Art 80: Elements of Photography
Spring, 2014
Instructor: Nicole Sloan
Classroom: LAC-K135
Email: nsloan@lbcc.edu
Tuesday, 6:30 pm - 9:40 pm
Long Beach City College
Course Description
This
course is a survey of photography as a creative, personal form of
expression. The emphasis of the class is on acquisition of skills
related to camera operation, selection of equipment, choosing
appropriate subject matter and how to take and evaluate the final
product, the photograph.
The goal of this course is to equip you
with the technical knowledge of using the camera, as well as
developing the conceptual framework to create thought provoking and
interesting images. We will be examining the work being created
during this course in a critique environment, in which we will be
examining the technical, visual and content components of the
photograph.
This is a non-lab course. Students
enrolled in Art 80 do not have access to the labs on campus. Students
have to find the way to finish most of assigned projects outside of
class.
Course Objectives
Identify safety aspects of
working with photographic equipment.
Critically discuss their
photography and the photography of others.
Manipulate traditional and digital
photographic processes to produce finished photographs of
professional quality.
Explain how to plan a photographic
idea from conception to the finished photograph.
Demonstrate the use of the cameras
in manual, program, and automatic modes.
Differentiate the correct camera
lens for a proposed photograph.
Discriminate between direct and
diffused natural light and predict the result of each on the
finished photograph.
Discuss contemporary and
historical commercial and fine art photographers.
Evaluate the final print for
content and technique.
- Select a suitable method for mounting and display of a
photograph.
Course Outcome
Distinguish safe and appropriate
procedures and practices utilized in a photography studio and lab.
Criticize, analyze, and compare
2-dimensional visual art.
Create, design, and produce a
portfolio of professional photographic still-life images
Supplies
Any kind of camera (a digital
point and shoot or Digital SLR preferred). Something where you can
select ISO, shutter speed and F-stop.
NO
CELL PHONE PHOTOGRAPHY WILL BE PERMITTED.
A flash/thumb drive, or an
external hard-drive to keep saved work.
Photo editing software on your
home computer. Adobe Photoshop is available for purchase at the
student store or you can download Google's Picasa photo editing
software for free.
Access to a printing lab, either
on campus or off campus. I would
suggest printing at Costco if you have a membership. All work must
be printed out and ready to critique on designated critique days,
please budget for the turn around of local and on campus printing
labs.
Photo merchants
Tuttle Cameras 4019 Atlantic Ave.,
LB 562 – 424-8633
Calumet 805 N. Highland Ave.,
Hollywood 213 – 466-1238
Freestyle 5124 Sunset Blvd.
Hollywood 213 – 660-3460
Samy’s Camera Fairfax & 3rd,
Los Angeles 213 - 938-2420
Art Supplies
Art Supply Warehouse 6672
Westminster Ave, Westminster 562 – 594-9641
Lyon Art Supply 420 E. 4th Street,
Long Beach 562- 437-6094
DSP&S
Please note, if you
have a disability verified by the Disabled Students Programs and
Services (DSP&S) at Long Beach City College, it is your
responsibility to notify me so that accommodations can be made.
Regulations
No texting, phone
calls or the answering of emails on your phone during class. If I see
you using your phone during class and I find it disruptive, the phone
will be acquisition and given back to you at the end of class.
No laptops open
during lectures, unless you are taking notes. Disrupting the class
and/or being disrespectful to the instructor/students may result in
your removal from the class (possibly permanently).
Grading Criteria
This structure of this class is broken
up into slide lecture, in-class demos and class participation.
Grading is based on completion of assignments that are submitted on
their due dates, being present on critique days (both yours and
others), class participation and written assignments. Class
participation combined with the understanding of how to technically
use your camera are important in your understanding of how to work in
the medium of photography. One letter grade will be subtracted from
all late assignments. Late assignments with an excused absence will
be due one week later.
Attendance Policy
This class
only meets once a week, so it is important that you make it to every
class.
Three tardy arrivals or leaving class
early will equal an absence. Three unexcused absences will lower your
grade. All critique days are mandatory. I take attendance and the
beginning and the ending of class. I notice when you leave early.
Attendance 10%
Class participation 10%
Written assignments 10%
Projects 1-5 70%
Breakdown by assigned grade
A - You are consistently producing work
that ranks in the top 10% and technically and you frequently
participate in class.
B - You are consistently producing work
that ranks in the top 25% and technically and you often participate
in class.
C - You complete work, sometimes
participate, and you may have three unexcused absences.
D - You don’t complete much work,
seldom participate, and you have poor attendance.
F - You don’t complete work, don’t
participate, and have five or more unexcused absences.
