Assignment 1 – My World

My World Assignment

William Eggleston

For this assignment, I want you to take photographs of your world. These images may be of your neighborhood, hobbies, home, culture, and/or really anything that you would like to share about your life, interests, and personality. For this project, you will be required to shoot everyday and use any available digital camera. Try to shoot at least 5-10 images each day.

When making your daily photographs, consider photographing something that you weren’t expecting to see, something you enjoy seeing everyday, the places, people, and things around you. Think about how photography can elevate the ordinary or how the camera can be used like a visual diary. Shoot several photographs throughout the day and then select your favorite from each day to post to your blog and turn in for critique. You will do this for five CONSECUTIVE days. Be thoughtful about your photographs and shoot with intention.

Hint: For images to be successful, you will need to slow down and shoot a lot of images. 

Things to ask yourself when shooting:

·   How is the photograph framed and why?

·   Is the light quality working for you or against you?

·   What would happen if you stepped back 10 feet or got closer to your subject? Or if you stood on a chair or    

    were to lie on the ground?

·   Why are you interested in the photograph you just made – and if you are not interested in it, why and what   

    could you do to change that? 

Assignments Criteria:

·       Shoot Everyday – To complete this assignment on time you must begin by Monday, September 5, 2013

·       At the end of each day, Review your photographs

·       Select the photograph you are the most excited about from each day – Even if you are excited about multiple photographs from one day (which I hope is the case!) you still must select only one photograph

·       Upload your 5 Fav photos to your blog in 1 blog post: Title post as “My World”

The final work work will be evaluated on concept and composition. We will not be printing these images.

Due:   Friday, September 6, 2013

Post your favorite 5 images (1 from each day) on your blog BEFORE class on September 6th.

And bring the files from ALL your daily images on your hard drive to class on Friday. We will use these files for our first lab exercise in LightRoom and PhotoShop.

You will be graded on:

·       Shooting consecutively (I will review the metadata on your photographs, which indicates the date shot)

               –  Remember, your metadata will show when the images were taken and they must have been taken  

                  between August 31 and September 6, 2013.

·       Ability to upload your photographs to your blog by the deadline.

·       Content / Intentionality of your images

For the critique:   1. Bring in all 5 files saved as screen resolution jpegs and named:

       LASTNAME_myworld1.jpg, LASTNAME_myworld2.jpg.

       You will turn these files into me and project them in class for critique

  2.  Bring remaining images in on a hard drive. 

Syllabus

  

PHO 111 and Introduction to Digital Media

COURSE SYLLABUS: Fall 2013

Instructor: Kristina Smith

Office Hours: by appointment

Email: kristinasmithphoto@gmail.com

COURSE INFORMATION

Materials – Textbooks, Readings, Supplementary Readings:

Due to the rising cost of photo textbooks that are outdated by the time of publication, there is no mandatory text. Instead of a textbook, it is recommended that students get a Lynda.com account, an online tutorial for software and photographic information.

Optional Textbooks

         Photography, Upton and London, 7^th, 8^th, or 9^th Edition

         Photography, The Essential Way, Upton, Stone, London
         Adobe Photoshop CS6 for Photographers, Martin Evening

         Adobe Photoshop CS6 Classroom in a Book, Adobe Creative Team

         Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 4 Book, Martin Evening

Course Description:

Introduction to Digital Media (IDM) is an intensive semester-long course in which you will learn the technical and conceptual tools to understand the basics of digital media as well as begin to learn the language of visual imagery. In this class, you will begin to explore the photographic fundamentals of composition and lighting, as well as build a blog as a means of communicating and presenting your work to a wide audience.

Student Learning Outcomes:

         At the conclusion of this course students should be able to demonstrate the following:

                        - editing and archiving digital files using digital asset management software

•        (Lightroom and Photoshop)

                        - how to make color correct inkjet prints by using technical software

•        (Lightroom, Photoshop, Canon Printers)

                        - an understanding of the photographic vocabulary

                        - how to analyze and interpret photographic images

                        - effective critique by participation in critical evaluation regarding your own work and

                           the work of others

                        - create a professionally presented portfolio of images (printing and matting)

                        - have submitted a weekly blog of commentary and assignments

                        - have entered artwork in no less than two (2) competitive contests

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

Instructional / Methods / Activities Assessments

This course will consist of a series of photographic assignments and exercises to assist you in achieving

the objectives of this course. Each week you will work on various combinations of shooting, blogging,

and participating in critiques and discussions.

This will be a fun learning experience so please bring your energy, enthusiasm, and a willingness

to share into this class.  It is important to attend class, keep your blog up to date, and turn in your

assignments on time.

Maintaining a Blog:

         In-class assignments, reviews of other art blogs and photographic projects will all be

         posted to your blog. Blog posts will be accepted without penalty until 11:59 pm on the due date.

Articles and Reviews:

         On a weekly basis you will review other art blogs and write a review. These

         reviews will be posted to your blog.

In-Class Assignments:

         Throughout the semester there will be in-class assignments. These assignments

         will be either turned in to me or posted to your blog.

Art Opportunities Applications:

         You will be required to submit artwork to two different art opportunities.

Projects:

         There will be 3 projects throughout the semester. Project assignments will be posted to your

blog and also turned in as digital files. We will project your files in class for critique. Critiques should be thought of like an exam. You should come to class prepared to present your work and participate in class discussion.

Final Project:

         Your final project will consist of a 10-15 image photographic project on a single theme. You

will be required to submit a proposal and a mid-term before submitting your final project. The mid-term will consist of 5 photographs turned in as digital files. At the time of the final critique, you will need to have your final 10-15 photographs printed and matted. You will also need to turn in these photographs as digital files as well as post them to your blog.

Grading

20%     Article and Review Posts (2% each)

20%     In Class Assignments

30%     Projects (10% each)

25%     Final Project

5%       Art Opportunity application submissions (2.5% each)

TECHNOLOGY REQUIREMENTS

Students will have access to a Macintosh OS X computer and print lab equipment with all the software

needed to complete photographic assignments and exercises.

Students will need to provide the following:

         • Digital camera and media cards.

-       Note: Please find the instruction manual and read it / make sure that the camera is in good working order. Cameras are also available from the 3rd Floor of Journalism Check-Out for student's use.

         • An external hard drive

-       Two hard drives would be better. (Back up your files!)

-       Hard drive should be at least 500GB.

         • Printing and Matting costs 

COMMUNICATION AND SUPPORT

Interaction with Instructor Statement:

         Please contact me through email.

         Email: kristinasmithphoto@gmail.com

         Office Hours: By Appointment Only.

                        **Please contact me at least one day in advance to schedule an appointment.**

        

COURSE AND UNIVERSITY PROCEDURES/POLICIES

Course Specific Procedures:

Procedures & Policies for Submission of assignments

A.    Due Date:

-       All assignments and exercises are due on the date and time given by the instructor and must be complete and ready for presentation at the beginning of class. Incomplete work at any stage will not be accepted. Any work that is late will be reduced by one letter grade. Assignments will not be accepted if they are more than a week late. All images must have been shot, processed and printed this semester for this class only.

B.    Print Submission:

-       All work must be from files that were produced during this semester.  No images from previous classes can be submitted.  All printed assignments will be printed on 8 X 10 or larger inkjet paper and presented in a professional manner. Work must be handed in at the beginning of the critique designated for that particular assignment to be counted “on time.”

Attendance:

A.        Regular and punctual attendance is required and will be recorded at all class and lab meetings. No class lectures will be repeated. Students are solely responsible for obtaining notes and missed information from the instructor or classmates. Note: A total of 4 absences from any class meetings (lecture or lab) will result in a failing grade ("F") for the course and you will be dropped from the class. Excused absences are listed under Class Attendance (A13.02) in the A&M-Commerce Procedures. Verifiable excuses for absences must be turned in to the instructor. Students using cell phones, text messaging, & social networks during class lectures are marked absent.

B.         Attendance and participation on all critique days is mandatory. This includes critiques  that are broken into two days because of class size. Failure to attend or have work at any critique may result in failure of the assignment.

Expected Behavior and Cell Phone Use:

Students are expected to treat instructors and fellow students with respect. This includes, but is not

limited to proper use of electronic devices during class. Computers are for class work and not for

surfing the internet or checking email and social networking. Students are not allowed to use cell

phones or music players in any capacity during class lectures or demonstrations. Students may only

use electronic devices quietly during work hours. Cell phones that are heard, seen, or used for texting

during class will be confiscated until the end of class. Students are responsible for retrieving

confiscated devices from instructor after class.

University Specific Procedures:

ADA Statement

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute that provides comprehensive civil rights protection for persons with disabilities.  Among other things, this legislation requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities.  If you have a disability requiring an accommodation, please contact:

Office of Student Disability Resources and Services

Texas A&M University-Commerce

Gee Library 132

Phone (903) 886-5150 or (903) 886-5835

Fax (903) 468-8148

StudentDisabilityServices@tamu-commerce.edu

Student Disability Resources & Services

Student Conduct

All students enrolled at the University shall follow the tenets of common decency and acceptable

behavior conducive to a positive learning environment.  (See Code of Student Conduct from Student

Guide Handbook).

                                                                  RESOURCES

Retail and Internet Sources for Supplies:

1. ARLINGTON CAMERA:

544 West Randol Mill Rd.

Arlington, Texas

817-261-8131

2. FREESTYLE:

5124 Sunset Blvd.

Los Angeles, CA 90027

Phone: (800) 292-6137

http://www.freestylephoto.biz/

3. B&H

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/

800-952-1815

4. CALUMET PHOTOGRAPHIC

http://www.calumetphoto.com

1-800-calumet

5. KEH Camera

www.keh.com

1-800-342-5534

6. Competitive Camera

2025 Irving Blvd.

Dallas, TX 75207

(214) 744-5511

www.competitivecameras.com

7. Denton Camera Exchange

117 Piner St.

Denton, TX 76201

(940) 206-5112

8. Imaging Spectrum

1101 Summit Ave.

Plano, TX 75074

800-342-9294

http://www.imagingspectrum.com/

9. Red River Paper

8330 Directors Row

Dallas, TX

888-248-8774

http://www.redrivercatalog.com/

You can also find cameras at Costco, Walmart and other local retailers. Additionally online retailers such as Amazon can be retailers to look at.

A good resource to compare cameras is DP Review and Steve’s Digi-Cams

http://www.dpreview.com/ www.steves-digicams.com

External Hard Drive Resources

I have found G-Technology (G-Drive) to be a good and reliable brand for external hard drives.

NewEgg, http://www.newegg.com

Fry’s Electronics, Best buy, or other local electronics supplier

Harddrives and flash drives are sold at many retailers, electronic, and computer stores.

I

n PHO 111, IDM, each class will consist of one or more of the following activities:

Lectures on Contemporary Art, Technical Demonstrations, Guided in-class shooting sessions,

Studio work time for assignments, Individual and Group Critiques, and Discussions

                                                COURSE OUTLINE / CALENDAR

In PHO 111 IDM, we will be shooting still and perhaps video shooting assignments as well as a variety of technical exercises. 

Please post all of your assignments to your blog.  Please include additional research and comments for your assignments on your blog as well.  We will work on assignments according to the needs of the class. We may not get to all of them, we may do them in a different order, or I may add/delete assignments depending on the individual class.

The following is the basic outline of what will be covered:

Blogging

Introduction to the 3rd Floor Check-out area

Introduction to the Print, Mount, Matting Lab

Introduction to Lightroom

Introduction to PhotoShop

Introduction to Photo Design and Composition

Introduction to Printing, Matting, Mounting, Framing and Presentation

Introduction to Cameras and Lenses

Possible Assignments:

Self Portrait/Portraits

ABC’s

Siskind

David Hockney

Night Shots

Panoramas

Still-Life/object

Multiple Me

Possible Field Trips: Dallas/Fort Worth

Possible Shooting Field Trips: Cooper, Sulphur Springs, Greenville, Paris

COURSE OUTLINE / CALENDAR