PHO 111 Intro to Digital Media
COURSE SYLLABUS: Spring 2014
Teaching Assistant: Ginger Cook
o/ WTFA-225 h/ by
Appointment
c/
903.517.6024
e/
gsisco@yahoo.com
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that are outdated by the time of publication, there is no mandatory text.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
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 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.
Grading: “Grades are not given, they are earned”.
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. Note taking during lectures and labs is
essential. During critiques it is important to express your thoughts and
feelings about the photographs being presented.
2. Attendance:
It is important to attend class in
order to learn the information being presented.
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. Final Project:
Students will submit a final
project that will consist of matted prints from both new work and past
assignments.
Please note there will be no extra credit 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.
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:
· Digital camera with a minimum of
10 mega pixels and media card i.e.
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
· 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 or making an
appointment to make sure I am in my office. Appointments are encouraged
Office Hours: by appointment
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
StudentDisabilityServices@tamu-commerce.edu
Student Disability Resources & Services
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 video shooting assignments as well as a variety of technical
exercises.
Please post all of your assignments to
your blog. 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
A
Brief History of Photography
Introduction
to Cameras and Lenses
Assignments:
Self
Portrait/Portraits
ABC’s
Aaron
Siskind
David
Hockney
Photo
Montage
Night
Shots
Panoramas
Still-Life/object
Multiple
Me
Others
as class interest indicates
Possible
Field Trips: Dallas/Fort Worth
Possible Shooting Field Trips: Cooper, Sulphur Springs, Greenville,
Paris
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