Photography I: George Washington University, Spring 2004
From 1/14/04 to 04/28/04
Class meets in SMTH 207, on Monday, from 8:00 am-12: 40pm
Instructor: E. Brady Robinson er39@georgetown.edu
Syllabus Online: http://www.gobrady.com/gwuphoto1.html
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. 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.
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. Students accumulating more than three absences may jeopardize their grade or fail the course. Open darkroom time does not serve as a substitute for class time.
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 usage is not permitted during class. Please keep your cell phone off.
9. 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 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 excellent level of performance, you will earn a grade of A. When you have completed all assignments at a good level of performance, you will earn a grade of B. When you have completed all assignments at an average level of performance, you will earn a grade of 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=Excellent -thorough understanding in all technical areas as well as inventive and well executed solutions to all assignments.
B= Good - above average understanding in all technical areas, most solutions to assignments are thoughtfully executed, some need improvement.
C= Average - adequate understanding in all technical areas, most solutions do not yield significant interpretation or insight to the problem.
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 Outline/Photography I
January
Wednesday 14: 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.
(Read Chapters 1-6 in Horenstein text.) Chapter 1-2 in London/Upton text
Start Assignment #1 Point of View. Read Chapter 3-5 in London/Upton.
Intro. to the Darkroom: Making Photograms.
Wednesday 21: LAB- Developing Film. Bring in your exposed film from assign. #1, scissors, bottle opener, negative sleeves, and towel.
Continue Printing Assignment #2 Photograms
Bring all required materials-photogram materials, printing paper & towel
Wednesday 28: Making a Contact Sheet. Bring in all required materials.
Demo: Making B&W prints.
February
Wednesday 04: Lecture: Using Multi-Grade Filters to Increase Contrast.
Demo: Spotting and Mounting.
Lecture: Depth of Field. Shooting Assignment #3 Depth of Field. Read Chapter 6-7 in London/Upton text.
Wednesday 11: Assignments #1-2 Due. Critique on #1 & #2
Wednesday 18: Lecture: Shutter Speed. Motion/Action Techniques.
Begin Assignment #4 Motion Studies. Open Lab.
Work on #3-4. Read: Chap. 4 in Horenstein text
Wednesday 25: Individual Meetings Concerning Midterm/Final Series
March
Wednesday 03: Critique on Assignment #3 & #4. Read: Chap. 15 London & Upton
Slide Lecture. Begin Assignment #5. Light/Low Light
Wednesday 10: Open Lab. Work on Assignment #5. Work on Final Portfolio
Wednesday 17: No Class. Spring Break
Wednesday 24: Critique on Assignment #5 + Work Prints for Final Portfolio
Wednesday 31: Photography Test Review. 1:1 Portfolio Reviews
April
Wednesday 07: Photography Test.
Wednesday 14: Open Lab
Wednesday 21: Open Lab
Wednesday 28: Final Critiques
Instructor/Student Communication
Please contact me at immediately if you are experiencing any problems throughout the semester. I expect and rely on good student/instructor communication. Meetings can be arranged by appointment. Email: er39@georgetown.edu
Local Photo Stores:
Ace Photo, 46950 Community Plaza, Sterling, VA 703-430-3333 www.acephoto.net
Penn Camera, Tyson’s Corner, 8357 Leesburg Pike #893-7366
Penn Camera 1015 18th St. NW 785-7366
B&H Photo, NY, NY. bhphotovideo.com #800.606.6969, #212-444-6615
Materials Needed:
Optional Text: Black and White Photography, a basic manual. 2nd edition by Henry Horenstein Copyright 1983. Little, Brown & Company, Canada. ISBN# 0316373141
Required Text: Photography, 6th edition by Barbara London and John Upton.
Copyright 1998 Addison-Wesley Educational Publishers, Inc. ISBN# 0-321-01108-2
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)
-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)
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