DC 125 Digital Still Photography for Non-Majors
Summary
DC 125 Digital Still Photography for Non-Majors March 7th 2019
Instructor: Travis Chandler, Lecturer
Spring 2019, meeting Tuesdays from 6pm to 9pm in Student Center Room 331
This class will consist of lectures, demonstrations and hands-on projects
Office hours: Wednesdays 9pm to 10:30pm in Student Center Room 331, by appointment.
Contact: tchandle@cdm.depaul.edu An email reply can be expected within 24 hours
Course Description:
This course is an introduction to the aesthetics of still photography. 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 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.
Summary of Course:
In this course we will shoot, edit and critique a series of photography projects. These projects cumulatively provide guidance on the best practices of lighting and composing an image that tells a compelling story. Students will leave this course with a basic understanding of how digital cameras work, as well as how to use them creatively.
Learning Outcomes:
Upon completing DC 125, Students will be able to-
- Create well lit, well composed photographs.
- Analyze a photograph and make recommendations for improvement.
- Explain, in well-written prose, what a work of art is about and/or how it was produced.
- Comment on the relationship between form and content in a work.
- Assess the formal aspects of their subject and put those qualities into words, using, when appropriate, specialized vocabulary employed in class and readings.
Textbook:
Light and Lens: Photography in the Digital Age by Robert Hirsch
ISBN-10 024081827X | ISBN-13 978-0240818276
Prerequisites:
None
Course Management System:
Assignments, feedback and grading will be given weekly online using the D2L system - https://d2l.depaul.edu/d2l/home. Students must check the information provided online each week. All images must be Jpegs, and should not exceed 2 MB. All assignments must be turned in to D2L, not emailed. Late assignments are deducted 1 pt. for each week late.
FILE NAMING CONVENTIONS:
Students must name all files in the following way: lastname_firstname_assignment.
Example: chandler_travis_project1.jpg
Grading Policy:
20% Project 1
20% Project 2
30% Project 3
20% Midterm exam
10% Participation
Last day to drop this course with no penalty is Friday April 12, 2019
Equipment use:
Every student will need to have access to a digital still camera. Don?t use your cellphone. We?ll go over why in the lectures, but in brief, they lack optical zoom and are not dedicated machinery.
You can check out very good still cameras from DePaul?s equipment center for free:
https://www.cdm.depaul.edu/Current%20Students/Pages/Equipment-Centers.aspx
If you choose to buy a camera, any ?point and shoot? with decent (better than 10x) optical zoom will work well for our class. Don?t feel pressured to buy an expensive camera: This is an introductory course.
Additional Required Supplies:
You will need access to Adobe Photoshop for this course. It is available for you to use free of charge on many computers on campus, including the computers in our classroom. Here is a list of computer labs on campus:
http://www.cdm.depaul.edu/Current%20Students/Pages/Labs.aspx
The Final Project (Project 3) is due June 11th, 2019 at 6pm. We will screen them in our classroom during our regular class time, 6pm to 9pm.
Week-By-Week Schedule:
(This is tentative and likely to change.)
(Most classes will also include a go-and-shoot project, so always bring your camera).
Week 1: 4/2
Introductions. Discussion of syllabus. Overview.
Assignments:
1) Find your camera manual.
2) Bring in cameras and way to connect them next week
3) Read Light and Lens Chapter 1
Week 2: 4/9
Image file formats (JPEG, RAW, ETC.)
- Setting up image import
- High / Low project. Compositing.
Setting up projects, "save for web", basic tools,
resolution, image size, canvas, layers
Assignments:
Read Light and Lens Chapter 2
Week 3: 4/16
Camera operating modes, sensors, lenses.
Difference between optical and digital zoom
Camera types. Lighting.
Photoshop Tools.
Video screening (TBA).
Assignments:
Project #1 Assigned
Week 4: 4/23
Project #1 due, view and discuss.
Review for Midterm
Shooting around the school.
Assignments:
Read Light and Lens Chapter 3
Week 5: 4/30
Composition, balance, rule of thirds, line, perspective.
Shooting around the school.
Photoshop: Image adjustments, color, levels, saturation, white balance.
Project #2 Assigned: Composition.
Week 6: 5/7
Project # 2 due, View and discuss.
Mid-term quiz.
Assignment:
-Begin final project proposal.
-Read Light and Lens Chapter 4
Week 7: 5/14
Video screening (TBA)
Assignment #3 discussion (not due yet)
Photo Critique.
Week 8 5/21
Final project proposal due. Discuss.
Watch video: TBA
Assignment: Have materials to work on in class next week.
Week 9: 5/28
Guest speaker
Photoshop: Clone Stamp tool, image removal, masks.
Work on Final Project.
Week 10: 6/4
Work session on Project 3
Finals Period: 6/11
Final Project Due before 6pm. Screening.
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.
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: cdm.depaul.edu/enrollment.
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: csd@depaul.edu.
Lewis Center 1420, 25 East Jackson Blvd. Phone number: (312)362-8002 Fax: (312)362-6544 TTY: (773)325.7296
Course Policies -
Attendance: Students are expected to attend each class and to remain for the duration. Coming 15 minutes late or leaving 15 minutes early constitutes an absence for the student. The overall grade for participation drops one-third after any absence. Three absences for any reason, whether excused or not, may constitute failure for the course.
Class Discussion: Student participation in class discussions will be measured in two ways. First, students are highly encouraged to ask questions and offer comments relevant to the day?s topic. Participation allows the instructor to ?hear? the student?s voice when grading papers. Secondly, students will be called upon by the instructor to offer comments related to the reading assignments. Students must keep up with the reading to participate in class discussion.
Attitude: A professional and academic attitude is expected throughout this course. Measurable examples of non-academic or unprofessional attitude include but are not limited to: talking to others when the instructor is speaking, mocking another?s opinion, cell phones ringing, emailing, texting or using the internet whether on a phone or computer. If any issues arise a student may be asked to leave the classroom. The professor will work with the Dean of Students Office to navigate such student issues.
Civil Discourse: DePaul University is a community that thrives on open discourse that challenges students, both intellectually and personally, to be Socially Responsible Leaders. It is the expectation that all dialogue in this course is civil and respectful of the dignity of each student. Any instances of disrespect or hostility can jeopardize a student?s ability to be successful in the course. The professor will partner with the Dean of Students Office to assist in managing such issues.
Cell Phones/On Call: If you bring a cell phone to class, it must be off or set to a silent mode. Should you need to answer a call during class, students must leave the room in an undisruptive manner. Out of respect to fellow students and the professor, texting is never allowable in class. If you are required to be on call as part of your job, please advise me at the start of the course.
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