Basic Camera Techniques Syllabus

A Short Course in Digital Photography

Prerequisites:  Students must have a working digital camera with adjustable f/stops and adjustable shutter speeds, or a film camera with similar functions. Student must have a computer with access to the Internet. There are no course prerequisites.

Instructor:               

Class Meets:  Saturdays July 9, 16, 23, 30   8:00am - 12:30pm in Art 104

Required Text

A Short Course in Digital Photography, Barbara London & Jim Stone ISBN-10: 0205066429 ISBN-13:  9780205066421

Course Objectives:

Before the completion of the course the student should be able to:

• identify the individual components of a modern difital camera
• describe the basic rules of compositon, and tu use the rules in their own images
• use digital cameras to take high quality images

Course Description:

Photography is defined as writing with light. This course teaches both technological skills and aesthetic ones. Students should learn how their camera works, and how to make visually interesting images that can be used to communicate a message.

Art 181 is a blended learning course that uses Blackboard for content delivery and course management. Learners must log into Blackboard to enter the course workspace. The course menu is used to organize the links necessary for course completion.You should see the course menu on the left edge of your screen If you do not see the coursemenu, open it using Show Course Menu arrow > on the left edge of your screen.The assignments link contains the learning tasks and support materials for each learning module. The modules are arranged in weekly folders. It is critical that learners use these tools, and to check them often.

Each week you will do a series of learning tasks designed to teach the use of the camera. During this course, you will:

• demonstrate the ability to use photography as a means of communication and creative expression when completing the weekly projects.
• demonstrate a knowledge of the principles and fundamentals of camera function whe taking photographs and answerwing quiz questions.
• demonstrate the ability to think creatively when findnig visual solutions to photographic problems
• demonstrate the ability to think, discuss, and write critically about your own photographs and those of others during class critique sessions
• demonstrate the ability to express or respond to aesthetic qualities in your own photographs and those of others during class critique sessions
• demonstrate some of the many ways that people use photography in their daily lives

Undergraduate Learning Outcomes and Performance Indicators

During this course, you will have an opportunity to address the following learning outcomes and performance indicators.

For a complete listing of undergraduate learning outcomes and performance indicators see the College Catalog.

Citizenship
Understand and appreciate the interdependence and interrelatedness of all people as well as of people and their environment.

Question to ponder = How can you use photography to reflect upon citizenship?

Every photograph you take says something about who you are and how you view the world. You will discover how photography has been used to change the world we live in.

Ethics

Understand ethical responsibility from the perspective of duty, consequences, or virtue

Question to ponder = What are the ethical problems that confront photographers?

You will study the ways in which photographs can be used to tell the truth, or deliver a lie. You will need to make many choices while creating your projects. Learners are expected to conduct themselves in an ethical manner as they progress through this course. The choices one makes and the actions one takes are as important as the final product produced.

Interdisciplinarity
Solve a problem by integrating the perspectives of multiple disciplines

Question to ponder = In what ways is photography interdisciplinary?

You will need to use knowledge from many disciplines as you complete your learning tasks. Photography involves the physics of light and lenses, the chemistry of the darkroom, in order to communicate messages. Each project is a new challenge requiring many different skills.

Communication
Write and speak effectively

Question to ponder = How important is photography as a format for communication?

Learners will intentionally control the messages they are sending as they create and edit their projects. Learners are expected to write at the college level.

Critical Thinking
Develop an appropriate response to a problem or question

Question to ponder= How can you use photography to support a position as evidence?

Photography has traditionally been considered positive proof in a court of law. Has that changed in the digital age?

Teaching Methodology:            Case Study 25%;  Discussion 10%;  Lecture 15%;  Media 50%

The course is dedicated to learning how photography works. We will also study the fundamentals of camera operation. Each week is spent on a different portion of the camera. Every student will photograph between 24 - 36 images per week. The assignments are designed to demonstrate technological control of a specific camera part, and to encourage the use of your camera as a tool for creating photographs with impact and meaning.

Method of Evaluation:

1) A weekly test covering the text, lecture, and online materials equals  50% of the final grade.

Success in a blending learning course depends upon homework completion each week. I usually give a written test when we meet face-to-face at the Mount. The tests are designed to uncover comprehension problems before the class moves to new material. These tests cover text, lecture, and online materials. 

2) The weekly photography project point total equals 50% of the final grade.

All photo projects are graded on a 1-4 scale. This corresponds with the standard 4.0 system outlined in the College Catalog. A project score is based on how well you meet the objectives listed on the project sheet. In general projects are graded on: exposure, lighting, composition, subject choice, data, and if you have successfully completed each section of the project. A grading rubric is included for each project. ALL GRADED PHOTOGRAPHS MUST BE NEW IMAGES TAKEN FOR THIS COURSE! LATE PROJECTS LOSE 1 LETTER GRADE PER WEEK!

Grading Policies, Definitions, and Procedures

College Incomplete Policy

Teachers do not give grades... students must earn them!

Attendance Policy:

Attendance at all class sessions is required. One exception may be made in extreme circumstances at the discretion of the instructor; however, the instructor must be notified of the need to be absent prior to the beginning of the class session. Students are expected to arrive on time and remain for the entire class session.

Student Disabilities:
If you have specific physical, psychological or learning disabilities and require accommodations, please let me know as early in the course as possible so that your learning needs may be met.
Students with documented disabilities are encouraged to speak to course faculty at the beginning of the semester. In compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the College of Mount St. Joseph provides academic adjustments and auxiliary aids for students with physical or mental impairments that substantially limit or restrict one or more of such major life activities as walking, seeing, hearing, or learning. Students with disabilities should contact Susan Brogden, Director of Academic Support, to present documentation and develop individualized accommodation plans. Phone: 244-4524 or email: susan_brogden@mail.msj.edu Additional information can be found on the disability services web page.

Academic Honesty & Integrity:
When we use the information and language of others to enrich our reflection and research papers we must:
 tell the reader when we are quoting and indicate the source (person, book, article, etc.) or the quotation
 tell the reader when we are paraphrasing and indicate the source (person, book, article, etc.) of that information
Quoting or paraphrasing the information and/or language of a source without naming the source is plagiarism. Plagiarism is unacceptable in an academic institution and is subject to penalty.
Please consult the College Catalog and the Student Handbook for additional information and policies regarding academic honesty.

Tentative Course Calendar

Preassignment - BEFORE THE 1st CLASS ON JULY 9th

LOG INTO Blackboard AND DO THE PREASSIGNMENT MODULE

Click here for detailed Blackboard login instructions.  For assistance, please contact the ISS Helpdesk at (513) 244-HELP (4357).

A brief summary of the preassignment is listed below.

By July 6th - Write a short autobiography and post it into the Blackboard discussion board.

By July 9th - Reply to at least two other class members postings.

Read all of Chapter 1 and pages 147 - 157 , 204 - 209 in your text.

Fill out the camera survey in Blackboard.

Take the preassignment self-quiz in Blackboard..

Take a series of 24 - 36 photographs using the directions found in the assignment list.. Keep exposure notes as to the settings used.

Be sure to bring your camera equipment to each class session.

In Class - Weekend One

The foundation discussion: Chapter 1.

Viewing of preassignment images.

Question and answer session of camera basics

Test on pre-assignment.

Weekend Two

BEFORE CLASS read chapters 2 & 3 in the text

Test

Viewing of project number two

Weekend Three

BEFORE CLASS read Chapters 7, 8, &9

Test

Viewing of project number three

Weekend Four

BEFORE CLASS read Chapter 4, 5, &6

Test

Viewing of project number four

Post-Assignment

Read Chapter 10

History of Photography Paper submitted via Blackboard

College Catalog Incomplete Policy
A student must initiate a request for an "I" (incomplete) grade with an instructor by the last week of classes for traditional semester courses or before the last scheduled date of accelerated classes. The completed form must be submitted by the student to the Office of the Registrar prior to exam week or the final scheduled accelerated class meeting . An "I"(incomplete) grade is only assigned by an instructor for a student who has made significant academic progress in the course, but for a serious reason has not fulfilled all requirements. This petition may be approved or denied by the instructor. "I" Grade Petitions are available in each academic department. The full incomplete policy can be found at: College Catalog Incomplete Policy 

Add Drop Policies - Four Week Classes

Week 1 = No record of dropped course (W grade begins the day after the first class meeting.)

Week 2 - 5 = Grade of W is issued for the dropped class.

Week 4 = No drops accepted. (the day after the 3rd class meeting forward)