abhughes@ucsd.edu
http://www.adrienehughes.com
ART 40441- Digital Darkroom (crw/photoshop workflow)
6:30 –9:30 PM
Instructor: Adriene Hughes
OBJECTIVE

This course is designed to familiarize the digital and film photographer to all introductory phases of digital data transfer, workflow, and photographic manipulation with the use of Photoshop CS5 and Adobe Bridge. No photography assignments will be given though you are expected to bring on a weekly basis photographs to apply towards these applications. It is my suggestion to be familair with the syllabus, know what applications will be taught each week, and bring in images that you could use to "help" in that particular direction.

ATTENDANCE Attendance is mandatory. Lectures and demonstrations will occur throughout each class meeting. Because of this, arriving in a timely fashion is necessary. Lectures and demonstrations will not be repeated.
GRADING

Grading is based on, but not limited to: participation in class, technical ability, personal progress / improvement, and creative innovation. Personal progress and improvement will be based on each individual and not based on the class as a whole. Attention will be focused on learning the techniques of photoshop, but it is up to you to practice these skills and to produce a final portfolio based off of the weekly assignments. The final portfolio will consist of images created either in class (or outside of class) and uploaded to FLICKR and the UCSD Digital Darkroom Group

The Final Portfolio will consist of:
1. Picture-in-Picture
2. Diptych of two images properly white balanced and exposure correction.
3. HDR image
4. Tonal Contrast Image
5. Black and White

6. Portrait

50% Attendance and classroom participation
50% Final portfolio of images

Final Grades:
A = 90% - 100%
B = 80% - 89%
C = 70% - 79%
D = 60% - 69%

EQUIPMENT and TEXTBOOK

This course requires the use of digital photographic files. They may be produced from a film SLR, a DSLR or a Point-and-Shoot by any manufacturer. You will also need a USB compact drive to bring all of your photographic files into class with you. You can also use an external firewire or USB drive that is PC formatted. Unfortunately we are using a PC lab, so drives that are MAC formatted will not work. If you have your own laptop you are more than welcome to bring it to calss (PC or MAC).

It is my suggestion you download the 30 day free trial of Photoshop CS5 to acomplish your class assignments.


Required Book: The Photoshop CS5 Book by Scott Kelby
Required: Open a FLICKR account (it's free) and join the UCSD Digital Darkroom user group.

Week 1

Introduction by Instructor
Introduction of Students

REVIEW OF TOPICS:
What is RGB

What is Color Space and What is RAW vs. Adobe 1998 vs. SRGB
What is a pixel
The differrence between a PPI and a DPI
What to use in class JPEG or RAW - size matters but it' also a pain!!

Introduction to Bridge
Reconfiguring Bridge
What is Metadata and how do we use it?
What are Keywords and how do we use them?
Saving images to folders (batch renaming and organization)
Marking, Sorting and Rating images
Importing images to Camera RAW (CRW)
White Balance adjustments in CRW
Tools in CRW

1. For next week please visit Scott Kelby's website and download chapter 13 image.
2. be prepared to bring in a stack of images all shot at the same place under the same condition (bring in on a thumb drive).
3. Also bring in a 5 headshots (shot under the same conditions) as we will be working on portrait/clean up in BRIDGE

Week 2

REVIEW OF TOPICS:
1. Learning to work in Bridge and learning WORKFLOW!!
2. batch processing a stack of photos
3. portrait clean-up in BRIGE

Opening Raw and JPEG in Camera Raw (Bridge)
White Balance and syncing multiple images
Exposure
Clarity / sharpening
Resolution, Image Size, Color Space, Bit Depth
Cropping and Straightening in Bridge
Editing Multiple Photos at One Time!
Sharpening in Camera Raw
Edge Vignetting
Spot removal

HOMEWORK: read and familiarize yourself with the toolbar in Photoshop CS5.

For next week please be prepared to bring in several images of your choice.
1. We will be making a picture-in-picture with text. Please see student's examples

2. We will also
learn how to make a dipytch... In case you miss the lecture this link is a "HOW to". creating diptychs of before/after

Week 3

REVIEW OF TOPICS:

1. Reviewing the TOOLBAR
2. What is the CS5 Interface?
3. Learning "LAYERS" the fundamental need to any photographer by making a diptych and a picture-in-picture

Introduction to CS5 Interface
picture-in-picture
diptych

HOMEWORK: (upload your assignments to flickr)
1. make a picture-in-picture as instructed in class (tutorial in case you need to review) and upload it to the UCSD Digital Darkroom flickr page.
2. Make a diptych from two images that compare and contrast a scene. Examples here of a diptych used as compare/contrast to highlight a portrait or event.

Week 4

Fixing Faces and HDR (not necessarily in that order!)

HDR: Chapter 8 in Scott Kelby's CS5 book - download all images from Chapter 8 lesson plan
Single Toning Effect: Chapter 8 download (we will be using only the Acropolis and the basketball player)

Portrait work: bring in images of your own favorite people...and let's make them purrrrrrfect!
Fixing blemishes in BRIDGE / WB / Vignetting
CS5: smooth skin make them look years younger!
and trendy desaturated look (page 286)

Week 5

Black and White Conversion - YEAH!
AND Smart
Chapter 7 in Scott Kelby's CS5 book - download all images from Chapter 7 lesson plan

1. b/w in BRIDGE (page 176)
2. b/w high contrast technique (page 179)
3. b/w split toning in BRIDGE (page 183)
4. Duotones in BRIDGE (page 185)
5. Then the best for last : b/w VIA CALCULATIONS METHOD! (the best in my opinion)

CONTENT AWARE! - download Chapter 9 lesson plan
Also bring your own images that have objects you would like to remove and let's have some fun!!!

The rest of the class will be used to work on techniques and/or questions of any of the above issues.
Also bring in your own photographs. We will dedicate half the class to Scott Kelby and his photos, the rest of the class we will work on your photos!

FINAL ASSIGNMENT

Assignment for FINAL WEEK: Produce six (6) images from the above assignments. Your challenge is to apply your post-production abilities and TWEEK those images so that they meet acceptable results. Use your own images (not the images downloaded from Scott Kelby's book).

The Final Portfolio will consist of:
1. Picture-in-Picture
2. Diptych of two images properly white balanced and exposure correction.
3. HDR image
4. Tonal Contrast Image
5. Black and White
6. Portrait

Week 6
CLASS CRITIQUE of Final Portfolio.

Websites of Interest

Glossary of Photographic Terms
How to Make a Photoblog
Digital Camera Review and News
Creating an Easy Portfolio

Sports Photography
Wildlife Photography
Digital Darkroom
Pro Techniques

AK47 — an online art photography magazine showcasing both fine arts and documentary photographers.
BLIR — for emerging artists.
Blueeyes — an online documentary photography magazine devoted to publishing new long-term project work. It is a labor of love created by a dedicated group of people who believe in the power of still photography.
F-STOP — a photography magazine.
mooncruise* — featuring photography and music by international artists.
Revolver — photojournalism, street & travel photography.
seesaw — observation full and felt.
LOOK AT ME — a collection of found photographs.
PIXELPRESS — encouraging documentary photography through a new paradigm of journalism, one that encourages an active dialogue between the author and reader and, also, the subject.
lens culture — photography and shared territories.
MakingRoom — a magazine about the process, intention and results of image-making.
FILE — a collection of unexpected photography.