Syllabus – ART007

Art 7: Digital Photography, Fall 2020

http://www.lehigh.edu/~anc304/Art7/

Course Instructor: Anna Chupa

Office:
610 758 3718
113 Research Drive
Office 259
Bethlehem PA, 18015

Class:
MW 8:25-11:05

Office Hours:
MW 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
other hours by appointment

Art 7

Art 7 provides intensive work in fine art photography as a vehicle for self-exploration with an emphasis on development of thematic content.

You will learn to use digital SLR or mirrorless cameras, Adobe Lightroom and Adobe Photoshop as the primary tools for capturing, editing and compositing photographic imagery. You will acquire technical skills through demonstrations, guided studio exercises, online tutorials, assigned studio problems and independent practice.

Presentations, gallery visits, readings and a blog describing historic photography and contemporary artists’ work will develop critical observation and analytical skills while introducing you to a variety of styles, influences and approaches to content.

Lectures, assigned readings, blog activities, gallery openings and talks are the primary means of introducing, exploring and extending concepts, expanding visual vocabulary, and identifying a historical context within which to place your work. From this experience you will gain an understanding of the range of possibilities in human expression in lens-based media. Description, analysis, criticism, reflection, identification of personal affinities with other artists, and interpretation are part of the process of informing ideation and decision-making.

Individual presentations provide the opportunity to study one photographer in more depth and to share that knowledge with the group.

Assigned studio problems, group and individual critiques, creative process, research, revision and review are at the heart of the studio experience in and outside of class. From these experiences you will begin to develop insight into your individual aesthetic choices. Exhibition submissions encourage you to seek public acknowledgement of work well done.

Basic Tools

Digital SLR (dSLR) and mirrorless camera usage covers exposure levels, dynamic range, histogram, aperture, ISO, shutter speed, bulb, auto focus lock, depth of field control, noise reduction, tripod usage, and lighting.

The Digital Darkroom and Non-destructive Workflow: The complete workflow includes capture, image management, processing RAW files, using layers to isolate changes non-destructively, adjustment layers, layer masks for targeted adjustments, retouching, compositing, color management, printing* and archiving.

Designing on the Computer: Building from previous experience with tactile 2-D design media, emphasis will be placed on the subtle application of tools in lieu of out-of-the-can approaches, and on the creation of strong single images as well as cohesive image composites from multiple photographic sources.

Output: You will learn the color management workflow for the professional level printer available in the Mountaintop Lab for future reference. For the final project you will produce a printed book.

On Course Site Menu

Schedule
Assignments (Projects)
Course Documents and Readings
External Links
Exercises

Lab Fee

Enrolling in this course requires the payment of a $100 Studio Lab Fee to be charged through the Bursar. This fee will be used to supply the student with SOME of the materials required to complete the course. Lab fees cover the cost of some of the software used in the lab for photographic editing, drawing tablets and electronic storage (for grading, not backup) the base charge for a printed book. For pages or substrates beyond the basic book provided by the lab fee, your Bursar account will be charged an amount relative to your choices and there will be PA sales tax added.

Materials

Portable backup drive capable of storing at least 500 G, notebook or sketchbook or both. One black and one white sheet of foam core.You can also expect to pay $25-35 each for exhibition submission fees (two are required).

Evaluation

You are expected to be active participants in all levels of course activities and to promptly complete your assignments. You will be expected to come to class with cameras, batteries charged, USB sticks, and backup hard drives. Projects will be evaluated on demonstrated technical competence, aesthetic merit and well-crafted execution, evidence of research to support concept development, the creation of compelling and significant content that warrants sustained and repeated attention, and the quality of participation. Grade will be reduced for late work.

Blog 15%
Presentation 5%
Exhibition preparation and submissions 5%
Quizzes 5%
Exercises and Studies, (other than those related to projects) and File Management 10%
Projects 60%

Please keep in mind that, according to university grading policies, C+ and C are average or competent, not poor, and that B+, B B- are good. A and A- are to be reserved only for outstanding or excellent work. I generally give very few “A”s, and they are reserved for work that is extraordinary.

94–100 A
90–93 A-
87–89 B+
83–86 B
80–82 B–
77–79 C+
73–76 C
70–72 C–
67–69 D+
63–66 D
60–62 D–
0–59 F

Each assignment in the course must be completed to receive a passing grade.

Attendance

Attendance is mandatory! Poor attendance will create problems for you. You will miss instructions and be confused. Ultimately this will affect your grade, as you will have difficulty keeping up. If you are unable to make a scheduled class it is your responsibility to make up any work missed. I will not repeat lectures or demonstrations. Instead you will need to rely on your peers for any information missed. Though I do appreciate a call or email concerning an absence, it will still be considered unexcused except under the most urgent circumstances.

For each absence after two absences, a Section 3 notice will be sent to the Dean of Students. The final cumulative grade will automatically be lowered for 3 or more absences. In addition, every 3 late arrivals will count as an absence. Arriving 20 minutes late will count as a full absence. Lateness is defined as arriving more than five minutes after class starts. Leaving during class and/or leaving class early will also be considered as an absence.

Active participation during class is expected.

Bring your equipment (camera, hard drive, etc.) to class. Use of email, web browsing and cell phones during class is not permitted. Readings, online lectures, gallery preparation and web-based assignments should be completed before the class in which they will be introduced. Check the outline and announcements frequently for updates.

Accommodations for Students with Disabilities:

If you have a disability for which you are or may be requesting accommodations, please contact both your instructor and the Office of Academic Support Services, Williams Hall, Suite 301 (610-758-4152) as early as possible in the semester. You must have documentation from the Academic Support Services office before accommodations can be granted.

The Principles of Our Equitable Community:

Lehigh University endorses The Principles of Our Equitable Community [http://www.lehigh.edu/~inprv/initiatives/PrinciplesEquity_Sheet_v2_032212.pdf]. We expect each member of this class to acknowledge and practice these Principles. Respect for each other and for differing viewpoints is a vital component of the learning environment inside and outside the classroom.

Academic Integrity

Code of Conduct (Art. III, Section I, A.1.i) states “the possession at any quiz or examination of any articles which are prohibited will be regarded as evidence of responsibility [for cheating].” Quizzes are closed book/closed notes. You may not have additional browsers open on your desktop, and you may not use your phone, tablet or any other mobile device until everyone in the class has completed the quiz. I will announce when it is permissible to open a new browser or application window.

If a portion of your work (e.g., in a presentation, a blog or a montage) is not your own, you must cite the source completely. Images are also copyrighted. Even when you utilize “copy-free” work from Wikimedia Commons, there are rules for how the author is to be credited. From the Library Tutorials for Research Success: (http://library.lehigh.edu/teaching_support/information_literacy_teaching_research_skills/tutorials_research_success): “You need to steer clear of any form of plagiarism to be an ethical and information literate student, one confident in his/her ability to research a topic from different sources and to effectively synthesize that information with a clear understanding of when to quote, when to cite and how to paraphrase. Please read the guides provided here for help on being that kind of student, able to complete a research assignment with confidence and with the knowledge that your course assignment is your own work.”

Goals

Demonstrate a working knowledge of digital photography terminology in general and the specific tools, techniques and terminology particular to the applications and media explored. (Visual Literacy)
Use proper file naming conventions and file management skills to organize documents for storage and archival purposes. (Organization)
Recall historic precedents that inform contemporary digital art in general and position individual work within the context of the history of photography and/or other fine art disciplines. (Critical Thinking and Context)
Demonstrate strong research skills to strengthen concept development and articulation of goals. These skills will be evidenced by your ability to discuss process as well as image and compositional choices as they relate to intentions and meaning in your blog. (Content and Concept)
Demonstrate technical proficiency in the use of a DSLR or mirrorless camera: image editing (retouching, color, tonal and perspective correction) and illusionistic rendering and compositing (through the skillful use of cloning and painting tools, layer masks, transparency masks, adjustment layers, targeted adjustments and blending modes). Develop and apply an understanding of color management principles for effective archival output. (Technical)
Demonstrate proficiency in the use of input peripherals including the mouse, keyboard, graphics tablet, flatbed scanner and camera (Input)
Prepare images for multiple output formats (web and print) through manipulation of color space, size, resolution, file format and gamut. (Output)
Develop an open and inquisitive approach to viewing unfamiliar directions in photography and to exploring intersections with other media. Resist premature closure in order to examine ideas completely. (Flexibility, Tolerance for Ambiguity)
Develop aesthetically cohesive works that demonstrate an intermediate to advanced understanding of the elements and principles of design while moving towards a unique artistic identity in the medium of photography. (Aesthetics)
Take risks with creative work, look for unique, individual and complex solutions to visual problems, demonstrate a willingness to explore several approaches to your work, and approach new and unfamiliar experiences with openness and curiosity. (Creative Process)
Explore the use of photography as a medium for self–expression and social commentary. Visit and respond to exhibitions on campus and in the surrounding community. Explore and reflect on a wide range of styles and themes in blog assignments. (Themes in Art, Civic and Cultural Engagement)
Examine and discuss the changing notions of boundaries in art and photography: issues of privacy and ethics, high vs. low art, “straight” photographers vs. compositors and individual notions of what is acceptable or offensive in art. (Analysis, Interpretation)
Develop a qualitative understanding of quantitative operations underlying issues of resolution, compression (e.g., lossy and lossless) file formats, pixel aspect ratios, color spaces, and the possibilities and limitations inherent in digital color management. (Quantitative)
Develop the ability to work collaboratively as a member of a team in group exercises and as an active participant during critiques and peer presentations.(Team and Collaborative Work)
Transition from defined assignments to independently driven work in order to develop conceptually sound and technically proficient final projects. (Capstone Experience, Planning, Communication)

Lightroom® and Photoshop® are registered trademarks of Adobe, Inc.