DC 225 Digital Still Photography

FILM 165 Digital Still Photography

Stuart Grais (Lecturer)

Course Description

This course is an introduction to the history and aesthetics of still photography and to the concept of photography as a descriptive and interpretive artistic medium. Students studying photographs in this context will discover relationships between individual photographers' choices and their own understanding of meaning. Discussions of the photos' cultural contexts and meanings will deepen their understanding of the role of still photography as a conduit for cultural values. Students will learn the fundamental concepts necessary to shoot, edit, manipulate, and print digital still photographs. Also, students will acquire the knowledge needed to analyze and critique existing work. Students will be required to use their own digital still cameras for this course.

Learning Domain Description

Film 165 Digital Still Photography for Non-Majors is included in the Liberal Studies program as a course with credit in the Arts and Literature domain. Courses in the Arts and Literature domain ask students to extend their knowledge and experience of the arts by developing their critical and reflective abilities. In these courses, students interpret and analyze particular creative works, investigate the relations of form and meaning and through critical and/or creative activity to come to experience art with greater openness, insight, and enjoyment. These courses focus on works of literature, art, theatre, or music as such, though the process of analysis may also include social and cultural issues. Students who take course in this domain choose three courses from such choices as literature, the visual arts, media arts, music, and theater. No more than two courses can be chosen from one department or program.

Learning Outcomes

1. Students will be able to explain, in well-written prose, what a work of art is about and/or how it was produced.

2. Students will be able to comment on the relationship between form and content in a work.

3. Students will be able to assess the formal aspects of their subject and put those qualities into words, using, when appropriate, specialized vocabulary employed in class and readings.

4. Students will be able to contextualize a work of art. They will be able to do so with respect to other works of art in terms of defining its place within a broader style or genre. They will also be able to contextualize a work of art in terms of contemporaneous aesthetic, social, or political concerns, discussing how these might shape the work’s reception and how that reception might differ amongst various peoples and historical periods.

How Learning Outcomes Will Be Met

1. Shooting assignments

2. Final Portfolio

Writing Expectations

Students will be expected to complete a minimum of 5-7 pages of writing for this course.

How Writing Expectations Will Be Met

1. Gallery Critique (1 page)

2. Photographer Critique (4 pages)

Course Management System – D2L

Textbooks and printed resources

Light and Lens Photography in the Digital Age Robert Hirsch
Your camera manual

Topics

During class sessions, your active participation is required.

Outside the scheduled lecture sessions, plan at least 4 hours per week for homework, reading and project assignments.

At various times during the quarter, there will be short in-studio exercises coordinated with reading and project assignments.

Late Work Policy

•All written or presentation work is due at the beginning of class on the date posted. These cannot be late!
•Late work will receive a F grade (59%) for that assignment. Unsubmitted work will be recorded as a 0.
•To pass the course, you must earn a passing grades by midterm.
•Failure to give your final presentation at the time announced by the instructor will result in a 0. Don't be late to the final.

Attendance/ Tardy Policy

Your attendance and participation are paramount in your development during this course. Not only do you miss out in case of an absence, but so does the entire class as each person's participation contributes to the learning that takes place each session. 5 points deduction for each class missed

Changes to Syllabus

This syllabus is subject to change as necessary during the quarter. If a change occurs, it will be thoroughly addressed during class, posted under Announcements in D2L and sent via email.

Grading

Grading Scale
95-100 = A
90-94 = A-
87-89 = B+
84-86 = B
80-83 = B-
77-79 = C+
74-76 = C
70-73 = C-
67-69 = D+
64-66 = D
60-63 = D-
59 and below = F

Week-by-week Assignments/Readings See Schedule

External Drive/Flash Drive/Blank CD's & DVD's

I recommend that you own or purchase an external drive. An external drive is the best way to back up files on your computer. A flash drive is a great device for temporary back up of files and transporting files.

You will also need blank CD/DVD's for turning in assignments.

Other Equipment

Tripods, camera bags, memory cards, cleaning supplies and extra batteries.

You will not need a copy of Adobe Photoshop CS6. DePaul has made this software available to you in multiple labs at the Lincoln Park campus as well as the Loop campus.

College Policies

Online Instructor Evaluation

Evaluations are a way for students to provide valuable feedback regarding their instructor and the course. Detailed feedback will enable the instructor to continuously tailor teaching methods and course content to meet the learning goals of the course and the academic needs of the students. They are a requirement of the course and are key to continue to provide you with the highest quality of teaching. The evaluations are anonymous; the instructor and administration do not track who entered what responses. A program is used to check if the student completed the evaluations, but the evaluation is completely separate from the student’s identity. Since 100% participation is our goal, students are sent periodic reminders over three weeks. Students do not receive reminders once they complete the evaluation. Students complete the evaluation online in CampusConnect.

Academic Integrity Policy and Plagiarism

This course will be subject to the university's academic integrity policy. More information can be found at http://academicintegrity.depaul.edu/. If you have any questions be sure to consult with your professor.

Academic Policies

All students are required to manage their class schedules each term in accordance with the deadlines for enrolling and withdrawing as indicated in the University Academic Calendar. Information on enrollment, withdrawal, grading and incompletes can be found at: cdm.depaul.edu/enrollment.

Students with Disabilities

Students who feel they may need an accommodation based on the impact of a disability should contact the instructor privately to discuss their specific needs. All discussions will remain confidential.
To ensure that you receive the most appropriate accommodation based on your needs, contact the instructor as early as possible in the quarter (preferably within the first week of class), and make sure that you have contacted the Center for Students with Disabilities (CSD) at: csd@depaul.edu.

Lewis Center 1420, 25 East Jackson Blvd.
Phone number: (312)362-8002
Fax: (312)362-6544
TTY: (773)325.7296

Email is the primary means of communication between faculty and students enrolled in this course outside of class time. Students should be sure their email listed under "demographic information" at http://campusconnect.depaul.edu is correct.

Incomplete

•An incomplete grade is given only for an exceptional reason such as a death in the family, a serious illness, etc. Any such reason must be documented. Any incomplete request must be made at least two weeks before the final, and approved by the dean of the school of computer science, telecommunications and information systems. Any consequences resulting from a poor grade for the course will not be considered as valid reasons for such a request.