ARTS 1703 Digital Photography
Summer 2014 (June 17th – August 7th)
T/Th 6pm-10pm
Instructor: Miranda Brandon ([email protected])
Office Hours: by appointment
Course Description:
This course is an introductory level photography class in which you will learn to use a digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) to develop your ideas visually, through the lens. You will be challenged to think about what photographers (yourself included) choose to photograph and how they choose to do so alters the perception of that space, object, person, etc that was photographed. You will learn to use the camera as a tool for communication and expression.
As this is a digital photography class you will also be learning some Photoshop basics but this will not be the primary focus of the course.
Policies:
NO food or drink in the lab or DSB!
Attendance: If you want to get the most out of this course and do well you need to come to class and be on time. Missing more than 3 classes may result in the lowering of your overall letter grade by 1 full letter for each additional absence beyond the allowed 3. Absences will be excused with written documentation of illness or emergency. If possible let the instructor know when/if you’ll be missing a class. You are responsible for contacting the instructor and making up for missed class.
* Even with prior notification, you will be marked absent and there may still be an impact on grades.
http://www.policy.umn.edu/Policies/Education/Education/MAKEUPWORK.html - 100
Tardiness: Keep in mind that class will begin regardless of whether or not you are present. If you miss instruction due to unexcused tardiness you may fall behind in your work. Review of instruction will be dealt with according to time available. If it is observed that tardiness is a chronic problem it may result in the lowering of your overall grade.
Critiques: Attendance to scheduled critiques is mandatory . Missing a crit will automatically result in the loss of 15 potential crit points. If you know ahead of time that you will have to miss for some reasonable reason, or have documentation of an excused absence then an extra credit writing assignment can done in substitution for crit points missed.
Class Conduct: Be respectful and engaged with the class. Instructor reserves the right to ask disruptive students to leave the class, which will result in an absence.
Materials: This is not a cheap course; you can expect to spend between $150 - $300 in addition to purchasing a DSLR, if you don’t already have one available to you. If you foresee that this may be problematic you might consider taking a different class as not having materials is not an acceptable excuse for not having work ready on time. If this is a concern and you’d like to speak privately please let me know.
Cell Phones/MP3 players/the mighty interwebs/Facebook: Please refrain from using these during lectures, presentations, demos, and critiques. You are welcome to use them during breaks and during designated lab/work time. Instructor reserves the right to call students out on any of the above usage during class and may request that the student surrenders the device for the duration of the class.
Backing up your images: Ideally images should be stored in 3 places. This is a fail safe is case one or two of your storage locations is lost, stolen, or damaged. So make sure to back up your images -- technology failure is not a valid excuse for lack of work/late work.
Late work: Projects will be reduced by one letter grade for each class period it is late. If assignments are over two weeks late it will receive zero points. Absolutely NO LATE FINALS (unless there is a documented illness or emergency). Incompletes WILL NOT be given to complete course work (unless, of course, in the case of an emergency – and, to be clear, falling behind because you are prioritizing social activities or other classes is not considered an emergency or valid excuse).
Student Mental Health and Stress Management
As a student you may experience a range of issues that can cause barriers to learning, such as strained relationships, increased anxiety, alcohol/drug problems, feeling down, difficulty concentrating and/or lack of motivation. These mental health concerns or stressful events may lead to diminished academic performance or reduce a student's ability to participate in daily activities. University of Minnesota services are available to assist you with addressing these and other concerns you may be experiencing. You can learn more about the broad range of confidential mental health services available on campus via http://www.mentalhealth.umn.edu/
Grading
Grading is based on accumulation of points split between photo projects, writing assignments/journal, quizzes, attendance and participation. Grades and comments for each photo project, as well as many of the writing responses, will be given to you via email following the project’s completion.
Photo projects: Camera basics - 50, Transformation - 50, Reflective Self-Portrait - 50, Dream Reconstruction - 50 (200 total)
Participation in recap, Respond, Relate exercises: 2 @ 10 each (20 points)
In-class photo exercises: 3 @ 10 points each (30 total)
Crit attendance: 3 @ 5 points each (15 total)
Crit participation: 3 @ 10 points each (30 total)
Quiz: 32
Total available points: 327
A – achievement that is outstanding relative to the level necessary to meet course requirements
B – achievement that is significantly above the level necessary to meet course requirements
C – achievement that meets course requirements in every respect
D – achievement that is worth credit even though it fails to meet fully the course requirements
S – achievement that is satisfactory, which is equivalent to a C- or better
F (or N) – failure/ no credit – signifies that the work was either completed but at a level of achievement that is not worthy of credit or was not completed and there was no agreement between instructor and student that the student would be awarded an I
I – incomplete – assigned at the discretion of the instructor when, due to extraordinary circumstances (e.g. hospitalization) the student is prevented from completing the work of the course on time. Requires a written agreement between instructor and student.
Academic dishonesty: academic dishonesty in any portion of the academic work for the course shall be grounds for awarding a grade of F or N for the entire course.
http://policy.umn.edu/Policies/Education/Education/GRADINGTRANSCRIPTS.html
The Digital Service Bureau for Learning (DSB)
Room: W138
Hours:
(The following hours have not been confirmed at the time this syllabus was printed)
Mondays
Tuesdays
Wednesdays hours to be posted in June
Thursdays
Saturdays
(watch the door and/or check the blog http://blog.lib.umn.edu/dsb/dsb for changes in the schedule
DSB phone: 612-626-4196
To make a reservation: www.checkout.dsb.umn.edu
Use the DSB for your digital printing needs. Large format and smaller format printers are available for checkout. Luster and matte papers of various sizes are also available for purchase by the sheet -- only specific Epson papers are allowed for use. If you are thinking of purchasing a box of paper for printing please speak with me first.
Reservations can be made up to 2 weeks in advance. You must be present within 10 minutes of the start of your reservation time or your reservation will be canceled and immediately given to anyone who is waiting for a printer. It is recommended that you make your reservation in advance, allowing time for the DSB staff to prep your printer for use, otherwise you may have to wait a bit.
When you leave the DSB you must check out with the attendant who will check how many prints you made and deduct it from your course credit for the class. When/If you run out of credit you may pay with cash, check, or gopher gold.
Course fees/print credits are “use them or lose them” and are non-transferrable to other students… the DSB depends on the unused portions to help pay for maintenance tanks kraft paper, unexpected repairs, etc.
You should not be printing work that is not for class (i.e. wedding invites, etc).
Scanners are not to be used to scan copyrighted photos for any kind of reproduction.
Abusing DSB rules/ instructions may result in lose of DSB privileges.
DSB attendants are NOT there to teach you about your camera or Photoshop – they are there to help manage the printers.
Be nice to the people in the DSB.
Printing Prices:
24” Transparency film is also available but is mostly used for screenprinting = .35 a linear inch
There is one experimental printer, “Sue”, for non-coated papers but almost any media may be put through that printer as long as it is dry and flat with no deckled edges – please no newsprint though.
Laser prints can be made for 5 cents a page as well.
Photo Cage
You made need/want to check out items from the photo cage/crib – things like tripods, lights, or card readers.
Checkout.art.umn.edu
Schedule
6/17 Intros, course overivew/syllabus, check student cameras (bring manuals)
History of Photography lecture
Why do we make photographs discussion
6/19 Camera operations & image composition lecture (simulator website)
In-class assignment - camera basis (due @ the beginning of class 7/1)
Importing through Bridge, applying meta data, file type overview
-- reading from James Elkin’s The Object Stares Back assigned
6/24 Discuss reading
Color management, histograms, white balance, levels, curves
Guided practice: levels, curves, selective adjustments, layers, hue & saturation
6/26 Cloning, dodging & burning, from color to black and white
Assignment #1 introduced (Transformation - using the lens for better or worse)
Examples shown for assignment #1
Making contact sheets demo
Work time
-- reading from James Elkin’s The Object Stares Back assigned
7/1 Turn in in-class assignment (from 6/19)
Discuss reading
Quiz review
Work time (assignment #1)
7/3 Quiz
Sharpening
Print demo
Recap, Respond, Relate exercise
Work time
7/8 Introduce Reflective Portrait assignment
Portrait examples shown
Composite demo
In-class composite assignment
-- reading from James Elkin’s The Object Stares Back assigned
7/10 Transformation crit
7/15 Discuss reading
Lighting demo
Tierney Gearon - Mother Project (70mins)
7/17 HDR & Photomerge demo
HDR & Photomerge in-class assignment
Work time
-- reading from What Do Pictures Want? Assigned
7/22 Discuss reading
Introduce Dream re-construction assignment
Show constructed & narrative based imagery
Work time
7/24 Portrait crit
7/29 Constructed and narrative examples continued (photography and video)
Demo - Putting images together in one file (diptych, triptych)
Demo - dealing with chromatic aberration
Work time
7/31 Demo - Prepping images for the web
Demo - film scanning
Work time
8/5 Recap, Response, Relate exercise
Work time
8/7 course evaluations
Dream re-construction crit
Materials:
digital camera - digital single lens reflex (DSLR) with full manual controls -- meaning adjustable aperture, shutter speeds, and ability to shoot in RAW mode. A good online link to research digital cameras is http://www.dpreview.com. You don't need anything "fancy" or "top of the line" professional. A basic camera with a "kit" zoom lens should start 2 around $500= ($300+ used). Used cameras are fine, but it is not recommended to buy anything that is more than two years old. The technology improves so quickly that older digi cameras are generally not a good buy no matter how cheap.
You will also need: memory card that fits your camera at least a few gigabytes big (4GB and up) -- the larger the card the more you can store on the card.
Make sure to have a USB cable for your camera to transfer images OR a card reader -- the photo check out ("the crib") has some card reader but it is advisable to have some sort of method to transfer your images on your own.
Also, you will need some store of storage device -- flash drive(at least 10GB) , external hard drive (at least 100GB) - these can be used for other classes as well. Having your data/images backed up is extremely important -- it is recommended to have data backed up in at least 3 different places -- for example: on a computer, on a hard drive(or flash drive), and on a camera memory card.... computers crash, memory cards get lost, drives get corrupted -- so make sure to have your data backed up.
Inkjet printing paper – you can either buy this from the DSB as you go or you may purchase a package of your own – Espon ultra premium luster photo paper OR Premier (this can only be purchased at West Photo). – It should be one of these two kinds as other kind of paper can cause damage to the printers – please talk to me if you are unsure.
Folder just a simple pocket folder for turning in photos.
Text: James Elkin’s The Object Stares Back -- may provide PFDs - tbd
Other small materials may be needed throughout the course of the semester.
Photographic Suppliers (ask for student discount)
------ places around town –
Photo suppliers:
West photo: 21 University Ave SE Mpls – 612-379-2321
National Camera Exchange:
9300 Olson Memorial Highway
Golden Valley, MN
55427
763.546.6831
2401 Fairview Avenue
Roseville, MN
55113
651.636.0693
12055 Elm Creek Blvd. N.
Maple Grove, MN
55369
763.425.1417
14380 Burnhaven Drive
Burnsville, MN
55306
952.898.4888
7101 France Avenue South
Edina, MN
55435
763-591-5175
Also, there are several online dealers, which carry the materials necessary for this course.
Bhphotovideo.com
Calumetphoto.com
Freestylephoto.biz
Adorama.com
Summer 2014 (June 17th – August 7th)
T/Th 6pm-10pm
Instructor: Miranda Brandon ([email protected])
Office Hours: by appointment
Course Description:
This course is an introductory level photography class in which you will learn to use a digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) to develop your ideas visually, through the lens. You will be challenged to think about what photographers (yourself included) choose to photograph and how they choose to do so alters the perception of that space, object, person, etc that was photographed. You will learn to use the camera as a tool for communication and expression.
As this is a digital photography class you will also be learning some Photoshop basics but this will not be the primary focus of the course.
Policies:
NO food or drink in the lab or DSB!
Attendance: If you want to get the most out of this course and do well you need to come to class and be on time. Missing more than 3 classes may result in the lowering of your overall letter grade by 1 full letter for each additional absence beyond the allowed 3. Absences will be excused with written documentation of illness or emergency. If possible let the instructor know when/if you’ll be missing a class. You are responsible for contacting the instructor and making up for missed class.
* Even with prior notification, you will be marked absent and there may still be an impact on grades.
http://www.policy.umn.edu/Policies/Education/Education/MAKEUPWORK.html - 100
Tardiness: Keep in mind that class will begin regardless of whether or not you are present. If you miss instruction due to unexcused tardiness you may fall behind in your work. Review of instruction will be dealt with according to time available. If it is observed that tardiness is a chronic problem it may result in the lowering of your overall grade.
Critiques: Attendance to scheduled critiques is mandatory . Missing a crit will automatically result in the loss of 15 potential crit points. If you know ahead of time that you will have to miss for some reasonable reason, or have documentation of an excused absence then an extra credit writing assignment can done in substitution for crit points missed.
Class Conduct: Be respectful and engaged with the class. Instructor reserves the right to ask disruptive students to leave the class, which will result in an absence.
Materials: This is not a cheap course; you can expect to spend between $150 - $300 in addition to purchasing a DSLR, if you don’t already have one available to you. If you foresee that this may be problematic you might consider taking a different class as not having materials is not an acceptable excuse for not having work ready on time. If this is a concern and you’d like to speak privately please let me know.
Cell Phones/MP3 players/the mighty interwebs/Facebook: Please refrain from using these during lectures, presentations, demos, and critiques. You are welcome to use them during breaks and during designated lab/work time. Instructor reserves the right to call students out on any of the above usage during class and may request that the student surrenders the device for the duration of the class.
Backing up your images: Ideally images should be stored in 3 places. This is a fail safe is case one or two of your storage locations is lost, stolen, or damaged. So make sure to back up your images -- technology failure is not a valid excuse for lack of work/late work.
Late work: Projects will be reduced by one letter grade for each class period it is late. If assignments are over two weeks late it will receive zero points. Absolutely NO LATE FINALS (unless there is a documented illness or emergency). Incompletes WILL NOT be given to complete course work (unless, of course, in the case of an emergency – and, to be clear, falling behind because you are prioritizing social activities or other classes is not considered an emergency or valid excuse).
Student Mental Health and Stress Management
As a student you may experience a range of issues that can cause barriers to learning, such as strained relationships, increased anxiety, alcohol/drug problems, feeling down, difficulty concentrating and/or lack of motivation. These mental health concerns or stressful events may lead to diminished academic performance or reduce a student's ability to participate in daily activities. University of Minnesota services are available to assist you with addressing these and other concerns you may be experiencing. You can learn more about the broad range of confidential mental health services available on campus via http://www.mentalhealth.umn.edu/
Grading
Grading is based on accumulation of points split between photo projects, writing assignments/journal, quizzes, attendance and participation. Grades and comments for each photo project, as well as many of the writing responses, will be given to you via email following the project’s completion.
Photo projects: Camera basics - 50, Transformation - 50, Reflective Self-Portrait - 50, Dream Reconstruction - 50 (200 total)
Participation in recap, Respond, Relate exercises: 2 @ 10 each (20 points)
In-class photo exercises: 3 @ 10 points each (30 total)
Crit attendance: 3 @ 5 points each (15 total)
Crit participation: 3 @ 10 points each (30 total)
Quiz: 32
Total available points: 327
A – achievement that is outstanding relative to the level necessary to meet course requirements
B – achievement that is significantly above the level necessary to meet course requirements
C – achievement that meets course requirements in every respect
D – achievement that is worth credit even though it fails to meet fully the course requirements
S – achievement that is satisfactory, which is equivalent to a C- or better
F (or N) – failure/ no credit – signifies that the work was either completed but at a level of achievement that is not worthy of credit or was not completed and there was no agreement between instructor and student that the student would be awarded an I
I – incomplete – assigned at the discretion of the instructor when, due to extraordinary circumstances (e.g. hospitalization) the student is prevented from completing the work of the course on time. Requires a written agreement between instructor and student.
Academic dishonesty: academic dishonesty in any portion of the academic work for the course shall be grounds for awarding a grade of F or N for the entire course.
http://policy.umn.edu/Policies/Education/Education/GRADINGTRANSCRIPTS.html
The Digital Service Bureau for Learning (DSB)
Room: W138
Hours:
(The following hours have not been confirmed at the time this syllabus was printed)
Mondays
Tuesdays
Wednesdays hours to be posted in June
Thursdays
Saturdays
(watch the door and/or check the blog http://blog.lib.umn.edu/dsb/dsb for changes in the schedule
DSB phone: 612-626-4196
To make a reservation: www.checkout.dsb.umn.edu
Use the DSB for your digital printing needs. Large format and smaller format printers are available for checkout. Luster and matte papers of various sizes are also available for purchase by the sheet -- only specific Epson papers are allowed for use. If you are thinking of purchasing a box of paper for printing please speak with me first.
Reservations can be made up to 2 weeks in advance. You must be present within 10 minutes of the start of your reservation time or your reservation will be canceled and immediately given to anyone who is waiting for a printer. It is recommended that you make your reservation in advance, allowing time for the DSB staff to prep your printer for use, otherwise you may have to wait a bit.
When you leave the DSB you must check out with the attendant who will check how many prints you made and deduct it from your course credit for the class. When/If you run out of credit you may pay with cash, check, or gopher gold.
Course fees/print credits are “use them or lose them” and are non-transferrable to other students… the DSB depends on the unused portions to help pay for maintenance tanks kraft paper, unexpected repairs, etc.
You should not be printing work that is not for class (i.e. wedding invites, etc).
Scanners are not to be used to scan copyrighted photos for any kind of reproduction.
Abusing DSB rules/ instructions may result in lose of DSB privileges.
DSB attendants are NOT there to teach you about your camera or Photoshop – they are there to help manage the printers.
Be nice to the people in the DSB.
Printing Prices:
24” Transparency film is also available but is mostly used for screenprinting = .35 a linear inch
There is one experimental printer, “Sue”, for non-coated papers but almost any media may be put through that printer as long as it is dry and flat with no deckled edges – please no newsprint though.
Laser prints can be made for 5 cents a page as well.
Photo Cage
You made need/want to check out items from the photo cage/crib – things like tripods, lights, or card readers.
Checkout.art.umn.edu
Schedule
6/17 Intros, course overivew/syllabus, check student cameras (bring manuals)
History of Photography lecture
Why do we make photographs discussion
6/19 Camera operations & image composition lecture (simulator website)
In-class assignment - camera basis (due @ the beginning of class 7/1)
Importing through Bridge, applying meta data, file type overview
-- reading from James Elkin’s The Object Stares Back assigned
6/24 Discuss reading
Color management, histograms, white balance, levels, curves
Guided practice: levels, curves, selective adjustments, layers, hue & saturation
6/26 Cloning, dodging & burning, from color to black and white
Assignment #1 introduced (Transformation - using the lens for better or worse)
Examples shown for assignment #1
Making contact sheets demo
Work time
-- reading from James Elkin’s The Object Stares Back assigned
7/1 Turn in in-class assignment (from 6/19)
Discuss reading
Quiz review
Work time (assignment #1)
7/3 Quiz
Sharpening
Print demo
Recap, Respond, Relate exercise
Work time
7/8 Introduce Reflective Portrait assignment
Portrait examples shown
Composite demo
In-class composite assignment
-- reading from James Elkin’s The Object Stares Back assigned
7/10 Transformation crit
7/15 Discuss reading
Lighting demo
Tierney Gearon - Mother Project (70mins)
7/17 HDR & Photomerge demo
HDR & Photomerge in-class assignment
Work time
-- reading from What Do Pictures Want? Assigned
7/22 Discuss reading
Introduce Dream re-construction assignment
Show constructed & narrative based imagery
Work time
7/24 Portrait crit
7/29 Constructed and narrative examples continued (photography and video)
Demo - Putting images together in one file (diptych, triptych)
Demo - dealing with chromatic aberration
Work time
7/31 Demo - Prepping images for the web
Demo - film scanning
Work time
8/5 Recap, Response, Relate exercise
Work time
8/7 course evaluations
Dream re-construction crit
Materials:
digital camera - digital single lens reflex (DSLR) with full manual controls -- meaning adjustable aperture, shutter speeds, and ability to shoot in RAW mode. A good online link to research digital cameras is http://www.dpreview.com. You don't need anything "fancy" or "top of the line" professional. A basic camera with a "kit" zoom lens should start 2 around $500= ($300+ used). Used cameras are fine, but it is not recommended to buy anything that is more than two years old. The technology improves so quickly that older digi cameras are generally not a good buy no matter how cheap.
You will also need: memory card that fits your camera at least a few gigabytes big (4GB and up) -- the larger the card the more you can store on the card.
Make sure to have a USB cable for your camera to transfer images OR a card reader -- the photo check out ("the crib") has some card reader but it is advisable to have some sort of method to transfer your images on your own.
Also, you will need some store of storage device -- flash drive(at least 10GB) , external hard drive (at least 100GB) - these can be used for other classes as well. Having your data/images backed up is extremely important -- it is recommended to have data backed up in at least 3 different places -- for example: on a computer, on a hard drive(or flash drive), and on a camera memory card.... computers crash, memory cards get lost, drives get corrupted -- so make sure to have your data backed up.
Inkjet printing paper – you can either buy this from the DSB as you go or you may purchase a package of your own – Espon ultra premium luster photo paper OR Premier (this can only be purchased at West Photo). – It should be one of these two kinds as other kind of paper can cause damage to the printers – please talk to me if you are unsure.
Folder just a simple pocket folder for turning in photos.
Text: James Elkin’s The Object Stares Back -- may provide PFDs - tbd
Other small materials may be needed throughout the course of the semester.
Photographic Suppliers (ask for student discount)
------ places around town –
Photo suppliers:
West photo: 21 University Ave SE Mpls – 612-379-2321
National Camera Exchange:
9300 Olson Memorial Highway
Golden Valley, MN
55427
763.546.6831
2401 Fairview Avenue
Roseville, MN
55113
651.636.0693
12055 Elm Creek Blvd. N.
Maple Grove, MN
55369
763.425.1417
14380 Burnhaven Drive
Burnsville, MN
55306
952.898.4888
7101 France Avenue South
Edina, MN
55435
763-591-5175
Also, there are several online dealers, which carry the materials necessary for this course.
Bhphotovideo.com
Calumetphoto.com
Freestylephoto.biz
Adorama.com