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

Week #6: 2/27

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

Normal Exposure = Robust Histogram = Good Print Potential

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 Highlight - mirrored reflection of light source in use.

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 source
...................hard edge SUGGESTS specular light source
.........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

• 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

APRIL 1 - 5
Homework:
• Complete I mage Analysis
• Family - Inanimate Object

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

Week #11: 4/10

 

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

Reading
Horenstein, "Photography" - Chapter 17

Photo Assignment
• Final

 

 

Week #12: 4/17

Lecture:

Lab:

Homework - Due:

Reading
Horenstein, "Photography" -

 

Photo Assignment
• Final

Week #13: 4/24

Lecture:

Lab:

Homework - Due:

Reading
Horenstein, "Photography" -

 

Photo Assignment
• Final

Week #14: 4/24

Lecture:

Lab:

Homework - Due:

Reading
Horenstein, "Photography" -

 

Photo Assignment
• Final

 

Week #15: 5/1

Lecture:

Lab:

Homework - Due:

Reading
Horenstein, "Photography" -

 

Photo Assignment
• Final

 

Week #16: 5/8

Lecture:

Lab:

Homework - Due:

Reading
Horenstein, "Photography" -

 

Photo Assignment
• Final


Week #17: 5/15

Lecture:

Lab:

Finals Week: 5/22

Lecture:

Lab:


GRADUATION WEEK: 5/28

Lecture:

*

Schedule content and projects may be changed by instructor