| Photography I Assignments: | |||||
| Final Projects: | Taci Jones |
Wake Forest University
Photography and Digital Imaging I – Art 119
Instructor: E. Brady Robinson (robinseb@wfu.edu)
Class Meets: Tuesday/Thursday 3:00-6:00 pm
Office Hours: Tuesday/Thursday 11 am –noon, by appt., #4177
Course Description: For the beginner student. Covers all primary skills required for the production of black-and-white photographs, including camera operation, exposure, film developing, printing, spotting, and mounting prints.
Course Objectives: A comprehensive beginning black and white photography class covering an introduction to the camera, and the process of exposing, developing and printing 35mm black and white film. The emphasis is on the expressive means of photography and proper procedure with the camera and in the darkroom. Since the practice of photography has become increasingly digital, you will be introduced to basic imaging techniques such as digitizing film, manipulating images in PhotoShop and inkjet printing. Guided weekly assignments will be given to develop camera and darkroom skills as well as personal technique. Students will work individually with the instructor to develop a final portfolio of prints based on one idea or theme.
Course Overview:
1. Use a manually operated 35mm camera. You will choose f-stops, shutter speeds, and types of film appropriate to the type of image you are making.
2. Expose and develop black and white film.
3. Make black and white photographs, learn Photoshop Basics and Inkjet Printing.
4. Conceive and execute a final series of 4 mounted prints representing one idea/theme.
Requirements and Class Policies:
1. Attendance is mandatory. You are expected to be present for the entire class, including lab time. You may miss two class periods without excuse. However, each absence thereafter will reduce your semester grade by one letter. Lectures and demos cannot be made up. Open darkroom time does not serve as a substitute for class time. 3 lates =1 absence.
2. Assignments are submitted when due. Late assignments will be reduced one full letter grade for each week past due. Later assignments will be subject to failure.
3. Each student is expected to participate in class discussions and critiques.
4. Each student is required to complete all reading assignments assigned on course outline.
5. Develop good darkroom habits, clean up your enlarger station when leaving the darkroom, make sure tanks and reels are washed off and properly returned completely dry after processing film. Bring a hand towel to reduce paper waste.
6. I will meet with each student at mid-term to discuss your grade and progress in the class.
7. New work should be brought to class each week. Review contact sheets with instructor.
8. Cell phone use is not permitted during class. No food or drink is allowed in the darkroom.
10. Bring all necessary materials at each class.
Final Grade Breakdown: class assignments & participation 50%,Test 25%, final project, 25% = 100% final grade
Methods of Instruction: The methods of instruction for this class include demonstration of proper camera and darkroom procedure, weekly-guided assignments, and individual final projects. Slide lectures will be given throughout the semester. Students will learn how to give and receive constructive criticism during the course of the semester in the form of group critiques.
Grading
1. Just doing the assignments does not mean that you will earn an “A” in this class. You must complete the goals for each assignment, execute at the expected level of technical proficiency, and give a professional presentation to the final portfolio. Grades are a reflection of how well you accomplished objectives set out for the course. You will be evaluated on both technical and aesthetic values. When you have completed all assignments and course work at an exceptionally high level of achievement, you will earn a grade of A. When you have completed all assignments at a superior level of performance, you will earn a grade of A-, B+, B. When you have completed all assignments at an average/satisfactory level of performance, you will earn a grade of B-, C, C-. When you have failed to accomplish the course objectives by not completing assigned course work, not participating in classes and/or labs, or missed more than 4 classes, you will earn a grade of D or F.
A= Exceptionally High Achievement- excellent/thorough understanding in all technical areas as well as inventive and exceptionally well executed solutions to all assignments.
A-, B+, B= Superior - above average understanding in all technical areas, most solutions to assignments are thoughtfully executed, some need improvement.
B-, C, C- = Satisfactory - adequate understanding in all technical areas, most solutions do not yield significant interpretation or insight to the problem.
D+, D, D- = Poor - inadequate understanding in most technical areas, portfolio is incomplete and finished work is mostly of poor quality (out of focus, contrast problems, spots, poor presentation)
F=Failure - lack of understanding in all technical areas, portfolio is incomplete and student lacks ability to submit work of any significance or quality.
2. Your personal contribution to class is also taken into consideration. Each student is partially responsible for the success of the class. Contributions include:
A. Regular Attendance.
B. Completion of assignments on time. Late assignments will be graded down.
C. Willingness to participate in class discussions, this includes preparation both in terms of completion of projects & coming to class with ideas & opinions that will promote discussion.
D. Participation in the orderly functioning of the lab...set up/clean up, respect/ care of equipment, proper return of borrowed equipment.
Criteria for Evaluation:
1. An acknowledged understanding of the assignment and seeking of unique solutions.
2. Demonstration of sensitivity of the camera as an image-making tool.
3. Individual initiatives and an effort to carry assignments as far as possible.
4. Willingness to discuss openly all solutions to the visual problems you face with the class as well as the ability to respond to constructive criticism from classroom critiques.
5. Technical proficiency - skills in processing, printing and final presentation are judged by fine art standards, technique should be appropriate to the image and idea.
Course Calendar
Photo and Digital Imaging I, Spring 2005
Professor E. Brady Robinson
January
Tuesday 11: Introduction to class. Syllabus handout.
Lecture: Introduction to the Camera, Photo Terms, Basic Camera Operation.
Use of aperture/shutter speeds to control light & make proper exposures.
Intro. to the Darkroom: Making Photograms.
Start Assignment #1 Point of View.
Thursday 13: LAB- Group A ONLY Developing Film/Contact Sheets
Bring in your exposed film from assign. #1.
Continue Printing Assignment #2 Photograms
Bring all required materials-photogram materials, printing paper, negatives sleeves & towel
Tuesday 18: LAB- Group B ONLY Developing Film/Contact Sheets
Bring in your exposed film from assign. #1.
Continue Printing Assignment #2 Photograms
Bring all required materials-photogram materials, printing paper, negatives sleeves & towel
Thursday 20: Demo: Making B&W prints, Printing Fiber Paper Process
Lecture: Using Multi-Grade Filters to Increase Contrast.
Lecture: Depth of Field. Shooting Assignment #3 Depth of Field.
Tuesday 25: LAB- Group A ONLY Review Filter Tests/Contact Sheets/Work Prints.
Demo: Spotting/Mounting.
Thursday 27: LAB- Group B ONLY Review Filter Tests/Contact Sheets/Work Prints.
Demo: Spotting/Mounting.
February
Tuesday 01: Lecture: Shutter Speed. Begin Assignment #4 Motion Studies.
Critique Assignment #1 Pt.View/Framing, #2 Photograms
Thursday 03: LAB – Group A, Review Contact Sheets/Work Prints
Tuesday 08: LAB – Group B, Review Contact Sheets/Work Prints
Thursday 10: Slide Lecture: Photography and Light.
Begin Assignment #5. Light (T-Max 100 and T-Max 3200)
Tuesday 15: Slide Lecture/Handout on Developing Final Series
Thursday 17: Open Lab. Brady at CAA.
Tuesday 22: Critique on Assignment #3 & #4
Thursday 24: Review for Mid-Term Photography I Test
March
Tuesday 01: Critique on Assignment #5, Light
Thursday 03: Mid-Term Photography I Test
Tuesday 08: No Class. Spring Break.
Thursday 10: No Class. Spring Break.
Tuesday 15: Introduction to Digital Photography and Photoshop, Meet in Scales 202
Read Photography, 247-303. Intro. to Photoshop Work Area: Documents, Tools and Palettes. Image Size, Resolution, Color Models.
Tutorial: Working with Selections
Thursday 17: Digital Lab. Tutorial: Layer Basics Review.
Tuesday 22: Digital Lab: Scanning/Importing Tutorial: Scanning Found Objects to Make College. Handout on Assignment #6: Photomontage
Thursday 24: Digital Lab: Photo Restoration
Tuesday 29: Digital Lab: Demo on Inkjet Printing
Thursday 31:Digital Lab: Advanced Layer Techniques
April
Tuesday 05: Digital Lab
Thursday 07: Critique on Assignment #6, Photomontage
Tuesday 12: Review Works in Progress.
Thursday 14: Review Works in Progress
Tuesday 19:Digital Lab
Thursday 21: Digital Lab
Tuesday 26: Final Critiques
Thursday 28: Reading Day
Supply List
Required Text: Photography and Digital Imaging by Marvin Rosen and David Devries
Kendall/Hunt Publishing Co., copyright 2001 ISBN: 0-7575-1159-7
Adobe Photoshop CS Classroom in a Book, ISBN: 032119375X
$30.60 @ Amazon. Com
Optional: Photoshop CS for Windows and Mac: Visual Quickstart Guide
By Eliane Weinmann, Peter Lourekas ISBN: 032121353X
Peachpit Press. $16.99 @ amazon.com
35mm Manual Camera (new or used) You must have a camera with manually adjustable f-stops and shutter speeds.
Preferred Cameras: Electronically Timed Shutters:
(with mechanical shutters) (with manual functions)
Canon F1 Canon A-1, Canon Program, T-70
Nikon FM2 Minolta x370, x570, x700
Olympus OM1, OM3 Nikon F-3, FG 20, FA
Pentax K 1000
35mm Film -15 rolls of Tri-X 400, 36 exp.
-2 rolls of T-Max 100, 36exp
-2 roll of T-Max 3200, 36 exp.
Photo Printing Paper:100 sheets of variable contrast fiber paper, Ilford or Kodak 8x10”
(glossy, do not buy matte finish)
*see Calumet’s Mutigrade IV, RC Deluxe 8x10” 25 sheets special packet
-Lens Cleaning Tissue and Fluid
-Antistatic Cloth - Ilford Brand
-Beseler Dust Gun (Compressed Air), Ethol Negative Cleaner and small box of Q-tips
-Towel, Apron, and Thick Gloves
-Plastic 35mm Negative Sleeves, and sleeves for 8 x 10” prints
-Large Envelope to turn in homework assignments, 12x15” or larger
-Spot-Tone Pens
-Large Plastic 3-ring binder
-Small notepad to keep a log of exposure readings
-Photo Mounting Board (15 sheets of 11x14”, white)
-Dry Mount Tissue (Seal Colormount Brand for fiber paper. 8x10” 25 sheets)
Optional Materials: skylight filter to fit your lens, tripod and magnifying glass or lupe, lens cleaning cloth + tissue)
-256 MB, USB Memory Stick