PHOT 150
PHOT 150 – Introduction to Photography examines the nature of photography and visual literacy through the personal exploration and making of photographic images as well as the critical discourse of photography’s role and function in society and culture. The primary focus of the course will be to engage in photographic practice as a means to respond subjectively as well as objectively to the conceptual and aesthetic experiences of the photographic image as a visual document of creative expression and communication. Historical and contemporary photographic works from the contexts of the family album, art photography, commercial / advertising photography, photography and media, and cyberspace will be examined and discussed to further cultivate and refine each students’ visual literacy of the photographic image.
Using these discussions as a jumping-off point to create an inspiring and thought-provoking forum, you’ll engage these critical considerations within the development of your own photographic practice. As the primary focus of the course is to create photographic work that challenges your conventions of what photography may be for yourself, we’ll spend considerable time and attention making and talking about your own photographs. This will include instruction on the use of the camera and the possibilities of various image capture devices; image processing with Adobe Photoshop; developing your photographic print making craft in the digital photography environment as well as an introduction to the analog (film) darkroom and photographic studio environment..
Appropriate for students without prior photographic experience.
You will need to have access to a digital camera. Camera phones, digital point and shoot cameras as well as digital SLR’s (single-lens reflex) cameras are all appropriate options to use for assignments and projects. The Grossmont College Photography Program provides a limited selection of digital point and shoot cameras and digital SLR’s that can be checked for use on the weekends starting the third week of the semester. Positive daily attendance to each class session is required.
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Catalog Description
An introductory course that examines the nature of photography and visual literacy through the personal exploration and making of photographic images with various image-making devices, including the use of Adobe Photoshop as well as an introduction to an analog (film) darkroom and photographic studio environment. The primary focus of the course will be to engage in photographic practice as a means to respond subjectively as well as objectively to the conceptual and aesthetic experiences of the photographic image as a visual document of creative expression and communication. Historical and contemporary photographic works from the contexts of the family album, art photography, commercial / advertising photography, photography and media, and cyberspace will be examined and critically discussed to further cultivate and refine each students’ visual literacy of the photographic image in society and culture. Any type of lens-based, image-making device including smart phones, digital point-and-shoot cameras, and digital SLR’s can be used.
Satisfies Grossmont GE – Area C requirements.
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Student Learning Outcomes (SLO)
Create photographs of creative expression that demonstrate the purposeful use of photography’s aesthetic attributes for an effective communication of personal vision, including the use of light, compositional organization, photographic description, emphasis and moments of exposure.
Demonstrate application of photographic tools, materials and processes, including camera controls, image exposure and processing.
Demonstrate application of proper laboratory practices necessary for making and presenting photographic prints 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 Curriculum Links for PHOT 150 – Introduction to Photography
Scroll down page for detailed semester calendar and click on link to locate information regarding curriculum activities and assignments. Due dates for the completion of the critical inquiry, project assignments and final project are in red.
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Possible Curriculum Activities
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Final Quiz | Exam
Beyond The Surface | Thinking About Photographs
Light, Film and Exposure
Digital Image Workflow, Processing and Management
Adobe Photoshop and Basic Image Optimization
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Working Process | Image-Making Assignments
Working Process and Daily In-Class Lab Discussion | Practice
2 – The Camera I
5 – The Quiet and The Loud Photograph
6 – The List
7 – Where You Live
8 – Inside The Digital Vault or Family Album
9 – Spectacle of the Gaze or Points of View
10 – Analog Capture/Darkroom/Photographic Studio, including possible assignments
Pinhole Camera Construction & Image Processing in Darkroom
The 35mm SLR Film Camera & Introduction to Printing in a Darkroom
Portraiture and an Introduction to the Photographic Studio
The Photographic Portfolio Book
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Final Project
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PHOT 150 Spring 2019 Calendar
Section 8609 | Tuesdays and Thursdays – 9:30 am to 12:20 pm
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1 | 28 – Tuesday – 1
Discussion on How Did You Learn Photography? and Why People (Including Yourself) Photograph
Introduction to course, discussion of syllabus, course expectations and use of course website
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1 | 30 – Thursday – 2
Presentation | Discussion of Photographic Seeing, including Beyond The Surface | Thinking About Photographs | Seeing Photographs
Discussion of The Camera and The Lens | The Digital Camera (bring digital image-making device to class)
Discussion of Smart Phone Cameras and Apps | VSCO
Review of Digital Cameras Available | Digital Photography Review – http://dpreview.com
Presentation | Discussion of Image-Making Assignment | Why People Photograph
Working Process and Daily In-Class Lab Discussion | Practice
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2 | 5 – Tuesday – 3
Discussion on How AI is Changing Photography
Discussion on Adobe Creative Cloud Photography for Students
Discussion | Demonstration on Digital Image Workflow, Processing and Management – Adobe Bridge | Photoshop
Digital Lab
Working Process and Daily In-Class Lab Discussion | Practice
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2 | 7 – Thursday – 4
Review Discussion on Digital Image Workflow, Processing and Management – Adobe Bridge | Photoshop
Discussion on Digital Photographic Printing
Discussion on Developing A Working Process
Discussion | Demonstration on Making Digital Contact Sheets with Adobe Photoshop
Digital Lab
Review Presentation | Discussion of Image-Making Assignment | Why People Photograph
Working Process and Daily In-Class Lab Discussion | Practice
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2 | 8 – Friday
Census Day – Last Day to Drop without a “W” appearing on Academic Record
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2 | 12 – Tuesday – 5
Discussion | Demonstration on Adobe Photoshop and Basic Image Optimization
Digital Lab
Working Process and Daily In-Class Lab Discussion | Practice
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2 | 14 – Thursday – 6
Review Discussion | Demonstration on Adobe Photoshop and Basic Image Optimization
Presentation | Discussion of Image-Making Assignment | The Camera I
Presentation | Discussion of Image-Making Assignment | Proof of Existence
Digital Lab
Working Process and Daily In-Class Lab Discussion | Practice
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2 | 19 – Tuesday – 7
Review Discussion | Demonstration on Adobe Photoshop and Basic Image Optimization
Contact Sheet Review | The Camera I and Proof of Existence
Digital Lab
Working Process and Daily In-Class Lab Discussion | Practice
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2 | 21 – Thursday – 8
Contact Sheet Review | The Camera I and Proof of Existence
Presentation | Discussion of Image-Making Assignment | Into The Distance
Digital Lab
Working Process and Daily In-Class Lab Discussion | Practice
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2 | 26 – Tuesday – 9
Contact Sheet Review | The Camera I and Proof of Existence
Digital Lab
Working Process and Daily In-Class Lab Discussion | Practice
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2 | 28 – Thursday – 10
Presentation | Discussion of Image-Making Assignment | The Quiet and The Loud Photograph
Digital Lab
Image-Making Assignments Due | The Camera I and Proof of Existence
Working Process and Daily In-Class Lab Discussion | Practice
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3 | 5 – Tuesday – 11
Contact Sheet Review | Into The Distance and The Quiet and The Loud Photograph
Digital Lab
Working Process and Daily In-Class Lab Discussion | Practice
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3 | 7 – Thursday – 12
Contact Sheet Review | Into The Distance and The Quiet and The Loud Photograph
Digital Lab
Image-Making Assignments Due | Into The Distance and The Quiet and The Loud Photograph
Working Process and Daily In-Class Lab Discussion | Practice
Presentation | Discussion of The Art of Color
Presentation | Discussion of Image-Making Assignment | The List
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3 | 12 – Tuesday – 13
Contact Sheet Review | Into The Distance and The Quiet and The Loud Photograph
Digital Lab
Presentation | Discussion of The Art of Color
Working Process and Daily In-Class Lab Discussion | Practice
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3 | 14 – Thursday – 14
Contact Sheet Review | The List
Presentation | Discussion of As Though The Blue and The Sky Were One Thing
Presentation | Discussion of Pioneers of Color Photography – Shore | Meyerowitz | Eggleston
Image-Making Assignments Due | Into The Distance and The Quiet and The Loud Photograph
Digital Lab
Working Process and Daily In-Class Lab Discussion | Practice
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3 | 19 – Tuesday – 15
Contact Sheet Review | The List
Presentation | Discussion of Starburst – The New Color Photography
Digital Lab
Working Process and Daily In-Class Lab Discussion | Practice
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3 | 21 – Thursday – 16
Presentation | Discussion of Contemporary Color Photographers
Presentation | Discussion of Image-Making Assignment | Where You Live
Digital Lab
Working Process and Daily In-Class Lab Discussion | Practice
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3 | 26 – Tuesday
No Class | Spring Recess
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3 | 28 – Thursday
No Class | Spring Recess
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4 | 2 – Tuesday – 17
Presentation | Discussion of Image-Making Assignment | The Photographic Portfolio Book
Hollander’s Paper and Bookbinding Supplies
Contact Sheet Review | The List
Digital Lab
Working Process and Daily In-Class Lab Discussion | Practice
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4 | 4 – Thursday – 18
Critique and Turn-In | The List
Digital Lab
Working Process and Daily In-Class Lab Discussion | Practice
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4 | 9 – Tuesday – 19
Contact Sheet Review | Where You Live
Digital Lab
Working Process and Daily In-Class Lab Discussion | Practice
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4 | 11 – Thursday – 20
Presentation | Discussion of Image-Making Assignment | Inside The Digital Vault and Family Album
Contact Sheet Review | Where You Live
Digital Lab
Working Process and Daily In-Class Lab Discussion | Practice
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4 | 16 – Tuesday – 21
Contact Sheet Review | Where You Live
Critique and Turn-In | Where You Live
Digital Lab
Working Process and Daily In-Class Lab Discussion | Practice
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4 | 18 – Thursday – 22
Presentation | Discussion of Image-Making Assignment | Points of View
Discussion of Considering How Photography is Easy, Photography is Difficult
Presentation | Discussion of Image-Making Assignment | The Portfolio
Digital Lab
Working Process and Daily In-Class Lab Discussion | Practice
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4 | 23 – Tuesday – 23
Demonstration of Image-Making Assignment | Inside The Digital Vault and Family Album
Digital Lab
Working Process and Daily In-Class Lab Discussion | Practice
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4 | 25 – Thursday – 24
In-class Lab Practice of Image-Making Assignment | Inside The Digital Vault and Family Album
In-class Lab Practice of Image-Making Assignment | Points of View
Digital Lab
Working Process and Daily In-Class Lab Discussion | Practice
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4 | 26 – Friday
Last Day to Drop with a “W” appearing on Academic Record
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4 | 30 – Tuesday – 25
In-class Lab Practice of Image-Making Assignment | Inside The Digital Vault and Family Album
In-class Lab Practice of Image-Making Assignment | Points of View
Digital Lab
Working Process and Daily In-Class Lab Discussion | Practice
Critique and Turn-In | Inside The Digital Vault and Points of View
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5 | 2 – Thursday – 26
Contact Sheet Review | The Portfolio
In-class Lab Practice of Image-Making Assignment | The Portfolio
Digital Lab
Working Process and Daily In-Class Lab Discussion | Practice
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5 | 7 – Tuesday – 27
Contact Sheet Review | The Portfolio
In-class Lab Practice of Image-Making Assignment | The Portfolio
Digital Lab
Working Process and Daily In-Class Lab Discussion | Practice
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5 | 9 – Thursday – 28
In-class Lab Practice of Image-Making Assignment | The Photographic Portfolio Book
One-on-One Individual Critique | Work Completed and Being Considered towards The Portfolio
Digital Lab
Working Process and Daily In-Class Lab Discussion | Practice
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5 | 14 – Tuesday – 29
In-class Lab Practice of Image-Making Assignment | The Photographic Portfolio Book
One-on-One Individual Critique | Work Completed and Being Considered towards The Portfolio
Digital Lab
Working Process and Daily In-Class Lab Discussion | Practice
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5 | 16 – Thursday – 30
In-class Lab Practice of Image-Making Assignment | The Photographic Portfolio Book
One-on-One Individual Critique | Work Completed and Being Considered towards The Portfolio
Digital Lab
Working Process and Daily In-Class Lab Discussion | Practice
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5 | 21 – Tuesday – 31
In-class Lab Practice of Image-Making Assignment | The Photographic Portfolio Book
One-on-One Individual Critique | Work Completed and Being Considered towards The Portfolio
Digital Lab
Working Process and Daily In-Class Lab Discussion | Practice
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5 | 23 – Thursday – 32
Digital Lab
Working Process and Daily In-Class Lab Discussion | Practice
Turn-In Final Project | The Portfolio
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5 | 28 – Tuesday – 33 | Scheduled from 9:25 am – 11:25 am
Working Process and Daily In-Class Lab Discussion | Practice
Presentation of Final Project | The Portfolio
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5 | 30 – Thursday
No Class
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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.
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490 – Working Process and Daily In-Class Lab Participation | Practice (1 – 32 @ 15 pts & 33 @ 10 pts)
.N/A – Image-Making Assignment #1 | Why People Photograph – evaluated as Working Process and Daily In-Class Lab Discussion | Practice
..40 – Image-Making Assignment #2 & #3 | The Camera I and Proof of Existence
..40 – Image-Making Assignment #4 | Into The Distance
..40 – Image-Making Assignment #5 | The Quiet and The Loud Photograph
..40 – Image-Making Assignment #6 | The List
..40 – Image-Making Assignment #7 | Where You Live
..40 – Image-Making Assignment #8 | Inside The Digital Vault
..40 – Image-Making Assignment #9 | Spectacle of the Gaze or Points of View
..40 – Image-Making Assignment #10 | The Photographic Portfolio Book
..40 – Final Quiz
650 – Final Project | The Portfolio
1500
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Final Grading
Your overall final grading based on points earned will be representative as follows:
A…(100% – 93%) ……..1500 – 1387
A-.. (92% – 90%) ………1386 – 1342
B+..(89% – 87%) ………1341 – 1297
B… (86% – 83%) ………1296 – 1237
B-.. (82% – 80%) ………1236 – 1192
C+..(79% – 77%) ………1191 – 1147
C… (76% – 70%) ………1146 – 1042
D… (69% – 60%) ………1041 – 892
F… (59% and less) ….…891 – 0
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A Photo Teacher | 