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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "AS 289-3"
COURSE NAME: "Digital Photography"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Spring Semester 2012
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Soriani Paolo
HOURS: M 13:15-16:00
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES:
OFFICE HOURS:

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This is a course in basic digital photography, composed of 14 sessions dedicated to Style and Techniques for Street Photography
 
 The students will be able to create their own Portfolio, including eight/ten photos, and a one written page explanation of their work. In this part of the course the teacher and the fellow classmates following two criteria will critique the works: Techniques and Creativity. The best pictures of all students will be presented with a multimedia slide show during the final exhibition of classes.

Pre-requisite for the course:

A ten pictures' digital portfolio has to be prepared to be seen during the first class. Photos shall be uploaded on a pendrive or on a CD-R. the size of each photo hasn't to be lower than 900x600dpi

each participant must have his/her own digital camera with a wide lens or an optical zoom 3x or more and/or 35mm TTL camera with 28/80mm lens zoom or equivalents.

Cameras need functions selector M,A,S,P ; a tripod is strongly recommended. Additional equipments: Laptop with photoshop

SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
This is a course in basic digital photography, composed of 14 sessions (each being 2:30 hours long) divided in two parts:

The first being theoretical, including sessions showing the basic functions of the camera, the use of lights, elements of composition, interaction between colours, visions of architectures and interiors, Adobe Lightroom 3.6, Photoshop CS5 and other software elements.

The second being practical including fieldworks where you will be applying what you've learned in the previous lessons.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:
  The main objective of the course is to prepare student to be prepared to face situations where the photographer is a witness of an event to be shared through images. Shooting techniques will be interlaced to new perspectives in photography given by usage of specific SOFTWARE. Every week student will practice about techniques with specific assignments given day by da.
TEXTBOOK:
Book TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberCommentsFormatLocal BookstoreOnline Purchase
The Digital Photography Handbook: An Illustrated Step-by-step Guide (Paperback)Doug Harman (Author), David Jones (Author)Quercus Publishing Plc ISBN 10:1905204140 - ISBN 13: 978-1905204144     
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
Attendance 30
Final Project 30

-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
The final grade is based upon the following elements:
- Attendance
- midterm quiz
- Handbook study and suggested readings
- preparation of a personal exhibition: students have to choose a topic during the class, and work about it to get to a selection of photos that must demonstrate technical capacity, creativity and expressiveness in communicating the theme.

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
A = 94-100 B = 83-86 C = 73-76 D = 63-66 A- = 90-93 B- = 80-82 C-= 70-72 D-= 60-62 B+ = 87-89 C+ = 77-79 D+=67-69 F= 0-59
A/A- = Excellent command of the photographic language consistent with the level of proficiency. Appropriate command of image structure, software applications, project's organization . B+ =Very good command of the photographic language consistent with the level of proficiency, showing facility and very few errors. B =Good command of the photographic language, consistent with the level of proficiency. Competent manipulation of images' structure, with some evidence of development and complexity; Work will be broadly coherent.  B- =Satisfactory command of the photographic language, consistent with the level of proficiency. Work will not be coherent but comprehensible; photographic structure will be simple; medium frequency of errors C+ = Evidence of the ability to control the photographic language for the purpose of effective communication, consistent with the level of proficiency. Work will be comprehensible; image structure will be very simple and other errors will be frequent but not as serious to impede project comprehension. C , C- =Some evidence of the ability to control the photographic  language for the purpose of effective communication and project, consistent with the level of proficiency; high frequency of errors. D = Little evidence of the ability to control the photographic language for the purpose of making project. Little awareness of photographic techniques and software and numerous errors. F = No evidence of the ability to digital and photographic language; failure to make a photographic project.


-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
PARTICIPATION AND ATTENDANCE POLICY Students are supposed to come prepared to class and participate in all activities. Active participation is crucial, since the learning process requires considerable practice. Regular attendance is an essential component of class participation. Students are allowed three (3) absences. Additional absences will lower the participation portion of the grade considerably. Make sure your travel plans do not interfere with the class schedule. MAKE-UPS Individual arrangements for make-ups will be done only for students with medical emergencies or any other valid reasons. The Midterm and Final Exam can only be made up with approval from the Dean of Academic Affairs (Please see the John Cabot University Catalogue and Student Handbook). Please refer to the university catalog for the attendance and absence policy.
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

SessionSession FocusReading AssignmentOther AssignmentMeeting Place/Exam Dates
Session1A new approach to digital photography - Knowledge of the camera’s technical elements: The body, the lenses, the accessories. How to use the camera functions and settings, traditional and digital pictures, basic grammar of photography. Session2The basic elements of the camera and the correct usage of the lenses 2 the different meanings of light and shadow, the exposure, relationship between shutter speed and diaphragm aperture, the depth of field   
Session2The street Photography I - How to realize comprehensive photo documentation. Fieldwork    
Session3Masters of street photography - The style, the techniques, the images of the masters of Street Reportage    
Session4Photographic Techniques of Street Photography - The equipment, the lenses, the balance of the image, the perspective control, the depth of field, the best natural light, the choice of subjects and angles, how to avoid the obvious   
Session5The street Photography II - How to take pictures in unusual situations. Fieldwork    
Session6Analysis and screening of students’ photos   
Session7Midterm exam - Discuss your chosen theme Exam to evaluate knowledge taken during first half of the course and theorical knowledge studied on reading list’s texts   
Session8Planning a photographic project/ how to use software to organize your archive The choice of the theme, color or B/W?, style and creativity, relationship between the picture series, skills and troubles. The choice, the topics, the formats, the quality saving, the size, the storage, photo sharing and presentation   
Session9The street Photography III Fieldwork on final project    
Session10Visit to Photo Exhibits To be defined Assignment: prepare a selection of 10/15 pictures on CD-Rom for final examination to print on photographic 8”x10” size paper. 
Session11Photoshop Lightroom elements: how to use software to enhance the quality of pictures. I Advanced corrections, use of levels, contrast, color settings and correction, filters, style.   
Session12How to use software to organize your archive. The topics, the formats, the quality saving, the size, the storage, the share and the presentation.   
Session13The slide show: how to realize a multimedia presentation for final exhibition   
Session14Discuss your chosen theme and the images realized Presentation of your photos selected, which will be critiqued and analyzed by the instructors of the course, ISU jury, your fellow classmates according the established criteria. Realization of the Portfolio and General review of the arguments presented. Assignment: You will be required to realize a CD to document all of your work completed throughout this course. The CD will be left to the University Archive.