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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "AS 289"
COURSE NAME: "Digital Photography"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Spring 2021
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Ra Di Martino
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS: T 9:00-11:45
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES:
OFFICE HOURS:

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course is meant for students who wish to deepen their knowledge of digital photography. It will review basic camera functions, lighting, principles of composition and pictorial dynamics, color interactions, and introduce methods of the elaboration of photos on the computer. The course will consider the historical and formal knowledge of photography, as well as including picture-taking in a variety of genres and the preparation of a photo exhibition. Each student must be equipped with a digital camera with a wide lens or a 3x or greater optical zoom, and camera functions selector which includes M,A,S,P. A tripod and modern single-lens reflex (SLR) digital cameras with interchangeable lenses are highly recommended.
SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:

This is a course in digital photography and digital imaging, composed of 14 sessions (each being 2,45 hours long), divided in two main parts:

-Theoretical and technical: the basic principles of photography, visualizing the photo, lighting techniques and digital workflow. How to develop your idea, visualizing what is an interesting subject for you, creating your style.

 
-Practical: including fieldworks where you will be applying what you’ve learned in the theory lessons, selection of photos made.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

The main target of the course is to prepare students to learn the use of the cameras, their settings, and the new perspectives in photography given by the use of specific software to create styles and creative issues. also an important target will be given to how to develop your idea in a personal and original way. 

-Basic skills to set up a logical digital workflow: Capture, File Management, Processing Workflow, Color Management.
-Developed an aesthetic sense and be able to produce and read photographic images;
-The skills to create and present their own portfolio.

TEXTBOOK:
NONE
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
Attendance 20
Mid-Term Review 30
Final Project 50

-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AWork of this quality shows excellent mastery of the course content along with exceptional levels of technical skill, artistic awareness, originality, resourcefulness, commitment, quantity of work and improvement. There has been excellent collaboration and leadership in group projects, and there have been no attendance problems.
BA highly competent level of performance with work that directly addresses the content of the course, with a good quantity of work produced.
CAn acceptable level of performance: the work shows awareness of the course content, but is very limited in quantity, quality, commitment and skill.
DThe student lacks a coherent grasp of the course material and has failed to produce much work.
FNegligent in attendance, academic honesty, engagement with the course content, or production of work.

-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS AND EXAMINATION POLICY
You cannot make-up a major exam (midterm or final) without the permission of the Dean’s Office. The Dean’s Office will grant such permission only when the absence was caused by a serious impediment, such as a documented illness, hospitalization or death in the immediate family (in which you must attend the funeral) or other situations of similar gravity. Absences due to other meaningful conflicts, such as job interviews, family celebrations, travel difficulties, student misunderstandings or personal convenience, will not be excused. Students who will be absent from a major exam must notify the Dean’s Office prior to that exam. Absences from class due to the observance of a religious holiday will normally be excused. Individual students who will have to miss class to observe a religious holiday should notify the instructor by the end of the Add/Drop period to make prior arrangements for making up any work that will be missed. Active participation in class is mandatory. The use of internet during lab time is allowed only in the context of this course.
Not attending the final critique will result in an F. Withdraw if you are unable to attend class regularly. Attendance policy is not negotiable.  
ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred. In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment, may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation to the President, who will make the final decision.
STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap. Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.

SCHEDULE

Session 1

Introduction. The basic principles of photography I. Difference and similarities between digital and film based photography. Basic camera controls.

Session 2

The basic principles of photography II. The basics of composition. Framing the subject, geometrical design elements. Choosing your subject. Fieldwork

Session 3

Editing your images. Making choices about Color and Black and white. Cropping your images.

Session 4

Looking at professional photographers work I

Session 5

The digital workflow I. Data capture, File Management, basic corrections in Lightroom. Fieldwork Architecture

Session 6

Analysis and screening of students’ photos

Session 7

Mid-Term Critique

Session 8

Looking at professional photographers work II

Session 9

Student Presentations of photographers work of their choice.

Session 10

Choice of subjects. Fieldwork.

Session 11

The digital workflow II. Non-destructive image processing, working with RAW files, masks, dodging and burning.

Session 12

Trip to photographic exhibition. Time and Place to be defined.

Session 13

The digital workflow III. preparing images for diverse output. Presentation, Web, Book.

Session 14

Completion of the final project. Presentation and review of students’ photographic projects. Critically evaluate the work presented by fellow students.