Photography in the Digital Age/Intro to Photography
adriene hughes introduction to digital photography
adriene hughes introduction to digital photography



 

 

 

 

 

abhughes@ucsd.edu
http://www.adrienehughes.com
http://www.softservegirl.com
ART 4B237
6:30 –9:30 PM
Instructor: Adriene Hughes
OBJECTIVE

This course is designed to familiarize the beginning photographer to all introductory phases of digital data with the use of a film or digital camera, and entry level post-production applications using Photoshop CS4. Though technical in nature, this class is an art photography course, and as such, will emphasize the creation and exploration of photographic imagery both technically and conceptually. Experimentation, in any form, is encouraged.

ATTENDANCE Attendance is mandatory. Lectures, demonstrations, review and classroom critiques 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 critiques, technical ability, personal progress and/or improvement, and 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 producing a final portfolio. A class critique by both Students and Instructor will take place on the last day of instruction. The final portfolio will consist of seven (7) images no smaller than 8 x 10” of your choosing from the assignments. One of the seven must be a diptych.

40% Attendance and classroom participation
30% Weekly Assignments
25% Final portfolio of images
5% Extra Credit Photograph

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

EQUIPMENT

This course requires the use of a SLR or a DSLR. A Point-and-Shoot camera is also acceptable. Please be familiar with the use of your camera. You will also need a USB thumb drive which allows you to save any assignments in progress (or completed) during the class for later reference. An external firewire drive is also acceptable as long as it is PC compatible. Please bring your USB drive (or an external firewire drive) to each class with your weekly assignments on them.

If you are a MAC or PC user and own your own laptop (with photoshop CS4 installed), you may use it in lieu of the PC TOWER computers in our lab.


Recommended The Photoshop CS4 Book by Scott Kelby

Required The Digital Photography Book by Scott Kelby



Week 1

Introduction by Instructor
Introduction of Students

What is a digital chip (Charged Coupled Device) and how does it work in the camera?
What is RGB
What is ColorSpace?
The color default in Photoshop and your camera: sRGB
The reason why you use SRGB
What does each colorspace occupy in the color spectrum?

What is White Balance
Depth-of-Field
Depth-of-Field Calculator
Aperture/fstop
shutter speed
ISO (International Organization for Standardization)
example of digital image with 400 ISO
image noise description


Homework:
READ YOUR MANUAL - Learn how to use your Camera!
For Creative Function: use your AV settings on camera, change f-stop and be sure to set ISO to 100, 200 and 400



Week 2

CRITIQUE: Landscape Assignment

Produce a series of five photos depicting a scenic view/landscape.
Print THREE (3) images and have them ready for review.
Bring all five of your top images to class on a thumbnail drive to use in the photoshop demonstration


Read The Digital Photography Book Pages (103, 104, 105, 106, 113,114, 115, 120, 121, 122)

Interesting Outdoor Photography Techniques and Issues


Examples of Landscape Photographers

Edward Burtansky (WATCH VIDEO - TED AWARDS)
East Anglia
Durham Township
Steven Johnson
Patrick Kell


BRING YOUR CAMERA TO CLASS: let's learn to use Manual Mode
!!


Week 3

Read Social Networking Article!

Photoshop:

1. Resizing your image.
2.
FLICKR - learning to navigate in flickr and use it as a network tool.
3. Preparing your image to print full size @ Costco, Longs, Ritz, etc.

4. Learning to make a
Diptych



Week 4

CRITIQUE: CITYSCAPE/ARCHITECTURE images

photoshop: resizing your image, uploading to flickr

Produce a series of five photos depicting an CITYSCAPE/ARCHITECTURE as a thematic structure.
Print THREE (3) and have them ready for Class Critique by Week 3
Bring all five of your top images to class on a thumbnail drive to use in the photoshop demonstration

Examples of Cityscape Photographers
Brian Rose
Mark King
PenCam
Kiran Master
Damon Winter

Photoshop: Burn and Dodge Tools using Cityscape/Architecture images


Week 5

DOCUMENTARY: AMERICAN MASTER - RICHARD AVEDON DARKENSS AND LIGHT

Photoshop: Learning Black and White Conversion
(!) Yeah!



Week 6

CRITIQUE: PORTRAITURE

Produce a series of three photos using PORTRAITURE as the theme. You must emulate a photographer, paying attention to light and compostion. As an example, please review Student Examples of Portraiture Emulation.

A list of portraiture techniques that might be helpful

Please visit the following web sites and be prepared to discuss the work
Loretta Lux
Helen Van Meene
Bil Zelman
Matt Hoyle
jerome ferraro

scott pommier

Read The Digital Photography Book Pages (Chapter 3)


Photoshop:
1. How to clean up those portraits we just shot: blemishes, white teeth, white eyes, etc.



Week 7

CRITIQUE: ABSTRACTION and/or INTERESTING ANGLES images

Produce a series of five photos using abstraction or interesting angles as the theme.
Print three (3) and have them ready for Class Critique by Week 7
Bring all five of your top images to class on a thumbnail drive to use in the photoshop demonstration

Examples of Abstract and Interesting Angles:
Urban 75



Photoshop: INTRODUCTION TO BRIDGE



Week 8 Photoshop: INTRODUCTION TO BRIDGE, RAW and metadata


FINAL ASSIGNMENT

Assignment for FINAL WEEK: Produce seven (7) images that you feel are your strongest photographic results from either the above assignments, or photos derived from the OPEN assignemtn. Think in terms of a thematic structure. By preparing a portfolio within a thematic structure, this begins the process of how a photographer shows his or her work to clients, work assignments or for personal enjoyment and story-telling. Also your challenge is to apply your post-production abilities and TWEEK those images so that they meet acceptable exhibition print (and by this I mean to hang on your wall or to give as a gift if you wish!). Each image must be printed no smaller than 8x10” (I would prepare larger if possible). As photographers I want you to think about how your images communicate a language, and how size can alter the contextual meaning of your personal voice. Remember: there are no rules – and if you have a handful of personal rules previously learned, all rules were meant to be broken!

Please bring work mounted on either formcore board, or matte board which can be purcahsed at Aaron Brothers,

7th Image: produce one image from the ABSTRACTION/INTERESTING ANGLES. It must be presented in diptych format. This is where I encourage creativity and combining images that you would normally would not have considered together. Think of these images as mini-stories about a place or thing.

Examples of Student's Final Portfolio

Week 9
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.