Welcome to the Photo 111, Introduction to Digital Media class for Fall 2012.
This is the site where all assignments will be posted as well as any other important class news and information. You might want to check this site regularly.
Everyone in this class will need to create a blog and link back to this class site. This is where you will post all assignments and receive comments back on your work. So the first thing you need to do is create a Google Blogspot.
Please make sure you have given me your blogspot address before you leave our first class. You will need to post your first assignment for a grade.
PHO 111 Introduction to Digital Media
COURSE SYLLABUS: Fall 2012
Teaching Assistant: Ginger Cook
o/
WTFA-225
Office
Hours:
by Appointment
c/
903.272.5469
e/
gcook2@leo.tamu-commerce.edu
COURSE INFORMATION
Materials –
Textbooks, Readings, Supplementary Readings:
Due to the rising cost of photo textbooks
that are outdated by the time of publication, there is no mandatory text.
Instead of a textbook, it is recommended that students get a Lynda.com account,
an online tutorial for software and photographic information.
Textbooks Optional:
Adobe Photoshop CS5 Classroom in a Book, Adobe Creative Team
The Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Book: The Complete Guide for
Photographers, Martin Evening
Design Basics, David Lauer, Stephen
Pentak
Course Description:
Introduction
to Digital Media (IDM) is an intensive semester-long course in which you will
learn the technical and conceptual tools to understand the basics of digital
media as well as begin to learn the language of the visual narrative. You will
begin to explore the photographic fundamentals of composition and lighting.
In
this class you will build a blog as a means of communicating and presenting
your work to a wide audience.
Student Learning Outcomes:
At the conclusion of this course
students should be able to demonstrate the following:
· editing and archiving digital files using digital asset management
software
· how to make color correct inkjet prints by using technical software
· an understanding of the photographic vocabulary
· how to analyze and interpret photographic images
· effective critique by participation in critical evaluation regarding
your own work and the work of others
· have an understanding of professional presentation
· have submitted a weekly blog of commentary and assignments
· have entered photographs in no less than two (2) competitive contests
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
Instructional / Methods /
Activities Assessments
This
course will consist of a series photographic assignments and excises to assist
you in achieving the objectives of this course. Each week you will work on
various combinations of shooting, blogging, and participating in critiques and
discussions.
This
will be a fun learning experience so please bring your energy and enthusiasm
and a willingness to share into this class.
It is important to attend class, keep your blog up to date, and turn in
your assignments on time.
Each
week you are expected to add one to two entries as well as posting your
assignments into the blog. In addition to submitting your work on the blog, you
will also be asked to submit photographs as matted prints. You will be graded
on the quality and content of the images, as well as the quality and execution
of the presentation.
Your
final project will consist of a blog which includes all of your assignments and
projects. Additionally, you will present a series of matted photographs for the
final critique.
Students will receive a numerical grade that will be determined by
performance on critiques, exercises, quizzes, blog site, class and lab
participation. These will be added up at the end of the semester and 100% of
the total amount will be averaged for the semester’s final grade. All
assessments, attendance, etc will count a total of 100 points each with the
exception being Final Review. The Final Review will receive three grades in
each of the following categories: Creativity, Technique, and Presentation and
each will count a total of 100 points. At the end of the semester all the
grades will be averaged and the following scale will be used:
A = 100-90, B = 89- 80, C = 79-70, D = 69-60 and F = 59 to 0.
Your final grade will be derived from the following
sources:
1. Class Participation:
The way you conduct yourself in class is extremely important. You
should come to lectures and labs with questions from the assigned reading. Notes
taking during lectures and labs is essential. During critiques it is important
to express your thoughts and feelings about the photographs being presented.
2. Lab Participation:
Labs will generally be devoted to learning software and inkjet
printing.
3. Assignments and Exercises:
You will have weekly visual assignments that are graded on how well the
specific problems have been solved. Each assignment, unless otherwise noted,
will be given a numerical grade.
Remember your work must be well-crafted and it must be about something
more than being just a "pretty" picture.
You will be expected to post at least once a week to your blog plus
post all of your assignments to the blog.
5. Contest Participation:
Every student is required to enter work to no less than 2
contests.
6. Final Project:
Students will submit a final project that will consist of matted prints
from both new work and past assignments.
Please make an appointment to see me before mid-term and finals
to individually go over your grades and your progress in the class.
TECHNOLOGY REQUIREMENTS
Students will have access to a
Macintosh OS X computer and print lab equipment with all the software needed to
complete photographic assignments and exercises.
Students will need to provide the
following:
· 35 mm camera with a minimum of 10
mega pixels and media card.
Note: Find the
instruction manual and read it / make sure that the camera is in good working
order. Cameras are available from the 3rd Floor of Journalism Check-Out for student's use.
· 500GB external hard drive / two hard drives would be better
· Inkjet Paper/ some paper will be provided
· Notebook/ All students will be responsible
for notes on ALL information given during class and lab time.
COMMUNICATION AND SUPPORT
Interaction with Instructor
Statement:
Please contact me through email. Appointments are
encouraged
Office Hours: Mondays/Wednesdays
3:00pm to 5:00 pm
COURSE AND UNIVERSITY PROCEDURES/POLICIES
Course Specific Procedures:
Procedures & Policies for Submission of assignments
A.
Due Date: All assignments and
exercises are due on the date and time given by the instructor. Any work that
is late will be reduced by 10 points for each class period it is late. All work
handed in after critique will be considered late, including partially completed
assignments. It is your responsibility to inform the instructor of any problems
that might make a project late well before the due date. Five minutes before
class is not good enough. If the work is not turned in by the fourth class
period, the student will be given an "F" for that assignment. It is
the student's responsibility to turn the work in; I will not ask for it or
track you down.
Note: All images must have been
shot, processed and printed this semester for this class only.
B. Print Submission: All work must be from files that were produced
during this semester. No images from
previous classes can be submitted. All
photographs will be printed on 8 X 10 or larger inkjet paper and presented in a
professional manner. Work must be handed in at the beginning of the critique
designated for that particular assignment to be counted “on time”.
Note: An incomplete grade may be granted if a student has some difficulty
working on an assignment. The student must inform the instructor of the
difficulty before the due date of the assignment to discuss the problem. More
than 60% of the assignment must be completed. You will have one week (two class
periods) from the original due date to complete the assignment. If the work is
not turned in by then, the assignment will be counted as Late. If the work is
not turned in by a total of 4 class period from the due date, the student will
be given an "F" for that assignment. Remember, it is the student's
responsibility to get the work turned in on time.
C. Resubmission of Assignments: I encourage everyone to improve upon
your work by re-shooting your assignments. Occasionally I may insist upon
redoing an assignment. There is no extra credit in this class but this is your
opportunity to improve your grade. This
should not be seen as a negative experience as school is the ideal environment
to learn from your mistakes.
Please note that resubmitting work will not guarantee a better grade.
Guidelines for resubmissions:
1. The project must have
originally been turned in on time.
Note: Work handed in late or incomplete may not be
resubmitted.
2. Resubmitted assignments will be
accepted up to two weeks after the original due date.
3. The new work must comply with
the original project guidelines.
4. Make sure work is labeled with
the assignment title.
5. The original work that was
submitted initially must be included marked clearly.
Attendance:
Attendance is required and is
recorded at all class and lab meetings. Every
student will be responsible for all information given during scheduled class
and lab times. Attendance counts a maximum of 100 points. Students will start
with 100 points and 10 points will be subtracted from the original 100 points
for every day missed. You will lose 5
points for arriving after roll is taken. Note: A total of 4 absences from any class meetings
(lecture or lab) will result in a failing grade ("F") for the course
and you will be dropped from the class. Excused
absences are listed under Class Attendance (A13.02) in the A&M-Commerce
Procedures. Verifiable excuses for absences must be turned in to the
instructor.
If you use Facebook, etc., or are
texting on your phones during class, you will be marked absent without warning.
Please turn your phones off before you come into the classroom.
University Specific Procedures:
ADA
Statement
The Americans with
Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute that provides
comprehensive civil rights protection for persons with disabilities. Among other things, this legislation requires
that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that
provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. If you have a disability requiring an
accommodation, please contact:
Office of Student Disability Resources and Services
Texas A&M University-Commerce
Gee Library 132
Phone (903) 886-5150 or (903) 886-5835
Fax (903) 468-8148
Student Conduct
All
students enrolled at the University shall follow the tenets of common decency
and acceptable behavior conducive to a positive learning environment.
(See Code of Student Conduct from Student
Guide Handbook).
COURSE OUTLINE / CALENDAR
In PHO 111 IDM, we will be shooting
still and perhaps video shooting assignments as well as a variety of technical
exercises.
Please post all of your assignments to
your blog. Please include additional
research and comments for your assignments on your blog as well. We will work on assignments according to the
needs of the class. We may not get to all of them, we may do them in a
different order, or I may add/delete assignments depending on the individual
class.
The
following is the basic outline of what will be covered:
Blogging
Introduction
to the 3rd Floor Check-out area
Introduction
to the Print, Mount, Matting Lab
Introduction
to Lightroom
Introduction
to PhotoShop
Introduction
to Photo Design and Composition
Introduction
to Printing, Matting, Mounting, Framing and Presentation
Introduction
to Cameras and Lenses
Possible Assignments:
Self
Portrait/Portraits
ABC’s
Siskind
David
Hockney
Night
Shots
Panoramas
Still-Life/object
Multiple
Me
Possible
Field Trips: Dallas/Fort Worth
Possible
Shooting Field Trips: Cooper, Sulphur Springs, Greenville, Paris
