PHOT 251
© William Eggleston, Los Alamos, 2002, portfolio of 75 dye transfer prints in an edition of 7 published by Eggleston Artistic Trust
Photographers should not put pictures in a box under their beds and be the only ones to see them. If they put film in their cameras it presupposes that they want to record what they see and show somebody else. Photography is about communication.
- David Hurn, from The Picture Essay, a conversation between David Hurn and Bill Jay, published in On Being A Photographer : Bill Jay and David Hurn
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PHOT 251 | Personal Photographic Portfolio provides students the opportunity to further develop and refine their photographic practice with specific attention given to a heightened understanding of personal vision, aesthetic sensibility and refinement of technical skills. Over the course of the semester, students will develop a photographic portfolio project of personal interest that reveals their continued development and the maturation process from that of a “student photographer” to one of an emerging photographer. Students will explore the relationship of their own photographic practice, including conceptual development, aesthetic sensibilities and technical craft, in relationship to the issues and practices within both historical and contemporary photographic contexts as a means of their own development and critical thinking. Projects will include not only the development of a personal photographic portfolio, but also the possibilities of mounting of a class exhibition, site – specific installation, and/or class book|magazine publication.
Catalog Description
Photographers explore their subjects, like scientists, looking deeply within, seeking to peel back the layers of visual information, until the subject is revealed both to photographer and viewer. The resulting images are collectively gathered and presented as a portfolio. This course will allow the advanced student-photographer the opportunity to personally select subject matter that intrigues him/her. Through instructor guidance and class critiques, the student-photographer will explore, photograph and gather visual information–creating a completed portfolio of 15 – 20 finished images. The student-photographer will write an extensive proposal for the project, citing methods by which he/she will work, as well as write a concluding statement which will accompany the portfolio.
Prerequisite: “C” or “CR” grade or higher in ART 151 | PHOT 151 – Photography II or equivalent
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Student Learning Outcomes (SLO)
Demonstrate the ability to recognize and recall the critical issues and visual strategies of historical, modern and contemporary photographic thought within specialized genres of photographic practice.
Create photographs of creative expression that demonstrate the purposeful use of visual strategies that attempt to establish personal visual themes, ideas and concepts within the contexts of historical, modern and contemporary photographic practice.
Demonstrate application of photographic tools, materials and processes, including camera controls, image exposure and processing strategies, and photographic printing techniques.
Demonstrate application of proper laboratory practices necessary for making and presenting photographic images of optimum technical quality, craft and professional standards.
Demonstrate application of critical thinking practices in describing, interpreting and evaluating the use of photography as a means of effective creative expression and communication of personal vision.
Assessment Activity: Portfolio and Reflective Self-Assessment Essay
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Course Information and Links for PHOT 251 | Personal Photographic Portfolio
Click on link to locate information regarding assignments
Scroll down page for detailed semester calendar
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Critical Issues Responses | Presentations
Something Better, Or At Least Something Different
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Project Shooting Assignments
2 – In Sight – Developing A Personal Photographic Vision
3 – The Road Ahead
Final Project
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Spring 2010 Calendar
Mondays and Wednesdays – 7:00 to 9:50 pm
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Assignment Due Dates are listed in ORANGE
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1 | 25 – Monday
Introduction to course, discussion of syllabus, course expectations and use of course website
Discussion on Lens Culture in the Public Eye, Documentary Photographic Practice and Developing A Personal Vision
1 | 27 – Wednesday
Review Discussion of Photographic Seeing, including Beyond The Surface | Thinking About Photographs (Discussions) and Seeing Photographs (Discussions)
Review Discussion of the Digital Photography Workflow from Image Capturing, Image Editing and Optimization to Output (Lecture Materials), including the following:
Digital Image Capture | Input – Principles of Scanning and Digital Cameras
Digital Image Workflow, Processing and Management
Developing A Working Process (Discussions)
Adobe Photoshop and Image Optimization
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Presentation | Discussion on Why People Photograph (Shooting Assignment)
Presentation | Discussion on In Sight – Developing A Personal Photographic Vision (Project Shooting Assignment)
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2 | 1 – Monday
Darkroom (Film Processing Only) and Digital Lab
2 | 3 – Wednesday
Darkroom and Digital Labs
2 | 5 – Friday
Census Day – Last Day to Drop without a “W” appearing on Academic Record
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2 | 8 – Monday
Darkroom and Digital Labs
2 | 10 – Wednesday
Critique of Shooting Assignment | Why People Photograph
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2 | 15 – Monday
No Class | School Holiday (President’s Day)
2 | 17 – Wednesday
Darkroom and Digital Labs
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2 | 22 – Monday
Darkroom and Digital Labs
2 | 24 – Wednesday
Darkroom and Digital Labs
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3 | 1 – Monday
Darkroom and Digital Labs
3 | 3 – Wednesday
Darkroom and Digital Labs
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3 | 8 – Monday
Presentation | Discussion on The Road Ahead (Project Shooting Assignment)
3 | 10 – Wednesday
Darkroom and Digital Labs
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3 | 15 – Monday
Darkroom and Digital Labs
3 | 17 – Wednesday
Critique of Project Shooting Assignment | In Sight – Developing A Personal Photographic Vision
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3 | 22 – Monday
Discussion on Critical Issues Presentation | Something Better, Or At Least Something Different
Darkroom and Digital Labs
3 | 24 – Wednesday
Presentation | Discussion on The Photographic Portfolio (Final Project Assignment)
Darkroom and Digital Labs
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3 | 29 – Monday
No Class | School Holiday (Spring Recess)
3 | 31 – Wednesday
No Class | School Holiday (Spring Recess)
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4 | 5 – Monday
Darkroom and Digital Labs
4 | 7 – Wednesday
Darkroom and Digital Labs
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4 | 12 – Monday
Darkroom and Digital Labs
4 | 14 – Wednesday
Darkroom and Digital Labs
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4 | 19 – Monday
Darkroom and Digital Labs
4 | 21 – Wednesday
Critique of Project Shooting Assignment | The Road Ahead
Darkroom and Digital Labs
4 | 23 – Friday
Last Day to Drop with a “W” appearing on Academic Record
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4 | 26 – Monday
Darkroom and Digital Labs
4 | 28 – Wednesday
Critical Issues Presentation | Something Better, Or At Least Something Different
Darkroom and Digital Labs
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5 | 3 – Monday
Darkroom and Digital Labs
5 | 5 – Wednesday
Darkroom and Digital Labs
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5 | 10 – Monday
Darkroom and Digital Labs
5 | 12 – Wednesday
Darkroom and Digital Labs
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5 | 17 – Monday
Final Project Presentation | The Photographic Portfolio
5 | 19 – Wednesday
Final Project Presentation | The Photographic Portfolio
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5 | 24 – Monday
Scheduled from 8:00 – 10:00 pm
Final Project Presentation | The Photographic Portfolio
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Curriculum Evaluation
Your final grade will be determined by a culmination of points earned based on your performance with the below listed curriculum assignments. Questions regarding curriculum assignment grades and/or the final grade must be brought to the attention of the instructor. To provide equitable instruction for all students while during class hours, please ask questions regarding your grade during instructor office hours or after class.
Participation and In-class Lab Practice ………………..150………(30 class sessions @ 5 pts each : 1 | 27 – 5 | 19)
Critical Issues Presentation ……………………….…..100
Shooting Assignment #1………………………….…….…60
Shooting Assignment #2…………………………………100
Shooting Assignment #3…………………………………100
Final Project……………………………………………….300
………………………………………………………….….810
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Final Grading
Your overall final grading based on points earned will be representative as follows:
A………..810 – 725
B ………..724 – 644
C ………..643 – 563
D ………..562 – 482
F ………..481 – 0
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