Syllabus
All information on this page is tentative and may change without notice.
Focus on Photography DeCal
ARCH 98/198
2 Units (Credit/No Credit)
Wednesday, 4:00-6:00 PM
170 Wurster
Spring 2010
Student Facilitators: Nicole Ng and Robert Yang
Instructor of Record: Charles Benton
Course Description
Focus on Photography is a semester long class that will teach beginning photographers techniques, skills and aesthetic considerations that will advance their photography. This class is largely based around the learning potential of group critiques, and receiving feedback on your work from your peers as well as your facilitators. We will attempt to equally divide instruction between the technical and aesthetic aspects of photography. Learning (aside from critiques) will be primarily based around lectures and demos, with a couple of hands-on workshops and class field trips.
Course Objectives
By the conclusion of this course, you should be able to manipulate your camera to produce images that are consistent with your conceptualizations. What that means is that if you imagine a scene to look a certain way, you will have the knowledge to create a photo that captures the scene as you see it. In order to achieve this goal, you will learn how to control the amount of light that enters your camera (aperture, shutter speed and ISO), how to properly expose the frame, techniques to minimize blur, maximize sharpness, induce attractive bokeh and so on and so forth.
Required/Recommended Equipment
The only piece of equipment you truly need for this course is a camera that has full manual control. Due to the nature of this course’s assignment scheduling, a digital camera is STRONGLY recommended; however, film bodies are fine as long as you get the work done on time. If you happen to own or have access to a Digital Single-Lens Reflex camera (or DSLR), then that would be the best choice. Canon, Nikon, Sony, Pentax and a few other companies make excellent DSLRs; get one that works for you and your budget. (You can talk to us if you would like further recommendations on specific pieces of equipment.)
Any other types of equipment are always nice to have, but are not necessary for the class. For example, a sturdy tripod or monopod might improve the quality of your photos. As might an external flash unit for bouncing light onto indoor subjects. And a copy of Photoshop or any other image editing software will enable you to become more creative with your post-processing.
Course Fees
All expenses related to this class are the sole responsibility of the student. You are required to provide all of the necessary funds to procure and maintain your equipment, as well as attend at least one class field trip. For example, should you desire to showcase your portfolio as prints, you will need to provide your own fiscal means.
Class Evaluation
In order to pass this class, you will need to have fulfilled all of the following:
- Earn a grade equal to or above 70%, when rounded up to the next whole percent.
- Submit a completed portfolio, on time.
- Participate in at least one class field trip.
- Attend the first and last class meetings (the orientation and the final portfolio critique, respectively), both of which are strictly mandatory.
Note
Information regarding most aspects of our course will be posted online at our various websites. The information displayed on our websites can and will be changed routinely to maintain relevance. Notification of any changes may or may not be given. Course information displayed on the internet will always supersede physical handouts and verbally transmitted information.
Attendance
Attending class is compulsory. We will have a critique almost every class, and missing class flippantly is inexcusable. There are no excused absences – all absences, regardless of the reason, are equally penalized. Each time you are absent, we will deduct five (5) points from your total grade. This reduction is permanent and nothing will be able to reclaim these lost points.
The first and last classes (orientation and the portfolio critique) are strictly mandatory – missing either of these classes will result in you receiving no credit for the course, no exceptions and no excuses.
Tardiness
Being tardy is defined as arriving 30+ minutes late once class has begun. Being tardy is identical to being absent. If you are tardy, we will deduct five (5) points from your total grade. This reduction is permanent and nothing will be able to reclaim these lost points.
If you have to leave early on any given day, let us know as soon as possible and we will try to arrange an accommodation for you. The accommodation may result in points being deducted from your total grade (up to five points).
Plagiarism
To put it succinctly, if you are caught plagiarizing (stealing work/images and treating them as your own), you will fail the course and the instructor of record will be notified. Additional disciplinary action may be taken.
Assignments
There will be six assignments for the semester. Each assignment will be worth five (5) points. Each completed assignment will be graded on a scale of 1-5 points. Incomplete work or no work will receive zero points. LATE ASSIGNMENTS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. Assignments are due at the beginning of class on their respective due dates.
Portfolio
Your final portfolio will be worth a total of fifty (50) points. Portfolios will be graded on a scale of 0-50 points. Negating to submit a portfolio will result in receiving no credit for the course. LATE PORTFOLIOS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. Your portfolio is due at the beginning of the last class.
Note that the final portfolio will be graded on a structured rubric (unlike assignments, which are graded as a whole). The grading rubric for the portfolio will be made known sometime during the course of the semester.
Quiz
There will be one quiz given during the semester. The quiz is worth ten (10) points and will be graded on a scale of 0-10 points. If you are absent on the day of the quiz, you will not be able to make it up. The quiz must be taken during its assigned day and time, not earlier or later.
Participation
You are expected to participate regularly in class discussions, ask relevant questions, comment on student photos and generally play an active role within the class. Participation is worth ten (10) points for the duration of the semester. Note that earning these points is up to our discretion and that we will be awarding them based on merit, not by default. As an example, the average student, who participates modestly in class discussions, asks a question now-and-then, occasionally comments on student photos and maintains a good attendance record, will likely earn only five points. Therefore, the full ten points will only be given to students who make a concerted effort to participate in all aspects of the class.
Field Trips
Within the semester, there will be two independent field trips to practice the art of photography together as a class. Participating in at least one of the two outings is mandatory in order to pass the class. The field trips will be scheduled in such a way that each student should be able to attend at least one outing.
Grading
Assignments (5 points each) x6 30 points
Portfolio (50 points) 50 points
Quiz (10 points) 10 points
Participation (10 points) 10 points
TOTAL 100 points
70% equals 70 points
