DEPARTMENT OF PHOTOGRAPHY COURSE TITLE: INTRODUCTION TO DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY COURSE CODE: DIPHID180 3 Semester Credits 1. DESCRIPTION This course introduces contemporary technologies for producing photographic images. Approaching the medium in its current complex and pluralistic state, students explore a variety of photographic concepts and techniques. The fundamentals of using a digital camera including manual exposure and lighting are stressed. The course also introduces seeing, thinking, and creating with a critical mind and eye in a foreign environment (Italy) to provide understanding of the construction and manipulation of photographic form and meaning., lectures, readings and excursions progressively build on each other to provide students with a comprehensive overview of both the history of the medium and its contemporary practice. Color correction, retouching, and compositing techniques are covered and complemented by further development of digital capture and printing techniques. This class includes experiential learning with CEMI. 2. OBJECTIVES By the successful completion of the course, students will gain proficiency in taking, editing and printing digital images. Students will develop their photographing skills with special attention to formal and compositional elements in an image. Students will also became familiar with the technique as the course will introduce them to the history of photography. 3. REQUIREMENTS There are no prerequisites for this course. 4. METHOD The method used will be experimental by means of theoretical lectures, magazine and book readings, class discussions, slide shows, simulations, demonstrations with student practice, lighting demonstrations, outdoor shooting sessions, guided problem solving, on-site visits, direct interaction with subjects for assignments, participation in special projects, group critique of the student s shooting. This course requires that students participate in class discussions. This means that students contribute to class discussions by relating their experiences, asking questions, and making comments appropriate to the topics being discussed. Students will be assigned readings in the textbook which will be discussed during a given class period. In order for the discussions to be meaningful, each student must come to class fully prepared to discuss the assigned reading and to make comments. Since participation plays a role in the final grade, it is essential that students have not only read the assignment, but have drawn conclusions from the reading. Students will be required to work out of the scheduled class in order to accomplish given assignments. Every student is requested to tidy up the photo studio at the end of every lesson before leaving and to cooperate with the planning and arrangement of the shooting sessions.
This course is based on experiential learning through our academic components at Corridoio Fiorentino and the many events which are part of our curriculum. This course includes hours of experiential learning with our Community Engagement Member Institutions (CEMI). 5. TEXT BOOK FURTHER READINGS RESOURCES TEXT BOOK: Freeman Michael, The Complete Guide to Digital Photography, ILEX; 2 edition (2012) ISBN-10: 1781570000 ISBN-13: 978-1781570005 The text book is mandatory for successful completion of the course and is also available for consultation at the FUA library. Where applicable, additional materials, handouts and/or notes will be provided by the instructor. FURTHER READINGS: (Books listed below are available in the FUA library) Robert Adams, Why people Photograph, Aperture; (2005) ISBN-10: 0893816035 ISBN-13: 978-0893816032 Description: A now classic text on the art, Why People Photograph gathers a selection of essays by the great master photographer Robert Adams, tackling such diverse subjects as collectors, humor, teaching, money and dogs. Adams also writes brilliantly on Edward Weston, Paul Strand, Laura Gilpin, Judith Joy Ross, Susan Meiselas, Michael Schmidt, Ansel Adams, Dorothea Lange and Eugène Atget. The book closes with two essays on "working conditions" in the nineteenth- and twentieth-century American West, and the essay "Two Landscapes." Adams writes: "At our best and most fortunate we make pictures because of what stands in front of the camera, to honor what is greater and more interesting than we are." LIBRARIES IN FLORENCE The FUA library is located in Corso Tintori 21. Please consult the posted schedules for official opening times. Also note that the library is for consultation only and it is not possible to borrow materials. The library is equipped with a scanner and internet access so that you may save or email a digital copy of the pages needed. Students are also encouraged to take advantage of Florence s libraries and research centers: Biblioteca Palagio di Parte Guelfa Located in Piazzetta di Parte Guelfa between Piazza della Repubblica and Ponte Vecchio. Please consult the library website for hours of operation: http://www.biblioteche.comune.fi.it/biblioteca_palagio_di_parte_guelfa/ Biblioteca delle Oblate Located in via dell'oriuolo 26. Please consult the library website for hours of operation: www.bibliotecadelleoblate.it The Harold Acton Library at the British Institute of Florence Located in Lungarno Guicciardini 9. Please consult the library website for hours of operation and student (fee-based) membership information: www.britishinstitute.it/en 6. FIELD LEARNING This course does not include a field learning activity. 7. COURSE MATERIALS A DSLR camera and a lens with a focal length of 55mm or wider is required for this course. A
digital 35mm viewfinder camera (20+ megapixels minimum) is also acceptable. All students are required to use a personal grey card for color management. The grey card and other materials for the course will be provided by the school and covered by the lab fee. No digital cameras are available on loan. Technical equipment may be purchased at the following: Bongi (Via Por Santa Maria 82/R a discount card can be requested at the front desk), Foto Ottica Fontani (Viale Strozzi 18,Firenze), Il Fotoamatore (Via Caduti di Cefalonia 98, Firenze), Toscana Foto Service (Via delponte all Asse 2, Osmannoro Sesto Fiorentino), Tuttofoto (Galleria Di Vittorio 39/41, CampiBisenzio). Computer equipment and storage devices may be eventually bought at Apple Store (Centro Commerciale I Gigli, Via San Quirico 165, Campi Bisenzio), DATA Port (Via Frà Giovanni Angelico 6, 50121 Firenze), Essedi Computer (Via Datini 9/R, Firenze). Should students wish to store materials or equipment, lockers are available with a 10 Euro deposit (given back after returning the key). 8. COURSE FEES Course fees cover course-related field learning activities, visits, and support the instructor's teaching methodologies. Book costs are not included in the course fee. The exact amount will be communicated by the instructor on the first day of class. In addition students may be required to leave a deposit for equipment that will be loaned to them during the semester. The deposit will be returned at the end of the course, provided the equipment has been returned in the same condition it was loaned. 9. EVALUATION GRADING SYSTEM 10% Attendance 10% Class participation 10% Improvement 20% Midterm Exam 15% 35% Final Exam Grading Scale A = 93-100 %, A- = 90-92%, B+= 87-89%, B = 83-86%, B-=80-82%, C+ = 77-79%, C=73-76%, C-=70-72%, D = 60-69%, F= 0-59%, W = Official Withdrawal, W/F = Failure to withdraw by the designated date. 10. ATTENDANCE PARTICIPATION Academic integrity and mutual respect between instructor and student are central to the FUA academic policy and reflected in the attendance regulations. Student presence is mandatory and counts toward the final grade. On the second absence the attendance and participation grade will be impacted. Please note that missing certain field learning activities may count for more than one absence. On the third absence the instructor may lower the final grade by one letter grade. (Example: Final grade average of 93% or A will become a B). The fourth absence constitutes automatic failure of the course. Students with excessive absences will be asked to withdraw with a W (if before the deadline) or leave the course with a WF.
Late Arrival and Early Departure Arriving late or departing early from class is not acceptable. Two late arrivals or early departures or a combination will result in an unexcused absence. Travel is not an exceptional circumstance. Travel (or delays due to travel) is NEVER an excuse for absence from class. It is always the student's responsibility to know how many absences he or she has in a course. If in doubt, speak with your instructor! Participation: Satisfactory participation will be the result of contributing to class discussions by putting forth insightful and constructive questions, comments and observations. Overall effort, cooperation during group work and in-class activities, responsible behavior, and completion of assignments will be assessed. 11. EXAMS PAPERS PROJECTS : As every professional photographer knows, the importance of being on time and ready with a coherent body of work is part of the job. In our class, being on schedule with the homework will be every student's must. No excuses will be accepted, the students are responsible for the efficiency of their own photographic equipment (lenses, batteries). The completion of all the assignments counts as 15% of the course grade. Students will be evaluated by collective and individual critiques given throughout the semester. The grading of the assignments will be divided into 100 points across assignments. The assignments (3 inclusive of the final project, whose issue will be proposed by the students) have been thought to push the students toward a deeper and daring knowledge of Firenze. The making of all of them will imply a research on the place and for a certain time, the analysis of famous photographers projects and readings, either recommended by the instructor. Each assignment will be explained during the class and will consist in a series of 5 to 10 selected pictures. The Midterm exam accounts for 20% of the final course grade. For exam time and date refer to course website. The time and date of the exam cannot be changed for any reason. Format: the review is divided in two sections. Part I critique. Two printed assignments ( 1 and 2) consisting in a series of 5 to 10 photographic A4 size enlargements each given by the professor will be critically reviewed in class. Part II Written exam. Ten questions on photo-technique related topics. Each perfect answer will give 3 points, summing up to 30 points in case of 10 perfect answers. The Final exam accounts for 35% of the final course grade. For exam time and date refer to course website. The time and date of the exam cannot be changed for any reason. Format: the exam is divided in two sections. Part I The final critique of a personal project chosen by the student (a series of 10 prints) will count 70% of the final exam. The series of pictures has to be a coherent body of work with a specific topic. No single pictures will be accepted. Part II A final portfolio review of the best photos taken during the course (6 prints) will count 30% of the final exam. The student will present all the selected pictures of the Final project and the given assignments in digital version in a Slide-show or video presentation.
12. LESSONS Lesson 1 Readings Lesson 2 Readings/Video Lesson 3 Lesson 4 Critique Lesson 5 Course introduction and presentation. Syllabus presentation and materials used during the course. Information on assignments and exam. What is Photography. How the camera works. Basic rules. How to set up your workstation 1st. Handout about technique /Outdoor Theory: how to use the camera with manual setting. Exposure, Light and Shadows. Choose your exposure technique. Handling your camera, Aperture/Shutter. Adobe Bridge Introduction. How to Archive your Photos. File formats, Raw, Jpeg, Tiff. Introduction to Adobe Bridge/Camera Raw. Adobe Photoshop Introduction: Basic techniques (levels, curves, color balance). 1st assignment review. Contacts: Henry Cartier Bresson /Outdoor. Theory: Depth of Field. Adobe Photoshop Introduction. Dodging and burning. 1st assignment final critique. ISO, understanding your camera menu. 1 st assignment final critique. Adobe Photoshop Introduction: Color balance 2nd assignment. Composition how to balance your photos. Introduction to the digital printing process, print your 1 st assignment photo selection. 2nd assignment review. Lesson 6
Photographers and painters. Why photographers are influenced by different forms of expressions. Editing/Printing 2nd assignment final critique Lesson 7 Exam Mid Term Exam: 1st part: technical test (10 questions about technique) 2nd part: 1st and 2nd assignment critique. Brief introduction of the 3rd assignment 3rd assignment due by lesson 10 Lesson 8 Lesson 9 Review Lesson 10 Reading Lesson 11 Demo Lesson 12 Lesson 13 ing Academic Break 3 rd assignment review. Adobe Photoshop: How to improve your photoshop techniques. 3 rd assignment In class/outdoor 1955 Robert Frank application for The Americans : an example of how to present a project. 3 rd assignment review. Understanding how to select and sequence your photos. Editing/Printing Final Project: introduction and round table discussion. Final Project. Final portfolio pictures editing/retouching. Printing. Individual meeting Final portfolio printing and retouching.
Lesson 14 ing Lesson 15 Exam Editing and printing for the final review. Final portfolio printing and retouching. Final Critique (a project consisting of printed images from each single assignment and a written presentation)