ClassInfo

DC 125 Digital Still Photography for Non-Majors

Travis Chandler

Spring 2017-2018
Class number: 34037
Section number: 901
Tu 6:00PM - 9:15PM
STDCT 00331 Lincoln Park Campus

Summary

Course Objective
This course is an introduction to the 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, & manipulate photographs and critically evaluate the images.
Throughout the course you will work on defining your individual aesthetic utilizing established composition and design elements. You will be introduced to best practices in workflow, visual data management and Adobe Photoshop. Photoshop will be used in two stages, first as a postproduction tool in a standard photographic workflow, and then as a creative tool for compositing and collage. Every assignment will utilize a new skill in towards a cumulative knowledge of professional standards in
imaging. Students will be challenged to think conceptually about their own visual development while acquiring technical skills.

Learning Outcomes:
Students will learn the fundamental concepts necessary to shoot, edit, and manipulate digital still photographs

Students will acquire the knowledge needed to analyze and interpret existing works of photography in terms of composition, depth, and semiotic meaning.

Students will understand how to use their own digital still cameras, as well as the software Adobe Photoshop needed in the course.

Students, by reviewing external and internal work, will review and evaluate these creative works, translating that knowledge into written criticism of the work.

Notes on Assignments:

Each of the assignments will be individually explained in the lecture, with a rubric for successful completion. Assignment are described in the lectures which are posted on D2L.


Writing Expectations:
Students will be expected to complete a minimum of 5-7 pages of writing for this course.


How writing expectations will be met:
A total of three 2-3 page reflective papers detailing concept, process and comparative analysis will accompany the 3 main projects for the course.

Books:
Light and Lens: Photography in the Digital Age By Robert Hirsch

ISBN-10 024081827X | ISBN-13 978-0240818276

You will also need access to Adobe Photoshop for this class and some form of media storage.

Grading:

20 pts each for: Project 1, Project 2 and the midterm

30 pts for Project 3
10 points for participation (accumulated through in-class assignments)

A writing assignment will accompany Project 1, Project 2 and Project 3. These will be described in the lectures.

IF YOU ARE AN ONLINE STUDENT, YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR WATCHING EACH CLASS LECTURE IN A TIMELY FASHION. YOU ARE ALSO REQUIRED TO COMPLETE THE IN-CLASS ASSIGNMENTS: THEY CONSTITUTE YOUR PARTICIPATION GRADE.



Texts

Books: Light and Lens: Photography in the Digital Age By Robert Hirsch
You will also need access to Adobe Photoshop for this class.


School policies:

Changes to Syllabus

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.

Online Course Evaluations

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.

Academic Integrity and Plagiarism

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.

Academic Policies

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 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 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