G D P 1 0 9 - P h o t o  I

Wednesday's - 8:00am - 12:50pm / Classroom - OE 184

Linda Lowell - GDP, Photography Chair

Course Outline

Jump to THIS WEEK

DAC Lab Site
Fonts for Mac and PC

Week #1: 1/23

• Intro
Three-tiered Focus for GDP109: technical, conceptual, digital.

• Materials: slide film ISO 100 (Fuji Sensia, Kodak E100s), slide pages, sharpie, magnifying loupe

• Photo Resources: Samy's (photo supplies), Armstrong's (processing), Calumet (photo supplies), Color Services (processing), Russ' Camera (photo supplies).

• Rentals: Samy's ($50 for a 35mm camera, lens and camera bag for the semester).

• Video: RadioHead; tracks 2 and 3

• Visual Grammar - SEE (objective/formal); THINK (cognitive/story telling) and FEEL (emotions) -- there are no new subjects, great photographs are RESTATEMENTS WITH A DIFFERENCE.

• John Szarskowski's great photograph: Grace, Economy, Tension, Balance, Visual Wit, Surprise.

• Visual Interest + Concept + Emotional Response = MEMORABILITY

• Big 'MAC' Theory - Mystery, Ambiguity, and Contradiction.

• Slide Show: Basics 1

• Basic Exposure Formula

Homework: Due 1/29

Reading:
Horenstein, "Photography" - chapters 3 and 4
Nature of Photographs - Part I

Photo Assignment:

1. Chairs - Objective and Subjective.
Taking something ordinary and illustrating it with extraordinary vision. Ordinary objects (especially utilitarian things) bring a certain set of expectations. Think differently. Both views should be shot with integrity.

Week #2: 1/30

Lecture:

• CAMERA BOOTCAMP
1. Identify ISO
2. Identify shutterspeeds
3. Identify f/stops
4. Load film
5. Manual vs. Electronic

• Video: RadioHead; tracks 4 and 5

Nature of Photographs - Part I and II
• Depictive Levels: flatness, frame, time, focus
• Cognitive Perceptions (Mental Level)
• Formal (physical) vs. Narrative (story)

• Slide Show: Basics 2

• Basic Exposure Formula (BEF) and Brackets

Homework: Due 2/6

Reading
Horenstein, "Photography" - chapters 5, 6 and 9
Nature of Photographs - Part II
Creative Choices

Photo Assignment

Continue Chairs Assignment

Week #3: 2/6

Lecture:

• Video: RadioHead; tracks 6 and 7

• Slide Show: f/stops and Shutterspeeds

• BEF and Brackets and Equivalents

Lab: Scanning / Servers

Homework - Due: 2/13

Reading
Horenstein, "Photography" - chapters 7 and 8

Photo Assignment
• Final "Chairs" submissions

#2. Ordinary...Extraordinary - Restatements with a Difference.

Week #4: 2/13

Lecture:
• Slide Show: Design Show

• Global Village website - promotional collaborations

• BEF and Brackets and Equivalents and Depth of Field (DOF)
Lab:
SCANNING
DAC Server
INTRANET

Homework - Due: 2/20
Reading
Horenstein, "Photography" - review pre-assigned chapters

Photo Assignment

#3 - Hi / Low Perspectives

Week #5: 2/20

Lecture:
• Kodak Compositional Guidelines
........................Do you agree? Why?
• BEF ... Brackets ... Equivalents ... Depth of Field (DOF)
• Alternate Light Conditions (other than bright sunny day) and how to determine approximate normal exposure variations using BEF formula.
.................Hazy (+1BEF) requires 1 stop more light to film plane
.................Overcast (+2 BEF)
.................Open Shade (+3 BEF)
.................Heavy Overcast (+3 to +4 BEF)
• Specular vs. Diffused Light (sunny vs. overcast)

Slide Show:
• Kodak's Compositional Guidelines
• P's and L's
.................Planning, Perception, Perseverance
................ Light, Location, Luck

Lab:
• Scanning Assignments
• Place in DAC server >Instructors>Lowell>109 folder

Homework - Due: 2/27
• Memorize entire f/stop scale in 1/3 increments
Reading
Horenstein, "Photography" - review pre-assigned chapters

Photo Assignment
• Finals - "Ordinary...Extraordinary"

#4 - Success ... Failure

Lecture:
• Quality of Light and Ratios
• (cont) Alternate Light Conditions (from bright sunny day) - how to determine approximate normal exposure variations using BEF formula.
.................Office flourescent light (+6 BEF)
.................Household indoor lighting (+8 BEF)
.................Bright downtown lit streets (+7 BEF)
.................City skyline (+13 BEF)
.................Fireworks (bulb setting, +6 BEF)
.................Store window displays ((+6 BEF)
• Research Projects
............Image Analysis
........... Famous Photographer
• Changing ISO's and how that effects exposure settings (BEF)

• Stock Photo Agencies

Slide Show:
• Image Analysis

Lab:
• Making a Print
• Printing Parameters

Homework - Due: 3/6
1. Buy Epson Photo Paper and bring to class (and zips/CDs)
2. Start pulling Image Analysis samples (bring to class)
Reading
• Handout: Digital readings
• Horenstein, "Photography" - Chapter 1(tested in Mid-Term)

Photo Assignment
• Final Hi / Low Perspective

#5 - Fear (post-poned one week)

Week #7: 3/6

Announcements:

Spring Showcase Poster Contest

Photography Categories (Coveted SoMA's):
Photojournalism/Editorial
Portraiture
Fashion
Landscape
Fine Art
Abstract

File>Page Setup (command/shift/P)

File>Print (command/P)

Custom...Advanced Window

Lecture
• (cont) Changing ISO's and BEF's
• (cont) Quality of Light and Ratios
• (cont) Alternate Light Conditions (from bright sunny day) - how to determine approximate normal exposure variations using BEF formula.
.................Lighted Interior Arenas (+6 BEF)
.................Night Stadium Events (+6 BEF)
.................Night Amusement Parks (+6 BEF)
.................Indoor Gyms, Pools (+8 BEF)
.................Indoor Auditoriums (+9 BEF)
.................Candle Lit Subjects-close (+11 BEF)
.................Exterior Christmas Lights (+10 BEF)

• Stock Photo Agencies (cont.)

• View more samples of Image Analysis that students bring in

Lab:
• Making a Print - (Scan One Image)
• Printing Parameters
Print Quality
1. Digital output quality is dependent upon 4 things;
a) Original Exposure (traditional or digital capture)
b) Scan Quality
c) File Management
d) Printing Parameters
LL#1 . . . Quality In = Quality Out
1. Expose Normal / Scan Normal (MASTER ARCHIVE FILE)
.....create over/under effects in Photoshop
2. Check for Robust Histograms (full tonal values - see 3/13)
.....continuous tone images should produce 'full' histograms; if not, rescan
3. Purpose your MASTER ARCHIVE FILE for RGB desktop printers: Image>Image Size
..... 300 ppi / 24MB file size for 8-1/2" x 11" photo paper.
4. Minimize Information Loss during Image Manipulations
.....don't over adjust levels, curves, HSB, color balance, USM, etc.
5. Assign Proper Color Space - Adobe RGB 1998
.....Image>Mode>Assign Profile>Adobe RGB 1998
.....This allows the monitor preview to match output very closely.
6. Assign Proper Printing Parameters (see Lab)
.....Command/Shift/P (for page setup); Command/P (for print)
7. All digital prints require subtle sharpening (future lecture).
8. All images for the web require optimized sharpening
9. Sharpen as a Last Step Before Printing.
Printing Parameters w/in Photoshop
To create a print that matches what you see on the monitor:
1. Select Page Setup - Command/Shift/P or File>Page Setup
.....Orientation: Portrait (Standard) or Landscape (Centered)
2. Select Print - Command/P or File>Print
.....Media Type: Photo Paper
.....Ink: Color
.....Source Space: Adobe RGB 1998
.....Paper Space:
..........Profile: Epson Stylus 1270 Photo Paper
..........Intent: Perceptual
.....Mode: "Custom" ... Click Advanced ... in new window check:
..........Color Management: click 'NO COLOR ADJUSTMENTS'
..........Media: Photo Paper
..........Print Quality: 1440
.....Click "OK"
..........Double check printing settings (in box or upper left area)
.....Click "Print"

Homework - Due: 3/13
• Continue Image Analysis work
• Start reviewing for MIDTERM EXAM (week of March 25th)
Reading
• Daly, "Digital:Handbook" - chapter 1-3
• Horenstein, "Photography" - review pre-assigned chapters

Photo Assignment
• Final "Success/Failure"

#6 - Fear

Week #8: 3/13

PHOTOSHOP 'LEVELS' HISTOGRAMS
[Image>Adjust>Levels or Command L]
Underexposed Histogram ... Levels Corrected Histogram

Lecture:
• Midterm Exam Preparation

Lab:

USM METHOD #1 - LAB
1. Flatten Image
.....Layers Window>[arrow] Flatten
2. Convert to LAB Mode
..... Image>Mode>LAB
3. Select Lightness Channel
..... Layers Window>Channels>Lightness
4. Select USM
.....Filters>Sharpen>Unsharp Mask
.....Amount: 125% / Radius: 1.5 / Threshold: 3
5. Convert back to RGB
.....Image>Mode>RGB
6. Print

Homework - Due: 3/20

• Final: Fear w/ Humor
• Continue Image Analysis work
• Review for MIDTERM EXAM (week of March 25th)

Reading
• Daly, "Digital:Photography:Handbook" - review ch. 1-6
• Horenstein, "Photography" - review pre-assigned chapters

New Photo Assignment - Final Due 3/20 (one week only)

#7 - Redo
Choose one of the first four assignments (Chairs, Ord./Extra-
ordinary Object, Hi/Low, Success/Failure) and redo the conceptual component. Do not repeat technical exercise; just concentrate on a brand new conceptual solution.

Week #9: 3/20

Who made this photograph??? ...

and ...how would you analyze this iMac ad

{Click & hold down on image to open it into a new window}

Definitions:

1. Specular Hightlight - mirrored image of light source.

2. Diffused Highlight - that area where true tonality resides.

3. Shadow - that area where darker than true tonality resides.

Lecture:
• MidTerm Review; go over examples from MidTerm Prep document; slide identifications (photographers, dates)
• Image Analysis Review - iMac ad
• To Determine Specular or Diffused Light:
.........1. Examine shadow edge transfer
...................soft edge SUGGESTS diffused light sources
...................hard edge SUGGESTS specular light sources
.........2. Then confirm by examining specular highlights
...................small catchlights mean specular light source
...................large catchlights mean diffused light source
• ISO Scale - Exposure Control Device
• Kelvin Color Temperature of Light
• Famous Photographers Resource --- SUGGESTION: Use your Photography textbook (Horenstein) as a starting point for discovering photographers whose work you may be interested in researching (the textbook is now in SBCC's library).

Lab:
Complete Print Exercise

Homework - Due: 3/27
1. Type-written paragraph on Famous Photographer Research Project (who, why and what you're doing -- duplicating an existing image of this photographer or shooting 'in the style' of this photographer).
• Continue Image Analysis work
• Study for Midterm Exam next week
Review
Review Horenstein (ch. 1-9) & Daly (ch. 1-6) readings
New Photo Assignment
# 8 - Family as Inanimate Object - Due 4/10
Click "Family" (above) to see the assignment sheet;
then ...
Go to Adobe's 2001 Student Design Achievement Awards page and review the work of Kristi Keinholz, titled "Pears", in the 'Photography' category.
Click on her Artist Statement first to understand the artist's premise and then review her work.

Announcement: 4/10 Class (right after Spring Break)
Please bring in 3 magazines and 5-10 personal items for an in-class exercise.

Week #10: 3/27

MIDTERM EXAM - class starts @ 10am

• Due today:
Paragraph on the photographer you intend to research for the Famous Photographer Research Project (who, why and what you're doing -- duplicating an existing image of this photographer or shooting 'in the style' of this photographer)

Homework - Due:
• Continue Image Analysis work

Photo Assignment - Due 4/10
• Family as Inanimate Object

Announcement: 4/10 Class (right after Spring Break)
Please bring in 3 magazines and 5-10 personal items for an in-class exercise.

SPRING BREAK

, , , , ,

Announcement: 4/10 Class
Please bring in 3 magazines and 5-10 personal items for an in-class exercise.

SoMA Showcase - May 24, 2002
click here for
Submissions / Deadlines

APRIL 1 - 5

Homework: Due 4/10
• Complete Image Analysis
• Family - Inanimate Object

Week #11: 4/10

• SUBMISSIONS FOR SoMA SHOWCASE
May 8th

• The power of photojournalism - subjects revisted

• National Geographic - Sharbat Gula after 17 years

• USA Today article; the photographer Steve McCurry

In-Class Exercise
Please bring in 3 magazines and 5-10 personal items for an in-class exercise.

Homework - Due Today

1. Image Analysis Assignment

Reading
Horenstein, "Photography" - Chapter 17

Due 4/17

• Finals: "Family as Inanimate Object"

Week #12: 4/17

Ansel Adams Documentary
PBS Special
Sunday, April 21st @ 9:00pm

SoMA submissions - due 5/8
Photojournalism . . . Fashion . . . Portrait
Landscape . . . Abstract . . . Fine Art . . . Still Life

• Visual Grammar -
SEE (objective/formal); THINK (cognitive/story telling) and FEEL (emotions) -- there are no new subjects, great photographs are RESTATEMENTS WITH A DIFFERENCE.

• John Szarskowski's great photograph: GETBVS
Grace, Economy, Tension, Balance, Visual Wit, Surprise.

• Visual Interest + Concept + Emotional Response = MEMORABILITY

• Big 'MAC' Theory - Mystery, Ambiguity, and Contradiction.

Lecture:

• PHOTO STORY
• Famous Photojournalists / Documentary Photographers
• Sabastian Salgado Exhibition Site (QuickTime VR); Brassai; Margaret Bourke-White, Diane Arbus quote.
• Eugene Atget, Lewis Hine vs. Jacob August Riis, W. Eugene Smith
• Duane Michals - "The problem with young photographers today is that they have all the know-how, but they have nothing to say; they just regurgitate cliché."
• Michael Ackerman - "... if you are not brought up where you are born you are forever a little restless. [it clarifies]...what it means to be an outsider, to not belong, yet have some strong feelings towards where you are. For one thing, it means you are a guest and what you are after is unattainable. Maybe you are always looking for yourself. It does seem to me that as an outsider you often get deeper inside. You often see what others may be blind to. For example, classic reportage photograpy, with its beginning - middle - end narrative is completely boring to me. It lacks something so essential. Yet work done by certain photographers who have that reslessness, that feeling of not belonging, like Louis Faurer, Robert Frank, Leon Levinstein, Josef Koudelka, for example, I find fascinating. Its open eded. The more I look at it the more I see. For me it's important to show what life FEELS like, not what it looks like. Maybe that quest is for the truth that lies beyond the fact, beneath the skin. That thing that is true to everyone."

Lab:

• "Family" 2D Triptych / Collage

Homework - Due: 4/24

Photo Assignment
• Photo Story - 3 to 5 images telling a 'story' about how somethings ... not how it looks....

Week #13: 4/24

SoMA submissions - due 5/8
Photojournalism . . . Fashion . . . Portrait
Landscape . . . Abstract . . . Fine Art . . . Still Life

Lecture:
• Toy Cameras (some sites and journals)

Lab:
• Self-Portrait Triptych
• Selections for SoMA Showcase

Homework - Due: 5/1

Photo Assignment
• Toy Camera
1. Work with a 'toy camera' of choice (Holga, Polaroid, cheap digitals, Diana, pinhole, stereoscopics, underwater, panoramics...)
2. Theme: open
3. Create something extraordinary.
4. Requirements: Have F•U•N
.......... (Fantasy / Unexpected / New)

Week #14: 5/1

SoMA submissions - due 5/8
Photojournalism . . . Fashion . . . Portrait
Landscape . . . Abstract . . . Fine Art . . . Still Life

Lecture:
• 10-Print Final Portfolio - Preparations
.......Edit and Spot (rubber stamp @ 200%)
.......Retouch (selective burn/dodge techniques) * DEMO
.......File management for prints (300 ppi)
.......Paper selections (Epson only)
..............Heavy Weight Matte (all printers)
..............Premium Gloss/Semi-Gloss (870's/1270)
.......Portfolio options
• New Quad Ink Printer - for true B&W output
.......carbon-based pigment (4 shades of grey)
.......Jon Cone Edition ink set
.......must get image approval; instructor operated.

Links of Interest:
dip·tych Pronunciation Key (dptk)
n.
1.A work consisting of two painted or carved panels that are hinged together.
2.An ancient writing tablet having two leaves hinged together.
3.A list of names, originally contained on such a tablet, of living and dead Christians for whom special prayers are made during
the liturgy in many eastern and western churches.
trip·tych Pronunciation Key (trptk)
n.
1.A work consisting of three painted or carved panels that are hinged together.
2.A hinged writing tablet consisting of three leaves, used in ancient Rome.

• "Family" 2D Triptych / Collage
http://perso.wanadoo.fr/nce-photo/pages/larjosto/acctracks.htm
http://www.cake.de/kaiser/wallviews.html
http://01interactions.net/winfredevers/fg04.htm
• Self-Portrait Triptych and Selections for SoMA Showcase
http://www.kfki.hu/~arthp/html/b/bosch/painting/triptyc1/
http://www.kfki.hu/~arthp/html/b/bosch/painting/triptyc2/
http://www.imagesoftheland.com/html/triptychs1.stm
http://www.bonniebergman.com/Art_Gallery_Details.cfm?LinkType=Triptychs
http://www.giraffe.com/Triptychs.html
http://www.ferrisphotographs.com/toc.triptychs1.html
http://www.cindymcintyre.com/Galleries/triptychs.htm

Critique:
• Photo Story (finals)
• Toy Camera (work in progress

Lab:
• Self-Portrait Triptychs
• SoMA Submissions
• Select final portfolio submissions

Homework - Due: 5/1
• SoMA Submissions NEXT Friday, May 10th at Noon
• Toy Camera - final NEXT WEEK
• Self-Portrait - Due 5/15

***** QUIZ preparation - ch. 17

Photo Assignment
• Toy Camera (continued)

Week #15: 5/8

SoMA SHOWCASE submissions - EXTENDED

... ... NEW DEADLINE - FRIDAY (5/10) at NOON ... ...

Photojournalism . . . Fashion . . . Portrait
Landscape . . . Abstract . . . Fine Art . . . Still Life

Lecture:
• Two new Sharpening Techniques
RGB Channels USM Method
1. Select Red Channel (in Layers window)
........a) Filter>Sharpen>Unsharpen
........b) 125% / 1.5 / 3
2. Select Green Channel (in Layers window)
........a) Filter>Sharpen>Unsharpen
........b) 125% / 1.5 / 3
3. Select Blue Channel (in Layers window)
........a) Filter>Noise>Despeckle
4. Make Snapshot in History PaletteB.
High Pass Filter Method
1. Duplicate background layer
2. Select High Pass Filter and run at 2-5
........a) Filter>Other>High Pass
3 . Unsharpen at 125% / 1.5 / 3
........a) Filter>Sharpen>Unsharpen
4. Blend layer to either Soft Light or Overlay
5. Make Snapshot in History PaletteC.
Lab Method USM
1. Duplicate background layer
2. Select Lab Color Mode
........a) Image>Mode>Lab
3. Select Lightness Channel (in Layers window)
........a) Image turns B&W
4 . Select USM Filter
........a) Unsharpen at 125% / 1.5 / 3
........b) Filter>Sharpen>Unsharpen
5. Convert back to RGB (Image>Mode>RGB)
6. Make Snapshot in History Palette

• Scanning suggestions
• Review SoMA submissions

Critique:
• Toy Camera Finals

Lab:
• SoMA Showcase Submissions - due Friday Noon
• 10 - Print Final Portfolio

Homework :
• work on final portfolio
• study for final exam

Week #16: 5/15

Lecture:
• Review for Final Exam / MidTerm Prep Sheet plus Chapter 17.

• Final Sharpening Technique (12 Step Method)
...............Lab USM Method
...............High Pass Filter Method
...............RGB Channel Method

RED Channel / Edges Selection Method

• This technique selects the edges with the most contrast without selecting the homogenous areas of tone (less chance of creating non-descript artifacts). Only the more “contrasty” edges are sharpened and will be the most subtle USM method. Good for people and images with fine detail.
1. Select the Red Channel
2. Duplicate the Red Channel.
3. Filters – Stylize – Find Edges
4. Image – Adjust – Invert
5. Filters – Noise – Median, radius @ 2
6. Filters – Other – Maximum, radius @ 4
7. Filters – Blur – Gaussian Blur @ 4 (airbrush any spots out at this stage)
8. Click RGB layer and Cmd/Click the 'Red copy' (the new alpha channel you've been working on). This selects the areas of highest contrast as a selection.
9. Filter – Unsharp – set amount at 125%, radius at 0.3, and threshold at 3 (in a digital capture try a setting of 75%, radius 1.5, threshold 3).
10. Deselect
11. Alpha channel to trash
12. Repeat for increased sharpness if necessary.

Additional Suggestion:
• If sharpening effect is too intense, start over and adjust the unsharpen threshold to a value of 1.
• Make an Action function key out of these steps and you can repeat this effect progressively at will by hitting the pre-assigned function key.

Lab:
• 10 - Print Final Portfolio

Homework :
• study for final exam (NEXT week)
• work on final portfolio

Week #17: 5/22

FINAL EXAM

Lab:
• 10 Print Final Portfolio

Week: 5/29

FINAL PORTFOLIO REVIEW

HAVE A GREAT SUMMER !

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