Phoenix Community College
ART143: Intermediate to Digital Photography - 13297
Mondays 6-10pm in Room 202 Fall 2011
Instructor: Matthew Garcia Email: garcia@garciafoto.com
Fundamentals of digital photography continued. This course is designed to build upon the foundation of techniques and practices developed in the introductory section. We will explore advanced digital composite, new media and photo illustration techniques while maintaining aesthetic principles. Advance personal expression/style, through concept development is required. Critical thinking/exploration will also be a focus of this course. Historical and contemporary trends in digital photography as an art form will be addressed.
Grades
Projects (6 total) 30%
Final Project 30%
Participation 10%
Exquisite Corpse (weekly) 30%
Along with thorough and accurate completion of assignments, grades will be assessed through examination of:
Craft: an ability to use tools and execute techniques
Concept: the ideas that frame the technique
Creativity: the level of innovation exhibited in the execution of craft and concept
Concept: the ideas that frame the technique
Creativity: the level of innovation exhibited in the execution of craft and concept
Assignments submitted more than a week late will result in -10 points to the project/task grade. No late work will be accepted after the final day of class.
Attendance
This course meets once a week. The college requires that 16 hours of extra class time be scheduled outside of our regular session. These additional hours will be scheduled well in advance and be considered equally significant to our evening sessions. It is imperative that you attend each class to keep up with techniques/demos and assignments. Two unexcused absences are allowed. After the second unexcused absence every following absence will drop your final grade by 5%. (Ex: your final grade should be a 95%, but you missed 4 classes, you will receive a 85%, you missed 5 classes, you will receive a 80%, etc.). Be sure to arrive on time, as I will start class promptly.
Always come to class prepared with your camera, camera manual, jump drive/cds, or other necessary materials as requested by the instructor.
Final Project
The final project will be a photo story of 5-10 finished prints/images due at the end of the semester. These images should be mounted, presented in book form, as part of a three-dimensional art object, or some other manner of “finished” presentation/product. The concept for the final project is Altered Reality. I will work individually with each student to determine the subject and form of their project.
The final critique will be held Wednesday, December 14th from 6-10pm.
Important Dates
Wednesday, August 24th—1st day of class
Wednesday, September 5th –Labor Day Observed—NO CLASS
Wednesday, December 14th —FINAL PROJECTS DUE
Wednesday, September 5th –Labor Day Observed—NO CLASS
Wednesday, December 14th —FINAL PROJECTS DUE
Schedule-
Part One - 3weeks Digital Correction
Color-HDR-Sharpen-Light-Skin Cross Processed, Black and white, Green Screen,Self portrait
Part Two - 6 weeks Digital Compositing
Composting-Masking- digital collage Cubism - appropriated imagery subtractive- negative. Lack of background
Part Three - 7 weeks Digital Illustration
Illustration - Scale - Digital Land (five landscape makes one), Face, insect, auto still life, Animation, new media, photo story.
Exquisite Corpse
The exquisite corpse is a technique developed by the Surrealists in the mid 1920’s. The method, medium, and form can range from creative writing, drawings, music; created in one day, sent via email or snail mail; done with extreme structure or guidelines or be open to the creative expanses of the participants. For the purposes of this course, you will be using photographic images and open creativity to develop several exquisite corpses throughout the semester.
Rules and guidelines:
- Each student presents a single photographic image to start. The file should be in tiff format and of moderate size.
- The initial file should be named: student’s first name.tiff (i.e. angela.tiff).
- A copy of the initial image should be retained by the photographer.
- Students will randomly exchange initial images via jump drives.
- You have one week to add/subtract or somehow change the initial file.
- The changed file should be named: original photographer’s name_initials of manipulating agent. (For
example: Jim receives the primary file from Angela. After making changes to Angela’s image, Jim will save
the file as: angela_j.tiff). - During the next class session, the altered images will again rotate to a new member of the class to receive
additional enhancements. - The file will pass through each member’s creative efforts and the name will grow to include, in order, the
initials of those who have worked on it. - Once the images have reached the limits of creative efforts...all students will bring a new primary image in
and the process will start again.
There is no right or wrong way to change an image. Use your imagination and remember that this is a cooperative effort, don’t get your feelings hurt if a colleague changes or removes—it’s not personal but rather part of the creative and evolutionary process.
Materials and Texts
Students must have a digital camera, preferably one that is high resolution and adjustable/or a digital SLR. In addition to a camera the following materials are recommended:
o External hard drive and/or jump drive (preferable) -OR-
o Blank recordable cd’s
o Memory card appropriate for your camera
o 3-ring binder for notes, readings, assignments sheets, etc.
o tripod, cable release/timer, etc.
o digital camera card reader
o Presentation materials and supplies appropriate to the scope of the student’s final project
o Memory card appropriate for your camera
o 3-ring binder for notes, readings, assignments sheets, etc.
o tripod, cable release/timer, etc.
o digital camera card reader
o Presentation materials and supplies appropriate to the scope of the student’s final project
There is not a required text for this course. The instructor will provide several readings throughout the semester that are relevant and culled from a variety of appropriate sources.
College listed text:
o Mastering Digital Photography, 2nd edition, David Busch, 2005. This is listed as a required text for the
o Mastering Digital Photography, 2nd edition, David Busch, 2005. This is listed as a required text for the
course, however it is outdated and I will not require you to purchase it. If you already have, return it. A good read for more advanced level image-makers. (Recommended not required)
o Criticizing Photographs: An Introduction to Understanding Images, Fourth Edition. Terry Barrett, 2006.
Academic Integrity
Students will shoot specifically for assignments and projects given by the instructor. Previously shot film or digital imagery may not be used at any point in this course.
Students enrolled in this course are responsible for ensuring full understanding of the information presented in this syllabus and should direct questions regarding its content to the instructor. Students are responsible for abiding by the college policies as stated in the college catalog and the student handbook.
It is a college policy to provide reasonable accommodations to students with disabilities. If you would like to request accommodations due to a physical, mental, or learning disability, please contact the Disability Resource Center office, Learning Center (LC) Building, 602.285.7477
Classroom Conduct
You are expected to behave in a responsible manner that allows everyone in the classroom access to resources and learning. Behavior that disrupts classroom learning will not be tolerated. If your actions are disrespectful to the instructor or to other students, you will be asked to leave and counted absent.
The use of cell phones is completely prohibited (this includes texting). The computers in this lab can only be used for tasks strictly related to the classroom activities; therefore, checking your Facebook, Twitter, Myspace, personal email, etc is not allowed. If the instructor notices any of these sites on your computer screen during a lecture or on workday, you will be asked to leave the class and you will be considered absent for that day. Students are held to behavioral conduct standard deemed by Maricopa County Community College student handbook and college policies.
Information provided in this syllabus may be subject to change. Students will be notified by the instructor of any changes to the course requirements or policies.
Supply Resources:
o Tempe Camera, 606 W. University Drive, Tempe
o Photomark, 2202 E. McDowell Rd, Phoenix, 602.244.1133
o Photo Forum, 4834 N. 7th Street, Phoenix, 602.263.0084
o B & H Photo, New York, 800.221.5662, www.bhphotovideo.com
o Freestyle, Los Angeles, 800.292.6137, www.freestylephoto.biz
o Fry’s Electronics, 3035 W. Thunderbird Rd, Phoenix, 602-445-8800
o Fry’s Electronics, 2300 W. Baseline Road (I-10), Tempe, 602-445-5100
o Tempe Camera, 606 W. University Drive, Tempe
o Photomark, 2202 E. McDowell Rd, Phoenix, 602.244.1133
o Photo Forum, 4834 N. 7th Street, Phoenix, 602.263.0084
o B & H Photo, New York, 800.221.5662, www.bhphotovideo.com
o Freestyle, Los Angeles, 800.292.6137, www.freestylephoto.biz
o Fry’s Electronics, 3035 W. Thunderbird Rd, Phoenix, 602-445-8800
o Fry’s Electronics, 2300 W. Baseline Road (I-10), Tempe, 602-445-5100
