This course is designed to familiarize the experienced photographer to all aspects of photography with the use of a film or digital camera. The prerequisite for this course is Introduction to Photography AND Digital Darkroom. You should be familiar with the use of your camera and the essential workflow of Adobe Camera Raw processing. Though technical in nature, this class is an art photography course, and as such, will emphasize the creation and exploration of photographic imagery both technically and conceptually. Experimentation in any form is not only encouraged, it will be expected of you as a photographer!

Attention will be focused on producing a final portfolio which will live solely on the internet. It is my intention to prepare you for a web-based pressence, which is essential for all successful photographers (gone are the days of a paper-based portfolio). It is time to be 2.0 Web Savvy.

1. You will create a web based portfolio on the website wix.com. It is a free template based hosting site so there should be no problem with acquiring an account. No experience in designing web sites will be necessary;
2. The course will require a photgraphic thematic structure based off of the assignments given in class; and
3. By the end of the quarter the "about me" page will contain an analysis of your work, othewise known as an ARTIST STATEMENT

The Asssignments for the quarter will be as follows:
1. Monochromatic COLOR
2. Environmental Portraiture
3. Fragments, Abstraction or Pattern
4. Light and Shadow, Reflection and/or Point of View (high.low)

Grading is based on, but not limited to: participation in class critiques, technical ability, personal progress and/or improvement, and innovation. Personal progress and improvement will be based on each individual and not based on the class as a whole.

For your final portfolio will rest on a web presentation critiqued by both Students and Instructor and will take place on the last day of instruction. The final portfolio will consist of eight (8) images taken from the class assignments.

35% Attendance and classroom participation
25% Weekly Assignments
35% Final portfolio of images
5% Extra Credit Photographs - produce 15 images for your final portfolio

Final Grades:
A = 90% - 100%
B = 80% - 89%
C = 70% - 79%
D = 60% - 69%

This course requires the use of a SLR or a DSLR. You may use a Point-and-Shoot camera as long as it can produce RAW photographic files. I do expect you to be shooting in RAW format, processing in raw and uploading jpegs to the internet. Please be familiar with the use of your camera and RAW processing (if not please see me after class). You will also need a USB drive which allows you to save any assignments in progress (or completed) during the class for later reference. An external firewire drive is also acceptable.

If you are a MAC or PC user and own your own laptop (with photoshop CS4 installed), you may use it in lieu of the PC TOWER computers in our lab.

Recommended The Photoshop CS4 Book by Scott Kelby

Introduction by Instructor
Introduction of Students

REVIEW:
Let's go over the syllabus!
What is a digital chip (Charged Coupled Device) and how does it work in the camera vs. a CMOS chip?
What is RGB
What is ColorSpace?
The color default in Photoshop and your camera: sRGB
Why shoot in RAW?
What does each colorspace occupy in the color spectrum?

WIX.com

Read Social Networking Article!

Homework:
Design your website and upload photos that represent your interest in photography. As an example, if your interest is landscape photography, create your web page that demonstrates the thematic structure of your photographic skills. If your interest lies in portraiture, create a web site that demonstrates your photographic intentions. I expect you to have the home page designed and ONE portfolio link with the area of your photographic interests. You will present your intention to the class next week!

Examples of Photographer's Web Sites that represent themselves according to a theme:
Kevin Malella
Nick Veasey
Life on White
Rachael Devine
New Catalogue
Amy Stein
Orange Turtle Wedding Photography

REVIEW: BRIDGE, CRW and Photoshop
1. Raw to JPEG workflow
2. How to convert properly to Black and White
3. How to use a textured layer for creative purposes
Please be prepared and bring to class your external drives (and/or your own laptops with your external dirves) with RAW images to work with in class. We will review the procedures and workflow from Bridge/Adobe Raw to Photoshop and prepping our images for the web.

CRITIQUE: MONOCHROMATIC ASSIGNMENT


A color photograph that is described as being monochromatic uses one color from any part of the spectrum and/or has the total effect of one color, although different hues are present. By the use of this specific application of color, you add a necessary definition, or element, to the image. This characteristic separates and defines the difference between a monochromatic color photograph and one in black-and-white.

You will be expected to present three (3) monochromatic images in your portfolio. You will be presenting your images for critique from the new portfolio website. Be careful to reflect your thematic structure. Each image can be of a different color tonal range, for instance one image can be red, another green, a third blue emphasis. It's up to you! Shoot in RAW and export to JPEG web ready You will present your assignment to the class via your new WIX website.

Examples of Monochromatic photography

Legal Rights of Photographers (Book)
Know Your Rights as a Photographer
Copyright of Choreographic Works (in terms of photography)

Week 4

PRESENTATION: The owner of George's Camera will be bringing in GLASS, and lots of it! This will be your opportunity for you to try different lenses on your camera, or perhaps try a flash and ask all the questions you want of these experts. You get to play for the whole class period! Please bring your camera (DSLR Nikon or Canon) and experiement to your heart's desire! Also an array of cameras

CRITIQUE: Fragments, Abstraction or Pattern

1. FRAGMENT: Pictures that only show part of an object, not the whole thing.Take pictures of parts of an object, a detail.
2. ABSTRACTION: Photographs which represent reality mainly as patterns and/or shapes and not as recognizable objects. Take pictures of lines, shapes or unrecognizable three-dimensional forms. Abstract photography is a method of creating an image using colors and pattern with the absence of its true meaning and clear subject.
3. PATTERN: The repetition of lines or forms in an arranged sequence.

You will be expected to present five (5) Fragment/Abstract/Pattern images in your portfolio. These images can be a combination of the three assignments, or come from one of the emphasizing groups. You will be presenting your images for critique from the new portfolio website. Be careful to reflect your thematic structure. Shoot in RAW and export to JPEG web ready You will present your assignment to the class via your new WIX website.

WORKING WITH STROBE! Please arrive on time (if not early) We will walk over as a group to the UCSD Media Labs TV Studio production room on campus. You will be able to experience STROBE firsthand! Bring your camera, a memory card, and your bright and shining faces because you are going to model for one of your classmates. Everyone will have an opportunity to experiement with the strobe lights, to photograph and be photographed! We will also learn how to use a light meter, how to connect a sync cord and how to position a person for headshots.

DO YOU HAVE a connection on your camera for sync? Please be familiar with your cameras functions! - research your rated sync speed for your camera. It should be located in your manuals, and if not, go to the manufacturer web site and look up the specs.

CRITIQUE: Environmental Portraiture

What is environmental portraiture? An environmental portrait is a portrait executed in the subject's usual environment, such as in their home or workplace, and typically illuminates the subject's life and surroundings. By photographing a person in their natural surroundings, it is thought that you will be able to better illuminate their character, and therefore portray the essence of their personality, rather than merely a likeness of their physical features. It is also thought that by photographing a person in their natural surroundings, the subject will be more at ease, and so be more conducive to expressing themselves, as opposed to in a studio, which can be a rather intimidating and artificial experience. The surroundings or background is a key element in environmental portraiture, and is used to convey further information about the person being photographed.Where it is common, in studio portraiture and even in location candid photography, to shoot using a shallow depth of field, thereby throwing the background out of focus, in environmental portraiture the background is an integral part of the image. Indeed, smaller apertures and more depth of field is commonly used in this type of photography. While it is often true that the background may dominate the subject, this need not necessarily be so. In fact, the details that convey the message from the surroundings can often be quite small, and still be significant.The key seems to be in the symbolism expressed by various elements in the background, for instance, a baseball cap may not tell you much about your subject(unless he or she is a baseball player), but a chef's hat gives you a lot more detail about who he is and what he does..


Examples of Photographers working with Environmental Portaiture
Lauren Greenfield
Larry Sultan
Philip-Lorca DiCorcia
Shelby Lee Adams
Julie Blackman
behance
Cory Arnold
Days With My Father

FINAL ASSIGNMENT

Glossary of Photographic Terms
How to Make a Photoblog
Digital Camera Review and News
Creating an Easy Portfolio

Sports Photography
Wildlife Photography
Digital Darkroom
Pro Techniques

AK47 — an online art photography magazine showcasing both fine arts and documentary photographers.
BLIR — for emerging artists.
Blueeyes — an online documentary photography magazine devoted to publishing new long-term project work. It is a labor of love created by a dedicated group of people who believe in the power of still photography.
F-STOP — a photography magazine.
mooncruise* — featuring photography and music by international artists.
Revolver — photojournalism, street & travel photography.
seesaw — observation full and felt.
LOOK AT ME — a collection of found photographs.
PIXELPRESS — encouraging documentary photography through a new paradigm of journalism, one that encourages an active dialogue between the author and reader and, also, the subject.
lens culture — photography and shared territories.
MakingRoom — a magazine about the process, intention and results of image-making.
FILE — a collection of unexpected photography.