ART 208: Photography. 4 hours (2, lecture; 2, lab), 3 credits.

Course Description
ART 208: Photography.

4 hours (2, lecture; 2, lab), 3 credits. Camera-use, lighting, developing, printing, and enlarging. Emphasis on creative approaches. History and tradition of analog materials, including development techniques such as photograms and pinhole photography. PREREQ: ART 108.

Meets Mondays 1-4:30 in room 021 and the darkroom

This course is an introduction to the principles and elements of black and white photography. The focus of the course will emphasize photography as a means of personal creative expression. 

Instructor Information 

Terry Towery, Associate Professor 

Terry.Towery@lehman.cuny.edu 

extension 8260 

office 045 

office hours Wednesdays 3-5 and Mondays by appointment

Required materials:
intellect, wit and good humor. 

Materials list

In an attempt to defray costs for the course I have chosen to use online resources in lieu of a text book. 

I recommend National Geographic's ultimate photo guide
This is free ebook might also be helpful Basic Photography by Jeff Curto 

AND
Criticizing Photographs An Introduction to Understanding ImagesTerry Barrett ISBN#0-767411862

Suggested Text If you prefer a written text, I recommend Upton and London's book any edition is fine.

recommended materials:

If you prefer a standard Textbook
Henry Horenstein's Basic Photography ISBN#0316373141 as a reference

I also recommended text Pinhole Photography by Eric Renner Focal Press ISBN#0-240-803507 

Useful Links:
National Geographic's ultimate photo guide
Strobist lighting guide
B&H tutorials page
Photogs rights
American Suburb X
DPreview
Photograph Magazine exhibitons listings
26 Seminal Readings on Photogrpahy
digital Rev

Assessable tasks:

Develop a visual vocabulary  

Introduce visual literacy. 

Apply elements of design.

Use tools and materials effectively.

Create original objects of art in a specific medium.

Select media appropriate to concepts and forms.

Analyze artwork within a personal and historical context.

Demonstrate a step by step problem solving process.

Defend visual projects through individual and group critiques.

Reflect on art after visiting museums, galleries, and artists' studios.

Following are How To guides for developing film and making enlargements:

Ilford's Processing your first roll of black and White film
Kodak's Black and White Tips for Darkroom enthusiasts

Course Learning Objectives

  1. Demonstrated proficiency in fundamental analog photographic processes as shown by the student’s ability to shoot, process and output lens-based work
  2. Engagement in the coursework and development of photographic work flow
  3. Attendance
  4. Completion of assignments to specification as described in the syllabus or assignment sheet
  5. Demonstrate an increasing fluency with contemporary lens-based technical processes.
  6. The ability to merge technique and content in lens based images produced for weekly and long term assignments.
  7. Participation in group discussions, field trips, demonstrations, critiques and collaborations 

Exhibition visitation reports:

You must do TWO photography exhibition reports. These should be more than one, but not more than two, double spaced pages. I want you to see and experience photography first hand and not through reproduction. Photography in New York is the best place to find out about exhibitions.

Use of Technology and Blackboard Information (if applicable)

Blackboard
I do not use this ill designed awkward tool. Chek the web site devoted to this course for any information.

If you have any questions about your Lehman email address or your password, or if you have any problems accessing the college website please call the computer helpdesk at 718-960-1111.

Grading Policy

Grading Criteria:
20% Still life
5% photogram
5% pinhole camera
15% Narrative non-narrative sequence
15% Open ASsignment
15% Final Portfolio
10% Oral presentations
10% Museum visitation reports
The 2 Exhibition visitation reports are 10% (5% each) these should be included in your final portfolio
5% You must attend Photo Expo or Aipad depending on if it is the Fall or Spring semester.
Class participation, attendance and participation in critiques are required

Critiques are the Art department's equivalent of exams. Be on time and prepared. Missing a critique is the same as missing an exam on a more traditional academic class. There are no make-up critiques as they are conducted as a group discussion. . 

in many of my classes the work is not complete until it is an object, usually a print. Submitting files or negatives of unprinted work is may not be acceptable.

Assignments must be ready for presentation and grading on time. Every session an assignment is late will count as a grade markdown. You must attend the critique without your work to have the opportunity to re submit it. If you do not attend the critique you fail the assignment. All of the work you submit for grading must be your own. You may not download images, animations, or any other material/graphics/text off of the web. As well, you may not scan material from books or magazines to use in your assignments. Any assignment containing any such material will automatically receive a failing grade. I may request evidence of your creative process - therefore, save and have available any source material that you produced - photographs, sketches, items that you scanned, etc, as well as any intermediate digital files. By doing so, you protect yourself from undue scrutiny.

You are expected to spend considerable amount of time outside of class shooting photographs and working in the lab. It is crucial that you come to class prepared. If you are shooting digitally, you must edit your images and label them appropriately. We simply cannot waste class time while you search for the correct image.

Exhibition visitation reports: You must do TWO photography exhibition reports. These should be more than one, but not more than two, double spaced pages. I want you to see and experience photography first hand and not through reproduction. Photography in New York is the best place to find out about exhibitions.

Attendance Policy 

Attendance is REQUIRED. If you miss more than three sessions you fail this course. Students are expected to attend all class sessions and be prepared and on time for the beginning of the class session. This may mean doing outside preparation PRIOR to class such as editing your images for presentation. Classes begin on time, so be in the classroom at the scheduled hour. Additionally, each class will contain information pertinent to the assignments, and each week builds upon information learned the previous weeks, so, make the commitment to be here for the classroom sessions or do not take the class.

Class starts on time. It is your responsibility (DURING THE BREAK) to make sure I put you on the rolls if you arrive late 
3 lates = 1 absence
3 Absences is one letter grade dedustion from course earned credits
4 or more absences and I will fail you for the course based on my own discretion. I am quite strict about this. Miss my class and you fail. 

All exams, programs, and homework must be completed in order and on time to complete this course, regardless of lateness. Unexcused late course work will lose 10% of its points for each weekday that it is late. Arrangements for "excused lateness" must be made in advance and approved by the instructor. 

The course often has lab workdays. Please be prepared for lab sessions by bringing materials to all classes to work in the lab. Failure to do so will be considered an absence from class.

Attendance  (from student handbook)
Faculty members may fail any student who is absent for a significant portion of class time. A significant portion of class time is defined as three absences for classes that meet once per week and four absences for classes that meet two or more times per week. Lateness or early departure from class may also translate into one full absence. 

Students are expected to attend classes regularly, and instructors are required to record attendance for grading and counseling purposes. Individual instructors, as well as departments or degree programs, may establish specific attendance requirements. Instructors have the right to weigh attendance and class participation in determining grades. It is the student's responsibility to ascertain the effect attendance may have on the grade in a course. Students receiving financial aid must be certified as attending classes regularly for continuing eligibility.

AIPAD and PHOTO EXPO

Course Calendar

Week

Lecture Topic

lab Topic

Assignment

Readings

1

Class requirements set forth. Orientation to the facilities.
First assignment given - The still life - allegory v metaphor v simile

35mm on a starving artist budget

some guy's top ten vintage manual SLRs

Camera, exposure and Gray card discussion

Materials list

Get your supplies BY NEXT CLASS!

Shoot at least one roll of film by next class

Bring exposed film, tank reels, thermometer, all chemicals and containers.

Using a gray card 

Cliche

Depth of field

2

https://www.ilfordphoto.com/beginners-guide-processing-film/Process Film

Ilford's https://www.ilfordphoto.com/beginners-guide-processing-film/Processing your first roll of black and White film
Kodak's Black and White Tips for Darkroom enthusiasts

excellent overview of the film workflow

GIve Oral presentation assignmentt

Bring Photo Paper and small translucent objects to next class

Processing film:

Massive developing chart


Ilford's Processing your first roll of black and White film


Kodak's Black and White Tips for Darkroom enthusiasts

3

Photograms and contact sheets

 

Bring pinhole camera materials

pinhole tut

4

Pinhole camera making session

Pinhole photo information 

 

Bring photo paper and negatives to next class 

off-camera-lighting-gear-recommendations

5

Making enlargements Read test strips hand out

Making your first print Handout from Ilford

 

dodging and burning of iconic images

6

Printing session

Next session is a CRITIQUE Prints MUST be ready at the BEGINNING OF CLASS

 

7

First CRITIQUE Bring Still life assignment, photograms, and pinhole images to critique 

 

Narrative or non narrative sequence

 

8

NArrative lecture

Lighting for black and white

 

 

9

Printing session

 

 

 

10

Open work session

 

 

 

11

Crit NArrative sequence assignment

 

Open Assignment discussed

Students are to write their own assignment and submit it for approval. It should have a concise theme or idea and must involve at least 100 frames and 6 final images

 

12

OpenWork session

 

 

 

13

Oral Presentations

 

 

 

14

Demonstration on Spot toning and presentation of works on paper

 

 

 

15

FINAL CRITIQUE AND LAB CLEANUP!

 

DUE:

Final open project 

Final Protfolio of 20 best images

 

 

This Calendar is tentative and may need to be changed to accomodate . It may be necessary to change these dates to accommodate unforseen circumstances such as visiting lecturers. In addition to the above dates there may be a quiz on the technical aspects of photography. There will usually be lab time given at the end of the class session. I plan to lecture the first half of the class sessions and give lab time the last part so please be prepared for lab sessions by bringing materials to all classes to work in the lab. Failure to do so may be considered an absence from class.

 

Accommodating Disabilities
Lehman College is committed to providing access to all programs and curricula to all students. Students with disabilities who may need classroom accommodations are encouraged to register with the Office of Student Disability Services. For more information, please contact the Office of Student Disability Services, Shuster Hall, Room 238, phone number, 718-960-8441. 

The Academic Center for Excellence (ACE) and the Science Learning Center (SLC) The Academic Center for Excellence (ACE) and the Science Learning Center (SLC) are two of the tutoring centers on campus. The ACE provides appointment-based and drop-in tutoring in the humanities, social sciences, and writing, as well as general writing and academic skills workshops. The SLC provides drop-in tutoring for natural science courses. To obtain more information about the ACE and the SLC, please visit their website at http://www.lehman.edu/issp, or please call the ACE at 718-960-8175, and the SLC at 718-960-7707.

Academic Integrity and Plagiarism Policy

Don't Cheat - don't steal - don't lie

All of the assignments must be completed by the date listed on your syllabus, as late work is not accepted in this course.
Lastly, learning is synthesis of ideas. Try to use the ideas presented in this class to your best advantage by putting them together with what you already know to produce high quality work. If you have problems, see me.

Additonal statements may be found in student handbook. For more information refer to http://www.lehman.cuny.edu/student-affairs/documents/student-handbook-02.pdf.

Classroom Specific Policies
In Class: Mute phones, no e-mailing, no social media, no surfing the net, No IMing, it is a tobacco free campus. No food or drink in the labs or classroom. 

Checking your facebook/social media/email during class time isstrictly prohibited and a valid reason for me to dismiss you from class. This will count as an absence. Everyone around you knows you are not paying attention to the material including myself. 

Avoid cliches

 Responsibility 
Students are responsible for all assignments, even if they are absent.  Late projects/papers, failure to complete the readings assigned for class discussion, and lack of preparedness for in-class discussions and presentations will jeopardize your successful completion of this course. 

 Participation 
Class participation is an essential part of class and includes: contributing meaningfully to class critiques and discussions, keeping up with reading, active participation in group work, and coming to class regularly and on time.  

Include statements important to the instructor such as use of cell phones, lateness, make-up exams, class participation, etc.

Papers: do not plagarize your work. The bulk of your papers must be your own words/thoughts. You may quote source material, but this may not comprise more than 20% of your paper. You must provide footnotes and a bibliography if you reference any outside sources. If I catch you plagarizing, you will automatically fail the entire course.

Delays 
I rely on the MTA to get to work. If the trains arent running I can't get to class. Regardless of school policy. In rare instances, I may be delayed arriving to class.  If I have not arrived by the time class is scheduled to start, you must wait a minimum of thirty minutes for my arrival.  In the event that I will miss class entirely, a sign will be posted at the classroom indicating your assignment for the next class meeting. Alternatively, check your COLLEGE email account for any other information. 

Other:

This is college. It is for adults who want to learn. Sometimes it is hard. Sometimes it is fun. Oftentimes, it is both. Most jobs return what you put into them and if you give this course maximum effort, you will learn and earn a high grade.

You have a job as a student. That job is to come to class, be attentive, ask questions, keep your mind open to new ideas and fulfill assigned projects on time. Doing your job will assist you in being perceived as a serious student.

In an educational forum, it is always best to inform the professor in advance about problems with correct completion of an assigned project. When understood and anticipated, contingencies can often be handled easily.

You are the one who will determine whether or not this course is a success for you. Take your work here seriously and you will learn things, have fun and enhance your GPA.

 

Grading Standards
A  [4.0; 96–100%]
Work of exceptional quality, which well goes beyond the stated goals of the course

A- [3.7; 91 –95%]
Work of exceptionally high quality

B+ [3.3; 86–90%]
Work of high quality that indicates substantially higher than average abilities

B  [3.0; 81–85%]
Very good work that satisfies the goals of the course

B- [2.7; 76–80%]
Good work

C+ [2.3; 71–75%]
Above-average work

C  [2.0; 66–70%]
Average work that indicates an understanding of the course material; passable
Satisfactory completion of a course is considered to be a grade of C or higher.

C- [1.7; 61–65%]
Passing work but below good academic standing

D  [1.0; 46–60%]
Below-average work that indicates a student does not fully understand the assignments;
Probation level though passing for credit

F  [0.0; 0–45%]
Failure, no credit

Grades of Incomplete
I do not give an I unless you are hospitalized or some other extreme unusual and extenuating circumstances. This grade is given for MEDICAL reasons. THere is a lot fo pressure on the faculty to NOT give I grades. I will not entertain a grade of I if you simply didnt get your work done. This mark is not given automatically but only upon the student’s request and at the discretion of the instructor. A Request for Incomplete must be accompanied by a medical doctor's note.