DC 225 Digital Still Photography
Summary
DC 225 DIGITAL STILL PHOTOGRAPHY
Todd Mattei Tmattei@cdm.depaul.edu
Fall 2013, TH. 1:30-4:45
"Whether he is an artist or not, the photographer is a joyous sensualist, for the simple reason that the eye traffics in feelings, not in thoughts. "
Walker Evans
"The spontaneous is the most beautiful thing that can appear in a picture, but nothing in art appears less spontaneously than that."
Jeff Wall
"I am impressed with what happens when someone stays in the same place and you took the same picture over and over and it would be different, every single frame. "
Annie Leibovitz
This course is an introduction to the history and aesthetics of still photography and to the concept of photography as a descriptive and interpretive artistic medium. Students will learn the fundamental concepts necessary to shoot, edit, and manipulate digital photographs. DC 225 introduces students to theories, terminology, and applications of digital imaging technologies. Students will acquire the knowledge needed to analyze and critique existing work and their own. Use of Adobe Photoshop and Bridge will be extensively covered in this course.
Specific topics to be covered include: photographic design, image literacy and criticality, types of photographic output, digital camera technology, post-production in the photographic process, historical artistic work, and relationships between photography and other media.
The student will be required to do a series of photographic exercises, culminating in a mid-term presentation/emulation and a final photographic project. There will be readings, slide-lectures with discussion, and in-class studio work (shooting in the field or doing post-production in the "digital studio" of the desktop computer).
Readings (from the text book and theoretical essays), as well as the specifics of in-class or project work, may be assigned verbally, during class time. Students are responsible for being in class and receiving this information. I will not put every little thing online so please pay attention in class!
Equipment:
A memory card, for those who will use the school's camera.
It is mandatory for students to have a portable data-storage device, in order to transport image files to and from the classroom when needed.
A memory card reader is also highly recommended.
Texts:
Your Camera's Manual (In digital or hard-copy)
Required text for this course:
Complete Digital Photography, by Ben Long.
Publisher: Charles River Media; 7th edition
ISBN-9781285077260
Available from Barnes and Noble in the DePaul Center, we will be reading from this book.
Amazon-used approx $20.
Recommended text for this course:
Adobe Photoshop CS6 / w DVD
ISBN
9780240520285
Attendance
Your attendance and participation are important for your development during this course. Arriving five minutes after class starts will result in a tardy, I will take register at the start of every class. Three tardies will result in an absence. Late arrivals and absences will result in a deduction of your participation grade. Excessive absences and tardies will mostly likely affect your assignment and exam grades from missing important in-class instruction. Three unexcused absences will result in failing the course. An unexcused absence is when you do not email me to let me know you are going to miss class and for what reason. If you decide not to contact me and continue to not turn up I will presume you want a fail grade, or you have withdrawn.
C A L E N D A R
SEPT
TH 12:
Syllabus and Intro., Cage and Cameras, history and technology, in-class shooting, ((Reading #1, Chapters 1 and 2, for next week: ))
TH 19:
Ex 1 Due (shot in Auto mode, RAW files, no flash)
view exercise [have cameras in class, or cards and card readers, to capture to computers],
Exposure Principles, Aperture Priority Mode, Rule of Thirds, Visual Elements
((Reading #2, Chapters 3 and 5, for next week: ))
TH 26:
Ex 2 Due (still-life, shot in A/Av mode )
in-class shutter-shoot, Design Principles, figure/ground, Basic Raw Adjustments
((Reading #3, Chapters 6 and 7, for next week: ))
OCT
TH 3:
Ex 3 Due (documentation of action, shot in S/Tv)
genres and meanings, True Meaning of Pictures +,
((Reading #4, Chapter 8, for next week ))
TH 10: Presentation + Emulation Due
TH 17:
overflow from presentations?.Quiz 1
((Reading #5, Chapter 10, for next week ))
TH 24:
Ex 4 Due (portrait, B&W, artificial lighting)
TH 31:
(shots done for Ex5, in-class compositing exercise)
NOV
TH 7:
Ex 5 Due AND Final Project Meetings...
TH 14: Final Project Screened for Class
G R A D E S
Exercises 1- 5: 6% each
Presentations with Emulation: 20%
Final Project: 20%
Quizes: 10%
Class Participation: 20%
Textbooks and Printed Resources
Prerequisites
Grading
Online Teaching Evaluation
Evaluations are a way for students to provide valuable feedback regarding their instructor and the course. Detailed feedback will enable the instructor to continuously tailor teaching methods and course content to meet the learning goals of the course and the academic needs of the students. They are a requirement of the course and are key to continue to provide you with the highest quality of teaching. The evaluations are anonymous; the instructor and administration do not track who entered what responses. A program is used to check if the student completed the evaluations, but the evaluation is completely separate from the student?s identity. Since 100% participation is our goal, students are sent periodic reminders over three weeks. Students do not receive reminders once they complete the evaluation. Students complete the evaluation online in CampusConnect at External Linkhttp://campusconnect.depaul.edu
Email
Email is the primary means of communication between faculty and students enrolled in this course outside of class time. Students should be sure their email listed under "demographic information" at External Linkhttp://campusconnect.depaul.edu is correct.
Academic Integrity Policy
This course will be subject to the faculty council rules on the External LinkAcademic Integrity Policy
Plagiarism
The university and school policy on plagiarism can be summarized as follows: Students in this course, as well as all other courses in which independent research or writing play a vital part in the course requirements, should be aware of the strong sanctions that can be imposed against someone guilty of plagiarism. If proven, a charge of plagiarism could result in an automatic F in the course and possible expulsion. The strongest of sanctions will be imposed on anyone who submits as his/her own work a report, examination paper, computer file, lab report, or other assignment which has been prepared by someone else. If you have any questions or doubts about what plagiarism entails or how to properly acknowledge source materials be sure to consult the instructor.
Incomplete
An incomplete grade is given only for an exceptional reason such as a death in the family, a serious illness, etc. Any such reason must be documented. Any incomplete request must be made at least two weeks before the final, and approved by the Dean of the College of Computing and Digital Media. Any consequences resulting from a poor grade for the course will not be considered as valid reasons for such a request.
Resources for Students with Disabilities
Students who feel they may need an accommodation based on the impact of a disability should contact the instructor privately to discuss their specific needs. All discussions will remain confidential.
To ensure that you receive the most appropriate accommodation based on your needs, contact the instructor as early as possible in the quarter (preferably within the first week of class), and make sure that you contact the Center for Students with Disabilities (CSD) at:
Student Center, LPC, Suite #370
Phone number: (773)325.1677
Fax: (773)325.3720
TTY: (773)325.7296
This syllabus is subject to change as necessary during the quarter. If a change occurs, it will be thoroughly addressed during class, posted under Announcements in D2L and sent via email.
Evaluations are a way for students to provide valuable feedback regarding their instructor and the course. Detailed feedback will enable the instructor to continuously tailor teaching methods and course
content to meet the learning goals of the course and the academic needs of the students. They are a requirement of the course and are key to continue to provide you with the highest quality of teaching. The
evaluations are anonymous; the instructor and administration do not track who entered what responses. A program is used to check if the student completed the evaluations, but the evaluation is completely
separate from the student’s identity. Since 100% participation is our goal, students are sent periodic reminders over three weeks. Students do not receive reminders once they complete the evaluation.
Students complete the evaluation online in CampusConnect.
This course will be subject to the university's academic integrity policy. More information can be found at http://academicintegrity.depaul.edu/ If you
have any questions be sure to consult with your professor.
All students are expected to abide by the University's Academic Integrity Policy which prohibits cheating and other misconduct in student coursework. Publicly sharing or posting online any prior or current materials from this course (including exam questions or answers), is considered to be providing unauthorized assistance prohibited by the policy. Both students who share/post and students who access or use such materials are considered to be cheating under the Policy and will be subject to sanctions for violations of Academic Integrity.
All students are required to manage their class schedules each term in accordance with the deadlines for enrolling and withdrawing as indicated in the University Academic Calendar. Information on enrollment, withdrawal, grading and incompletes can be found at http://www.cdm.depaul.edu/Current%20Students/Pages/PoliciesandProcedures.aspx.
Students who feel they may need an accommodation based on the impact of a disability should contact the instructor privately to discuss their specific needs. All discussions will remain confidential.
To ensure that you receive the most appropriate accommodation based on your needs, contact the instructor as early as possible in the quarter (preferably within the first week of class), and make sure that
you have contacted the Center for Students with Disabilities (CSD) at:
Lewis Center 1420, 25 East Jackson Blvd.
Phone number: (312)362-8002
Fax: (312)362-6544
TTY: (773)325.7296