COURSE SYLLABUS

Digital Photography I and II

ART 26904, 36904

Spring 2016 January 11-May 5, 2016

Lecture: MW 2:30-5 PM | Lab: Integrated

Digital Photography I and II | ART 26904, 36904 | Studio Core and Concentration Sequence | BFA Program |Art Department, School of Arts and Letters

Professor: Benjy Davies, MFA Phone: 245-7372 | bdavies@rio.edu | Office: Fine Arts, Room 126

Office Hours: Tuesdays 8:30-1:30

COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course will introduce the student to basic principles of digital photography, including shooting RAW format, image manipulation and selection, conceptual concerns and printing with custom profiles. The student will produce a portfolio of original work.

PREREQUISITES: none

CREDIT HOURS: 4

TEXTBOOK AND OTHER REQUIRED MATERIALS: No textbook required. Each student must bring a digital camera to class each day. Failure to bring your camera will result in a grade penalty. Any modern digital camera will work (no more than 5 years old). The department has several high-quality DSLRs which may be checked out by students, but you still need your own point and shoot camera!

PROGRAM OUTCOMES--The following outcomes have been adopted for the degree program for which this course is required:

Upon completion of the program, students will be able to:

Create a cohesive body of work within the chosen area of concentration.
Document their work and experiences professionally.
Demonstrate technical proficiency in their area of study.
Understand and explain the historical, cultural and conceptual aspects of their work.
Conduct independent research in the arts.

COURSE OUTCOMES:

When a student completes this course she or he will be able to:

· Professionally mat and/or frame a photograph

· Make an original photo(s) in reference to an existing work of art, movement or artist.

· Describe the formal, conceptual, or technical relationship between his or her work and that of another artist(s).

· List a variety of criteria for distinguishing between “good” and “bad” photos.

· Use a variety of shooting modes with a “point and shoot” and SLR digital camera (including full manual).

· Use a variety of compositional strategies for taking pictures.

· Use Adobe Photoshop to edit, size, combine, alter, enhance or manipulate digital photographs.

· Create a digital portfolio of his or her work.

Additionally, each student will pursue independent projects based on her/his own interests, potentially leading to the student being able to:

· Set up an indoor or outdoor photo shoot, including control of the lighting.

· Create abstract art using photography.

· Create unusual and engaging portraiture.

· Use photography to tell stories.

· Create stop-motion animation or time-lapse photographic video.

· Select a digital camera by comparing features.

· Other content/abilities

GRADING POLICIES/TESTING/ASSIGNMENTS/ATTENDANCE/EXPECTATIONS

Grade Components:

Portfolio (50 points-see rubric)

Oral Exam (20 points-assigned by instructor)

Digital Portfolio/AQIP (10 points-see standard AQIP rubric)

Attendance, Effort, and Organization (20 points-see rubric)

Museum Visit: -5 points for non-completion

Exhibition Requirement : -5 points deduction for non-completion

Total Possible: 100

93-100: A | 90-92: A- | 87-89: B+ | 83-86: B | 80-82: B- | 77-79: C+ | 73-76: C | 70-72: C- | 67-69: D+ | 63-66: D | 60-62: D- | 0-59: F

Exams: One comprehensive final oral exam for a grade, worth 20% of the final grade for the course.

Quizzes: In-class quizzes will not be graded; may be used as an opportunity for students to test their knowledge.

Grading Process: At midterms and again at finals, each student will prepare a digital and print portfolio, and present it to the instructor. The student and the instructor will discuss the student’s progress, note areas of achievement and opportunities for growth. At the conclusion of this meeting, the student and instructor will agree upon a grade (either midterm or final).

Assignments:

1. Each student will complete the Photo Basics, Photoshop Basics and Camera Basics Project. Students will submit the best six images from the projects in their final portfolio.

2. Each student will complete the Art History Project.

3. Each student will complete 4 more projects from the project selection list (see course website).

4. Each student will mat a print from this course.

EACH STUDENT MUST:

1. Submit a disk of images or other documentation as specified by the instructor of the course. Images must be clear and professional, sized, adjusted and named correctly. Disks must be submitted on or before the first day of the last week of class, and reviewed by the instructor. You must submit one disk for each course you are enrolled in.

2. Visit a museum or commercial gallery, and submit an original 500-1000 word reaction paper, in Microsoft Word format to each instructor. You only need to do one museum visit per semester, no matter how many courses you are enrolled in.

3. Make an effort to show your work. This could take several forms—you could enter a juried competition, organize a group or solo show, complete a design job for a client, or get a commission. You only need to complete one exhibition/commission per semester, no matter how many courses you are enrolled in.

Extra Credit Project(s): None-get your work done!

Lecture, Lab and Assignment Information: as above

Classroom and Lab Behavior and Class Participation:

It is expected that each student:

Always comes to class on time and ready to work

Completes all homework and projects on time

Helps other students and shares knowledge when working on projects

Undertakes challenging projects, and is willing to take risks

Leaves the workplace neat and clean and cleans up messes of others

Maintains a pleasant, enthusiastic attitude with other students, faculty and guests

Works outside of class at least 4 hours/week

Attendance and Punctuality

Attendance

· Attendance is mandatory, and forms part of your grade. See course grading rubric.

Homework/late work

· Homework will be assigned on a daily or weekly basis, as necessary.

· Completion of homework is mandatory and forms part of your grade. See course grading rubric.

Classroom distractions

· No cell phones, facebook, youtube, email, or other non-instructional electronic distractions may be used during class.

Vocabulary: included in course website/handouts

ADA POLICY: If a student wishes to be identified as having a physical, mental, or learning disability, that may or may not require reasonable accommodation(s), he/she must register with the Office of Accessibility. These registered students should identify themselves to their instructors and provide a written statement from the Accessibility Office that indicates the appropriate accommodations. The process of a student self-proclaiming the need for accommodation should occur as early in the semester as possible. The Office of Accessibility phone is 245-7339 and is located in Rhodes Hall, Room 116, University of Rio Grande.

FERPA: The University of Rio Grande and Rio Grande Community College are committed to fully respecting and protecting the rights of students under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). These rights generally include the right to inspect, review and seek amendment to the student's education records and the right to provide written consent before personally identifiable information from education records is disclosed. Under FERPA, students have the right to file a complaint with the US Department of Education concerning alleged failures to comply with FERPA. Please see the Student Records Confidentiality/Rights Under FERPA section of the Student Handbook for details and more information.

ACADEMIC DISHONESTY: Standard university policies, as described in the Student Handbook, apply.

WITHDRAWAL: Standard university policies, as described in the Student Handbook, apply.

INCOMPLETE: Standard university policies apply.

TOPICAL OUTLINE and/or SCHEDULE (tentative-may be changed without notice)

Week	Monday	Wednesday
WEEK ONE	Syllabus \| Photo Basics \| file sharing	Photo Basics
WEEK TWO	No Class-MLK JR DAY	Critique #1-Oral Exam Review \|
WEEK THREE	Photoshop Basics	Photoshop Basics
WEEK FOUR	Photoshop Basics	Critique #2-Oral Exam Review \|
WEEK FIVE	Camera Basics	Camera Basics
WEEK SIX	No Class-PRESIDENT’S DAY	Critique #3-Oral Exam Review \|
WEEK SEVEN	CHOICE PROJECTS	OPEN STUDIO-BENJY OUT OF TOWN-WORK ON PROJECTS
WEEK EIGHT	MIDTERM Oral Exams, Meetings and Grading CHOICE PROJECTS	MIDTERM Oral Exams, Meetings and Grading CHOICE PROJECTS
SPRING BREAK
WEEK NINE	CHOICE PROJECTS	CHOICE PROJECTS
WEEK TEN	CHOICE PROJECTS	CHOICE PROJECTS
WEEK ELEVEN	Art History Project	Art History Project
WEEK TWELVE	OPEN STUDIO-BENJY OUT OF TOWN-WORK ON ART HISTORY PROJECTS!!	OPEN STUDIO-BENJY OUT OF TOWN-WORK ON ART HISTORY PROJECTS!!
WEEK THIRTEEN	Art History Project	Art History Project
WEEK FOURTEEN	Matting and Framing	Matting and Framing
WEEK FIFTEEN	Review and Revise	Review and Revise
FINAL EXAM WEEK	WEDNESDAY MAY 4 1:30-3:30 Attendance Mandatory Student Presentations FINAL Oral Exams, Meetings and Grading

Class will NOT be cancelled for instructor absence. In the rare event that the instructor is not there, students are still required to come to the classroom and complete the day's assignments. If, and only if, the lesson in question is impossible to complete without the instructor, find a lesson that can be completed, complete a tutorial, make a piece of art, do research for an upcoming lesson, or rework an old assignment. Each student will be expected to show the instructor what work was conducted on the day in question.

This is a tentative schedule only! We'll make adjustments as we go through the semester!