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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "AS 289-3"
COURSE NAME: "Digital Photography"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Spring 2014
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Paolo Soriani
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS: TH9:00 AM 11:45 AM
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 (each being 2:45 hours long) dedicated to PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY.
The students will be able to create their own Portfolio, including 15/20 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 Adobe Lightroom  5.0

SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
This is a course in basic digital photography, composed of 14 sessions (each being 2:45 hours long) dedicated to PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY, and 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, subject and background, editing with Adobe Lightroom  5.0, Photoshop CS6 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 target of the course is to prepare students to learn the use of the NEW CAMERAS, their settings, and the new perspectives in photography given by the use of specific SOFTWARE.
TEXTBOOK:
NONE
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
photography portfolio 10
Attendance 30
mid-term test 30
final 30

-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AWork of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensive knowledge of relevant information or content. This type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory and has an element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading beyond that required for the course.
BThis is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised.There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluatetheory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture andreference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments.
CThis is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.
DThis level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material.Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included.In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail.
FThis work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.

-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

Session1 A 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. The basic elements of the camera and the correct usage of the lenses. The different meanings of light and shadow, the exposure, relationship between shutter speed and diaphragm aperture, the depth of field.       Select / Modify Delete
Session2 The PORTRAIT 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 - Fieldwork       Select / Modify Delete
Session3 Masters of PORTRAIT photography The style, the techniques, the images of the masters through their websites or Photo-galleries. How to define your own style in photography.       Select / Modify Delete
Session4 The PORTRAIT Photography I
How to take portraits using natural lights. Techniques indoor. Fieldwork
      Select / Modify Delete
Session5 Analysis and screening of students’ photos       Select / Modify Delete
Session6

The PORTRAIT Photography II

How to take portraits using natural lights. Techniques outdoor. Fieldwork
      Select / Modify Delete
Session7 Mid-term Exam to evaluate knowledge taken during first half of the course and theorical knowledge studied on reading list’s texts       Select / Modify Delete
Session8 Planning 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       Select / Modify Delete
Session9 The PORTRAIT Photography III
Fieldwork on final project
      Select / Modify Delete
Session10 Photoshop Lightroom 5 elements: how to use software to enhance the quality of your pictures. I Basic corrections, use of levels, contrast, adjusting for colour, filters.   Assignment: prepare a selection of 10/15 pictures on CD-Rom for final examination to print on photographic 8”x10” size paper.   Select / Modify Delete
Session11 Photoshop Lightroom 5 elements: how to use software to enhance the quality of your pictures. II Black and White gray scale, saving formats, relationship between files and prints, the slide show.       Select / Modify Delete
Session12 How to use software to organize your archive. The topics, the formats, the quality saving, the size, the storage, the share and the presentation.       Select / Modify Delete
Session13 The slide show: how to realize a multimedia presentation for final exhibition       Select / Modify Delete
Session14 Discuss 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.