ART 314 DIGITAL IMAGING Syllabus Fall 2015 Instructor: Professor Sheli Petersen Office Hours: MW 10AM 1:30PM, M 3:30 5 PM, TuTh 11AM 12PM, AV Larson 021 Office Telephone: 402.872.2275 Email Address: SPetersen@peru.edu Course Meets: TuTh 3:30 4:45PM, AV Larson 114 Required Software: Photoshop Required Materials: Digital camera DSLR or Point-and-Shoot (suggestions: Nikon - D3200 DSLR Camera or Nikon - Coolpix S3600 20.0-Megapixel; Digital storage (one 16 or 32 gig thumb-drive and one back-up drive/computer). Course Description & Objectives Creation and manipulation of digital photographic images are covered in this course. Students will explore aesthetic principles in the still image through photographic and Photoshop techniques. Prerequisites: None Upon completion of this course you should be able to: Understand the digital image through approaches to landscape, portraiture, and documentary. Understand the preliminary process of creating an aesthetically strong digital image. Understand the basic principles of photography including exposure, depth of field, lighting, and composition. Successfully master Photoshop techniques demonstrated in class
Course Requirements Students are required to complete three projects and two field trips. Attendance and progress on digital images in class are essential to learning. You are expected to participate in all in-class discussions and critiques. Expectations & Instructional Approach Just as it is essential to read in order to become a strong writer, it is necessary to read visual language in order to become a strong image-maker. For part of your class participation, you will be required to evaluate various examples of contemporary and historical photography and digital imaging during in-class discussions. Students will explore various techniques and concepts in the still image. You will receive peer and instructor feed-back for all preliminary and final critiques. Students are responsible for learning the required the Photoshop techniques demonstrated in class. Technical issues regarding software will be addressed as they arise. Each project will include raw images, preliminary images, and final images. Meeting all deadlines for preliminary and final work is essential to learning. Preliminary and final work that is not ready at the start of class will be considered late, and will drop one letter grade each class period late. All images you create in this course must be entirely your own. Crediting appropriated images and as your own is plagiarism, and prohibited by the Peru State Academic Integrity Policy. In evaluating your work to determine the grade you earn, I will consider these factors: Have you completed all required work and handed it in on time? Is a solid understanding of basic image concepts evident in your completed projects? Does your work show imagination as well as conceptual understanding? Do you take risks? How hard do you work do you challenge yourself to the full measure of your abilities, or take the path of least resistance? How well have you mastered the materials and techniques? To earn an A, you must excel, which entails working beyond what is expected of good or average students, both quantitatively and qualitatively. To cultivate a positive environment conducive to learning, please join me in treating your classmates with respect. I encourage you to ask questions, seek my help when you need it, and help your classmates understand the material.
Digital Imaging Attendance and Participation Policy Attending ALL classes is extremely important for a student s performance in the course. If for any reason you are unable to attend a class, you should contact me via email or office phone (if I am not in, you may leave a message). At six absences, your final grade for the course will automatically drop one letter grade. If you miss a class critique for preliminary or final work, it is your responsibility to make arrangements to present your work to me as soon as you are able. You are responsible for all material covered, including classes you have missed. Class participation includes being on time for class; participating in class discussions and critiques; turning in all preliminary and final images on the scheduled due dates; and working quietly and intently during designated in-class work sessions. In-class use of all mobile devices is prohibited. To avoid risk of damaging the computers, food and drink are not allowed at the computers in the Graphic Design Lab. Assessment and Grading Project 1 Landscapes Exploration in Composition Black/White and Color images Raw images (20 pnts); Preliminary images Photoshop (20 pnts); Final images Photoshop (40 pnts) Project 2 Portraits Exploration in Lighting Traditional and expressive/psychological Raw images (20 pnts); Preliminary images Photoshop (20 pnts); Final images Photoshop (40 pnts) Project 3 Photo Documentaries Exploration in Narrative Raw images (30 pnts); Preliminary images and page designs Photoshop (40 pnts); Final images and page designs Photoshop (60 pnts) Class Participation (60 pnts) There are 350 points possible in the class Please Note: Your Grades, Feed-back on your projects, and Attendance will be posted on ART 314 Digital Imaging Black Board under the Grade Center.
Grading Scale for Determining Final Grade A 92-100 % B+ 87-91 B 82-86 C+ 77-81 C 72-76 D+ 67-71 D 60-66 F <60 ******************************************** College s Incomplete Coursework Policy To designate a student s work in a course as incomplete at the end of a term, the instructor records the incomplete grade (I). Students may receive this grade only when serious illness, hardship, death in the immediate family, or military service during the semester in which they are registered prevents them from completing course requirements. In addition, to receive an incomplete, a student must have completed substantially all of the course s major requirements. Unless extenuating circumstances dictate otherwise, students must initiate requests for an incomplete by filling out an Incomplete Grade Completion Contract, which requires the signature of the student, instructor, and Dean. The Incomplete Grade Completion contract cites the reason(s) for the incomplete and details the specific obligations the student must meet to change the incomplete to a letter grade. The date by which the student agrees to complete required work must appear in the contract. The Dean, the instructor, and the student receive signed copies of the Incomplete Grade Completion Contract. Even if the student does not attend Peru State College, all incomplete course work must be finished by the end of the subsequent semester. Unless the appropriate Dean approves an extension and if the student does not fulfill contract obligations in the allotted time, the incomplete grade automatically becomes an F. College s Academic Integrity Policy The College expects all students to conduct themselves in a manner that supports an honest assessment of student learning outcomes and the assignment of grades that appropriately reflect student performance. It is ultimately the student s responsibility to understand and comply with instructions regarding the completion of assignments, exams, and other academic activities. At a minimum, students should assume that at each assessment opportunity they are expected to do their own original academic work and/or clearly acknowledge in an appropriate fashion the intellectual work of others, when such contributions are allowed. Students helping others to circumvent honest assessments of learning outcomes, or who fail to report instances of academic dishonesty, are also subject to the sanctions defined in this policy.
Instances of academic dishonesty may be discovered in a variety of ways. Faculty members who assign written work ordinarily check citations for accuracy, run data base and online checks, and/or may simply recognize familiar passages that are not cited. They may observe students in the act of cheating or may become aware of instances of cheating from the statements of others. All persons who observe or otherwise know about instances of cheating are expected to report such instances to the proper instructor or Dean. In order to promote academic integrity, the College subscribes to an electronic service to review papers for the appropriate citations and originality. Key elements of submitted papers are stored electronically in a limited access database and thus become a permanent part of the material to which future submissions are compared. Submission of an application and continued enrollment signifies your permission for this use of your written work. Should an occurrence of academic misconduct occur, the faculty member may assign a failing grade for the assignment or a failing grade for the course. Each incident of academic misconduct should be reported to the Dean and the Vice President for Academic Affairs (VPAA). The VPAA may suspend for two semesters students found to be responsible for multiple instances of academic dishonesty. The reason for the suspension will be noted on the student s transcript. A faculty member need present only basic evidence of academic dishonesty. There is no requirement for proof of intent. Students are responsible for understanding these tenets of academic honesty and integrity. Students may appeal penalties for academic dishonesty using the process established for grades appeals. Title IX Compliance Notice Peru State is an equal opportunity institution. Peru State College does not discriminate against any student, employee or applicant on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, religion, or age in employment and education opportunities, including but not limited to admission decisions. The College has designated an individual to coordinate the College s nondiscrimination efforts to comply with regulations implementing Title VI, VII, IX, and Section 504. Inquiries regarding nondiscrimination policies and practices may be directed to Eulanda Cade, Director of Human Resources, Title VI, VII, IX Compliance Coordinator, Peru State, PO Box 10, Peru, NE 68421-0010, (402) 872-2230. Students requesting reasonable accommodation and tutoring services should contact the Center for Achievement and Transition Services (CATS). ********************************************
We will adhere to the schedule as much as possible. Any changes to the schedule or course content will be communicated to you in advance. SCHEDULE (SUBJECT TO CHANGE) Aug 25 Tues Introduction What is Photography and Digital Imaging? Camera Basics Understanding Exposure, Depth of Field, and Bracketing Aug 27 Thurs Understanding Light and Strong Composition Discussion: Historical and contemporary landscape photography Anselm Adams, Paul Strand, Andrew Borowiec, Ron McClure, et al Introduction: Project 1 Landscapes Exploration in Composition Black/White and Color images Sept 1 Tues Demonstration: Transferring Images for Editing in Photoshop, Understanding image size and resolution Photoshop Demonstration: Tools, Layers, Color Models, Magic and magnetic wand tools, Adjustment Layers Sept 3 Thurs Field Trip: Spring Creek Prairie Audubon Center, Denton, NE, 1:30 7pm Photographing landscape Sept 8 Tues Photoshop Demonstration: Selection options with Alpha Channels and Paths, Retouching tools
Sept 10 Thurs View: Ansel Adams Documentary Sept 15 Tues Landscapes raw and preliminary images DUE Critique Sept 17 Thurs Landscapes raw and preliminary images Critique Sept 22 Tues Discussion: Brief history of Photography and Digital Imaging Sept 24 Thurs Sept 29 Tues Introduction: Project 2 Portraits Exploration in Lighting Traditional and expressive/psychological Discussion: Historical and Contemporary Portraiture in Photography Richard Avedon, Sally Mann, Annie Leibovitz, Nan Goldin, Lou Jones, et al Oct 1 Thurs Photoshop Demonstration: Basic Portrait Retouching Oct 6 Tues Project 1 Landscapes Exploration in Composition Final images DUE Critique
Oct 8 Thurs Project 1 Landscapes Exploration in Composition Final images Critique Oct 13 Tues Oct 15 Thurs Discussion: Examples of Expressive/Psychological Portraiture in Photography & Digital Imaging Matt Mahurin, Shirin Neshat, et al Photoshop Demonstration: Painting, Collaging, and Creating digital textures with filters Oct 20 Tues Midterm Break No classes Oct 22 Thurs Introduction: Project 3 Photos Documentaries Exploration in Narrative Discussion: Contemporary and Historical Photojournalism Dorothea Lange, Sebastião Salgado, Walter Pickering, et al Oct 27 Tues Traditional and Expressive/Psychological Portraits raw and preliminary images DUE Critique Oct 29 Thurs Traditional and Expressive/Psychological Portraits raw and preliminary images Critique
Nov 3 Tues Field Trip: John Falter Museum, Falls City, NE 1:30-5:30pm Nov 5 Thurs Editing pictures to convey a consistent narrative Photoshop Demonstration: Type Tool, Striking the balance between expression and readability with type Nov 10 Tues Nov 12 Thurs View: Dorthea Lange documentary Nov 17 Tues Project 2 Portraits Exploration in Lighting DUE Critique Nov 19 Thurs Project 2 Portraits Exploration in Lighting Critique Nov 24 Tues Nov 26 Thurs Thanksgiving Break No classes Dec 1 Tues
Dec 3 Thurs Dec 8 Tues Photos Documentaries raw, preliminary images, and page designs DUE Critique Dec 10 Thurs Photos Documentaries raw, preliminary images, and page designs Critique Final Exam Day, Tues, Dec 15, 3:30 5:30pm Project 3 Photos Documentaries Exploration in Narrative DUE Critique