Moorpark College

Photo 1a Spring 2008

 

Instructor: Becky Brister

Photo lab phone: 805-378-1442

E-mail: beckybrister@gmail.com. Please put ÒstudentÓ in the header

 

 

NOTE: This is a working syllabus and is subject to change. Updates will be announced in class.  It is the studentÕs responsibility to keep up with any changes made to the syllabus.

 

OVERVIEW:  This class is designed to give you foundation technical and aesthetic skills as they apply to commercial, documentary, and fine art photography.  The semester will be spent with black and white photography, looking at the implications of photography as they apply to the society as a whole, at the history of the medium, and the significant artists from the beginning to now.

 

REQUIRED TEXTBOOK: A Short Course in Photography: An Introduction to

Photographic Techniques, 6th edition.

By, Barbara London and Jim Stone

 

You will be taking quizzes online for the first 7 chapters of the text.  To access these quizzes go to the publishers website at http://www.prenhall.com/london.

 

SUGGESTED READINGS:

  Susan Sontag, On Photography, (dell publishing) 1973

  Charlotte Cotton, The Photograph As Contemporary Art, (Thames & Hudson) 2004

  Alan Trachtenberg, Classic Essays On Photography, (LeeteÕs Island Books) 1980

 

TIME REQUIRED FOR CLASS:

  Approximately 9 hours a week

  2 hours of lecture/critique

  3 hours of lab

  4 hours of outside work (2 hours for every hour of lecture)

 

GRADES:

 Effort is important.  Listen to yourself. I want you to succeed on your own terms. Follow your vision, follow your passions.

 

  Your grade is based on:

    1.Attendance:

Attendance is measured by the question about photography that you turn in at the end                      of each lecture session. I will also circulate a roll sheet during the lecture section of the course.

    2.Participation:

In classroom discussions and critiques.

    3. Assignments:

See assignments section

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ASSIGNMENTS:

 

Written Assignments:

 

   1. Gallery Report: You must attend at least one photographic exhibition and turn in a brief statement that describes your response to the photographs.  I am interested in an intellectual and emotional response. Additional attendance at exhibitions will earn you extra credit. The Sunday Los Angeles Times Calendar section list art and photography exhibition

 

  2. Online quizzes

 

 

Photographic assignments:

 

   1. Photogram: At least one photogram using found or made objects, one photogram  using printed materials, and one reversal.

 

   2. 1st roll of film/Self Portrait: I would like your first roll of film to be on things you fine interesting, including at least one self-portrait.

 

   3. Depth of Field: Be  aware and careful about how your shutter speed changes as your aperture changes.

a. Foreground in focus and background out of focus

b. Foreground out of focus and background in focus

c. Foreground out of focus, middle in focus, background out of focus

d. Everything from 5 feet to infinity in focus

 

  4. Motion: Be careful to pay attention to your aperture for exposure

            a. Stop action: requires fast shutter speeds

            b. Pan action: requires shutter speeds slower than 1/60th

            c. Blurred action: requires slow shutter speeds

            d. 30 second time exposure or longer: this canÕt be done in normal daylight

 

5. Lighting: in class and out of class assignment

 

            In class:

            -Side light no fill

            -Side light with fill 1:2 ratio

            -45 degree with no fill

            -45 degree with fill

            -Frontal

            -Silhouette

 

            Out of class:

            -Backlight

            -Silhouette

            -Side light

            -Open shade

            -Most unusual light you can find

 

  6.  Document of Life: You will spend a week documenting whatever you choose.

 

  7. Final Project: Final project and Critique. You can begin thinking of a project for the end of the semester. A project is a theme that you will follow through on for at least 5 rolls of film. It could be about anything. Please check with me when you think you have a project idea. You will need a portfolio of at least 5 mounted prints.

 

*Assignment Guidelines:  Assignments are due two weeks after they have been assigned unless otherwise indicated.  There will be a critique on the assignment at that time.

 

Each assignment must be turned in inside of a separate manila folder sealed at both edges.  You can buy sealed folders at stationary stores or find used ones ... it is acceptable to seal them with masking tape or scotch tape.  NO staples under any circumstances.  Your assignments must be turned in with proof sheets.  A proof sheet is also known as a contact sheet.

 

You must include a short, written self-evaluation with each assignment, in narrative form. Number the photographs and use the number when referring to each photograph in your narration. Do NOT make this into a chore ... it should be brief and to the point.

 

 Some questions you might answer:

         1. What I understand least about this assignment isÉ

         2. If I were to make this photograph again I would...

         3. This photograph tells a story about....  

         4. This photograph asks me to think about...

         5. This photograph makes me feel....

 

When you turn in assignments they must be in a folder.  Please write your name, course 01a, and am or pm on the folder tab and on the back of your prints. Always print at least two copies of a print, the one you turn in to me may be written on.

 

 

CRITIQUES: 

 

Each project will be critiqued in a group setting.  The rigor of participation, production, research and involvement will be assessed for the grade.  

 

COURSE MATERIALS:

 

 -Camera - I prefer that you have a camera that you can focus manually, or if it is an automatic camera it should have a manual override.  It is important that your principal lens is a 50mm or thereabouts and has a depth of field scale. A tripod may come in handy.

 

DO NOT OPEN PHOTOGRAPHIC MATERIAL IN ROOM LIGHT

 

 -Paper: 8 x10 Ilford Multigrade IV RC, Pearl Surface.   Write your name boldly on the box. You will use about 100     sheets of paper during the semester. There are special deals in camera stores where you get 25 sheets of paper and 2 rolls of Kodak or Ilford film for about $13.00.  Four of those packages will be a good start. Only buy this deal with asa 400 black and white film, any other choice is not recommended.                     

 

 -Film ... TRI-X or T Max 400 or Ilford Delta 400, NOT Kodak 400 CN

You will need about 12 rolls of 36-exposure 35mm Kodak Tri-X film for the semester. Do NOT Buy Chromagic film, which say ÒDevelop in C41 chemistryÓ on the box.

 

 -Film Developer one-gallon packet of powder Kodak D-76 film developer. The cost is approx. $6. This is a voluntary contribution to the Photography Program.

 

-Dry Mount Tissue and 5 mounting boards. The dry mount tissue should have a range of heat from about 170 to 200 degrees. Do not purchase tissue with a bright red bold label.

 

-Manila Folders. You will need about 13 Manila folders for turning in Assignments or you can recycle 4 or 5 of them. You will need to tape the edges shut so that the folder is a pocket.

 

-Negative Holders. You will need negative holders to store your negatives safely. There are several different kinds available from your local camera store. Pick the one that is best for you.

 

 You should have a clean Towel for every lab period.  Do not wear nice clothes to the lab, the chemicals do stain.