Art
121: Darkroom and Digital
Photography I
Spring 2008
Southwestern
College
Instructor: Siobhan Arnold
Email: siobhan.arnold@gmail.com
M/W 12:00-2:50
pm, Room 511
Office
hrs. by appt.
Course website: http://www.siobhanarnold.net/Art121/121index.htm
SWC Photo Dept. website: http://www.swccd.edu/~photography
Textbook
website: http://wps.prenhall.com/hss_london_photo_9
COURSE
DESCRIPTION:
Art
121 is an introductory course in black and white photography. This course focuses on photography as a
creative art and emphasizes the communication of ideas through the visual
image. Students will learn the
technical aspects of the medium including camera operation, darkroom technique,
and digital photographic workflow.
Though Art 121 is a highly technical course, students will also discuss
their concepts, ideas, and apply critical thinking to their own work and the
work of others.
COURSE
STRUCTURE:
This
course will include lectures and demonstrations introducing photographic
concepts and skills. There will be
quizzes to assess your comprehension of technical information. Assignments will encourage research,
problem solving, and creativity.
Each assignment will culminate in a group critique. Students will be required to keep all
handouts, assignment sheets, completed assignments. Additionally, students are expected to keep notes and
research in a notebook form.
COURSE
OBJECTIVES:
REQUIRED
TEXT:
A
Custom Edition of Photography 8 (or 9) by Barbara London, John Upton, Bill
Kobre, and Betsey Brille. This is
available in the campus bookstore.
Note:
If you plan to continue with your studies in photography, you should purchase
the full text edition of Photography by Upton, et al.
ACADEMIC
ACCOMODATIONS:
Disability
Support Services (DDS) of Southwestern College recommends that students with
disabilities discuss academic accommodation with their professors during the
first tow weeks of class. An
alternate format of this syllabus and class handouts are available upon
request. Call (619) 482-6512 or
email dss@swccd.edu.
ACADEMIC
DISHONESTY:
Plagiarism
and cheating constitute violations of academic honesty whether perpetrated
actively or passively. All
violation and suspected violations of academic honesty will result in action
taken against the parties involved and will be documented in writing with the
Dean of the School of Arts and Communication. Penalties may include no credit
on the assignment in question, course failure or formal charges of student
misconduct. Formal charges can
result in academic probation, suspension, or expulsion.
Lab Safety And Class Etiquette:
Information
on chemicals used in the lab and related health & safety is available upon
request. Students with concerns should check with the instructor or lab tech,
(Carlos Richardson). If you have an allergic reaction or have an accident,
notify me or the lab tech immediately!
Avoid direct contact with chemistry (this means your skin)! No food or drinks in the labÉthis is
for your safety.
Disruptive
behavior to the class will not be tolerated, can reduce your final grade, and
if continued is grounds for dismissal from the class. Keep cell phones silent during class! Ringing phones are
considered disruptive behavior! Do not answer phones in class. Clean up after yourselves! Treat the
equipment with respect. Photography equipment is expensive and not easily
replaced.
ATTENDANCE
POLICY
The
California Education Code sets these guidelines. Three unexcused absences will
lower your final grade by one full letter grade. Three tardies will count as one unexcused absence. Students are responsible for officially
withdrawing from classes they are no longer attending.
While
the attendance policy is strict, I understand that circumstances arise that may
prevent you from coming to class.
Please make every effort to contact me prior to class if an unusual
circumstance (i.e. illness, extreme family emergency, observance of religious
holidayÉ).
GRADING
AND EVALUATION
This
course requires active participation.
All assignments will culminate in a group critique. Your participation in discussion and
critique are a necessary component of your successful completion of this
course.
You
will be asked to share opinions, responses and observations related to the
content of the class. Your
participation is also required in demonstrations, lectures and exercises as
well as in the completion of assignments.
Grading
for assignments and quizzes will be based on a 100 point scale.
100-90=
A 79-70=
C
89-80=
B 69-60=
D below
59= F
You
may turn in one late assignment per semester. The late assignment must be turned in
no later than one week past the due date.
Any more than one late assignment will result in no credit.
If
for some reason you are unsatisfied with your grade, I will allow assignment
Òre-doÕsÓ. Any re-doÕs/re-shoots
must be turned in prior to the last day of class.
Criteria for grading of visual
assignments is as follows:
I
will go over in detail what each of these items entails as we approach our
first assignment.
One
Extra Credit opportunity
will be accepted. You may
attend a photography exhibition outside of class requirements/field trips and
write a short essay (one page) about your experience. Your essay must include the following: the title of the
show, the artists included, titles and descriptions of at least three different
works, and your thoughtful opinions about the form and content of the
works. Comments like, Òit suckedÓ
or Òit was really coolÓ are not thoughtful, critical comments. Use the skills you gain in class
critiques to write an informative, well written essay. I will let you know about
events/exhibitions that you may be interested in.
In
addition to assignment grades, your overall grade will be determined by
weighing the following factors:
Assignments /Skills Development 50%
Quizzes 20%
Participation 30%
There
are a number of required supplies for this course. I have estimated some of the costs below. See the next page for locations/contact
info of photographic retailers.
(you will need at
least10-15 rolls of film). $3-5 per roll.
NOTE: DO NOT purchase black and white film
which requires C-41 processing such as Kodak T400CN of Ilford XP2.
These cannot be processed by hand in our darkroom!
NOTE: DO NOT OPEN your box of paper! It is light sensitive and can only be
opened in the darkroom.
*Many
of these items are available for checkout here in the lab on a limited basis.
LOCAL/REGIONAL
RESOURCES:
|
NELSONÕS
PHOTOGRPAHY 1909
India St. San
Diego, CA 92101 (619)
234-6621 http://www.nelsonphotosupplies.com La
Jolla Store: 7720 Fay
Avenue La Jolla, CA 92101 (858) 729-6565 |
FREESTYLE
PHOTOGRAPHIC SUPPLIES 5124
Sunset Blvd. Los
Angeles, CA 90027 (800)
292-6137 and (323) 660-3460 fax (800) 616-3686 and (323) 660-4885 will
ship |
|
GEORGEÕS CAMERA & VIDEO 3837 30th Street San Diego, CA 92104 (619) 297-3544 |
CALUMET
PHOTOGRAPHICS 830
W. Valley Parkway Suite 330 Escondido,
CA 92025 (760)
737-6002 other locations in CA will ship |
|
chula vista photo supply 367 3rd Ave Chula Vista, CA 91910 (619) 425-2400 |
Professional Photographic Repair 7910 Raytheon Rd San Diego, CA 92111 (858) 277-3700 procamerarepair.com |
|
|
KURTÕS CAMERA REPAIR 7811 Mission Gorge Rd # E San Diego, CA 92120 (619) 286-1810 kurtscamerarepair.com |
READING AND RESOURCES:
Southwestern College Library:
You will find the library holdings on photography under the TR
heading in the stacks. You are encouraged to take advantage of this resource.
Galleries & Museums:
A number of local galleries feature works by photographers. Here
are a few:
Museum of Photography, Balboa Park SD www.mopa.org
Contemporary Museum of Art, La Jolla www.mcasandiego.org/home.asp
Contemporary Museum of Art, Downtown SD
Cicuit, Tijuana
Casa De La Cultura, Tijuana
Various Galleries, North Park SD (Ray At Night)