing, and resolution. Introduction to Photoshop and Lightroom. BRING A RAW IMAGE TO WORK WITH. 5 08/01/11 Manual exposure control in M mode, sunny 16 rule, and metering. Introduction to night photography. Start thinking about your final project (10 images) and bring ideas to computer lab with supporting images. Due 08/08/11 ASSIGNMENT #4: Manual Exposure Set your lens to 50mm 5 shots in day light 5 shots at night Total 10 shots
6 08/08/11 Simple lighting techniques using available light and flash. Portraiture with exclusively available light (no flash), reflector fill, locations. Examination of some of the masters of portraiture of Philippe Halsman, Richard Avedon, Arnold Newman, Annie Leibovitz, Robert Mapplethorpe, Helmut Newton, Herb Ritts, & Irving Penn. Due 08/15/11 ASSIGNMENT #5: (Natural light portraiture) Open Shadow, window light, and fill light 5 shots per scene Total 15 shots 7 08/20/11 Computer Lab. Basic Ink Jet printing, Photoshop techniques. ASSIGNMENT: Digital Printing. Bring the best image from the final Project to be printed. 8 08/15/11 Lighting continues and composition (rule of 1/3). Examination of Walker Evans, W. Eugene Smith, Dorthea Lange, Mary Ellen Mark, Diane Arbus, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Robert Doisneau, & Robert Frank. Due 08/22/11 ASSIGNMENT #6: Street Photography / documentary / photo journalism 5 shots set at 50mm 5 shots using wide-angle lens (50mm or less) 5 shots using telephoto (50mm or greater) Total 15 shots 9 08/22/11 Review and go over final project ASSIGNMENT: Project Continuation Bring 5 images of final personal project 10 08/29/11 Critique of personal projects Criteria For Grading Assignments The following criteria and guidelines are the basis for the subjective grading of all projects and assignments. Ask yourself these questions while you are shooting the assignment and again when you are finished. 1. Did you meet the project's requirements? 2. Was it turned in on time? 3. Did you follow directions? 4. Do you have a variety of shots showing different subjects, angles, horizontals, verticals, getting in closer, shooting looser, various lighting, etc? 5. Are your shots interesting to look at, or at least well composed? or, Are they just plain boring????
6. Are your images well exposed? Too light? Too dark? 7. Did you use interesting lighting? (different times of day, different angles of light, etc.) 8. Did you attempt original ideas or concepts? 9. Are the images tack sharp? Recap of Assignments & Due Dates Date Assigned Date Due Assignment Point Value 07/11/11 07/18/11 Assignment #1 ISO & White Balance (25 images) 100 07/18/11 07/25/11 Assignment #2 Aperture (10 images) 100 07/25/11 08/01/11 Assignment #3 Shutter (10 images) 100 08/01/11 08/08/11 Assignment #4 Manual (10 images) 08/08/11 08/15/11 Assignment #5 Natural Light Portraiture (15 images) 100 08/15/11 08/22/11 Assignment #6 Street Photography (15 images) 100 08/01/11 08/29/11 Personal Project/ Photo Essay (10 images) 300 Exam 100 Attendance 100 Total Possible Points 1000 6 Photo Assignments A = 1000-900 1 Personal Project/Photo Essay B = 899-800 Exam C = 799-700 Attendance D = 699-600 Total Possible Points 1000 F = 599-500 Digital File Preparation You must have your files prepared with proper nomenclature, sorted and ready to upload to my computer at the start of class Image Requirements: o JPEG only: no processed RAW, TIFF or DNG files o Color Space Adobe RGB preferred o NO software adjustments, sharpening or image manipulation of any kind o You may use in camera parameter settings for saturation, sharpness, etc. o Full-resolution & best quality compression settings will be used o NO CROPPING OF IMAGES IS ALLOWED Assignment Delivery: USB-II Flash-drive (no CDs) o Student will have a dedicated flash drive for this class only o Flash drive of 1 or 2 gigs will be fine o Flash drive will be kept blank/empty except for work due o Student will put their name on drive o Retractable or un-capped drives only please o Full resolution Jpegs, un-cropped o File/folder naming convention:
FOLDER Intro_01_Jo_S Class_Assignment #_Your last name_your first name initial IMAGE 01_Jo_S_001 Assignment #_Your last name_ Your first name initial _ No. o Label your three favorite images from each assignment as FAV EXAMPLE: 01_Jo_S_001_FAV Course Policies and Procedures You earn your grade. Please remember that average is a letter grade C. If you complete all of the requested/required specifications very well, then you have earned an average grade of C. It is what you add beyond the requirements that earn you a grade of B or higher. 1. THIS IS A COLLEGE COURSE, THEREFORE ATTENDANCE IS REQUIRED. Lectures, demonstrations, discussions, and critiques are vital elements in the developmental process of this course. Therefore, missing any classes is strongly discouraged. In the event that a class is missed, you are responsible for any information that was covered during your absence, and your work from that week is not eligible for critique. 2. In the interest of time management and course flow, late assignments will not be critiqued in class. If you want feedback on your photographs, please bring them to class on the day the assignment is due. 3. LATE ASSIGNMENTS will reluctantly be accepted up to one week after the due date. However, the highest possible mark for late work will be a grade of ʻCʼ and does not qualify for resubmission in order to receive a better grade. 4. Any project turned in on time can be redone and resubmitted for a better grade without any penalty. i.e. you can raise a 'C' to an 'A,' if you earn the A. However, if you do resubmit a project and it earns a lower grade than the original, you will receive the new grade. 5. All redo assignments must be complete within 1 weeks time of its graded return. 6. Turn in all projects by 6:30 pm of the date due or else it is late 7. All assignments must be produced within the time frame of this current term, only, and must be created exclusively for this class. Any work photographed for another class, commercial assignment, etc. and turned in will receive an automatic failing grade. 8. All images must be for each specific project only, i.e. project #1's images cannot be submitted for project #3. 9. Each photo project should be considered equivalent to a written exam. The project is a visual demonstration of your knowledge, therefore do not under estimate the value
of a single project. Every project will be counted towards your final grade, none will be dropped. 10. Do your own work. Any shared images / slides will NOT be graded for any project. A grade of 'Fʼ will be assigned to that project for all persons involved. 11. I will be keeping some of your images for use as a teaching example of future photography classes. Thank you. 12. Class begins at 7:00pm sharp and concludes at 10:00pm. You have committed yourself to these 3 hours every Tuesday by enrolling in this class. 13. Each student is allowed one unexcused absence. Each absence thereafter will result in a full decrease in letter grade for each missed class. You will automatically be dropped after 3 absences. If you are 45 minutes or more late, you are absent for the day. It is your responsibility to make sure your attendance is recorded the day you were late. 14. TURN OFF ALL CELL PHONES AT THE BEGINNING OF LECTURE. No phone calls, NO TEXTING, etc. during lectures and critiques.