Syllabus

Art 277: Digital Photography 2, Spring 2021

Course Instructor: Anna Chupa

Class: MW 8:25 – 11:05 a.m.

Office Hours: MW 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
other hours by appointment

Art 277 An opportunity to produce a unified body of work and to explore digital photography on a deeper level with an emphasis on conceptually driven images. Experimental process encouraged. Prerequisite: Art 7 or permission of instructor. May be repeated for credit. (HU)

Summary Maintain a blog that records your ongoing research into the field of photography and work progress and complete 3 assigned works and 2-3 independent assignments that you design using the course goals to determine your individual direction. Each assignment will be presented three times: preliminary research, pre-crit, final critique.

Student work may be reproduced for sample material in print and online. Blog entries may be reproduced on the LUAG site.

Process

Preliminary Research: Be prepared to show examples from other artists who are or have been working with the same technical constraints, content, conceptual directions, or stylistic approaches you wish to pursue. Discuss influences and work that inspires you and how your work will be similar to the examples shown and what will be unique about the directions you will pursue. Show preliminary shots you have tried.

Pre-crit: This should be when you are sufficiently far enough along to get a critique from before you finalize your work. You are ready for input.

Final Critique: Your work should show revision based on input from critique and reflection. You are finished and ready to move on to another project. As with any other work, you will take comments into consideration for revision but you should go into the critique thinking you are essentially finished with this concept and the final output plan.

Lab Fee Enrolling in this course requires the payment of a $100 Studio Lab Fee to be charged through the Bursar. This fee will be used to supply the student with SOME of the materials required to complete the course. Lab fees cover the cost of software used in the course for photographic editing, drawing tablets and electronic storage (not backup) and $65 towards the cost of printing a book. Students must provide their own DSLR camera with a variable zoom lens or rent one from the department. Students will be expected to purchase additional materials as needed based on their individual projects.

Materials Portable backup drive capable of storing at least 500 G, notebook or sketchbook or both, supplies for mixed media work as neededYou can also expect to pay $25-35 each for one online exhibition submission fee.*

Evaluation You are expected to be active participants in all levels of course activities and to promptly complete your assignments. Projects will be evaluated on demonstrated technical competence, aesthetic merit and well-crafted execution, evidence of research to support concept development, the creation of compelling and significant content that
warrants sustained and repeated attention, and the quality of participation. Grade will be reduced for late work.

Please keep in mind that, according to university grading policies, C+ and C are average or competent, not poor, and that B+, B B- are good. A and A- are to be reserved only for outstanding or excellent work. I generally give very few “A”s, and they are reserved for work that is extraordinary.

Exhibition submissions 5%
Blog: 10%
Projects 85%

94–100 A 90–93 A- 87–89 B+ 83–86 B 80–82 B– 77–79 C+
73–76 C 70–72 C– 67–69 D+ 63–66 D 60–62 D– 0–59 F

Each assignment in the course must be completed to receive a passing grade.

Attendance
Attendance is mandatory and will be taken at the beginning of each session. Though I do appreciate an email concerning an absence, it will still be considered unexcused except under the most urgent circumstances. For each absence after two absences, a Section 3 notice will be sent to the Dean of Students. The final cumulative grade will automatically be lowered for 3 or more absences. In addition, every 3 late arrivals will count as an absence. Arriving 20 minutes late will count as a full absence. Lateness is defined as arriving more than five minutes after class starts. Leaving during class and/or leaving class early will also be considered as an absence.

Active participation during class is expected.
Bring your equipment (camera, hard drive, etc.) to class. Use of email, web browsing and cell phones during class is not permitted. Readings, online lectures, gallery preparation and web-based assignments should be completed before the class in which they will be introduced. Check the Coursesite outline and announcements frequently for updates.

Accommodations for Students with Disabilities:

If you have a disability for which you are or may be requesting accommodations, please contact both your instructor and the Office of Academic Support Services, Williams Hall, Suite 301 (610-758-4152) as early as possible in the semester. You must have documentation from the Academic Support Services office before accommodations can be granted.

The Principles of Our Equitable Community:

Lehigh University endorses The Principles of Our Equitable Community [http://www.lehigh.edu/~inprv/initiatives/PrinciplesEquity_Sheet_v2_032212.pdf]. We expect each member of this class to acknowledge and practice these Principles. Respect for each other and for differing viewpoints is a vital component of the learning environment inside and outside the classroom.

Academic Integrity

If a portion of your work (e.g., in a blog or a montage) is not your own, you must cite the source completely. Images are also copyrighted. Even when you utilize “copy-free” work from Wikimedia Commons, there are rules for how the author is to be credited. From the Library Tutorials for Research Success: (http://library.lehigh.edu/teaching_support/information_literacy_teaching_research_skills/tutorials_research_success): “You need to steer clear of any form of plagiarism to be an ethical and information literate student, one confident in his/her ability to research a topic from different sources and to effectively synthesize that information with a clear understanding of when to quote, when to cite and how to paraphrase. Please read the guides provided here for help on being that kind of student, able to complete a research assignment with confidence and with the knowledge that your course assignment is your own work.”

Goals

Demonstrate an intermediate knowledge of digital photography terminology in general and the specific tools, techniques and terminology particular to the applications and media explored. (Visual Literacy)
Recall historic precedents that inform contemporary digital art in general and position individual work within the context of the history of photography and/or other fine art disciplines. (Critical Thinking and Context)
Demonstrate strong research skills to strengthen concept development and articulation of goals. These skills will be evidenced by your ability to discuss process as well as image and compositional choices as they relate to intentions and meaning in your blog. (Content and Concept)
Demonstrate technical proficiency in the use of a DSLR or mirrorless camera: image editing (retouching, color, tonal and perspective correction) and illusionistic rendering and compositing (through the skillful use of cloning and painting tools, layer masks, transparency masks, adjustment layers, targeted adjustments and blending modes). Develop and apply an understanding of color management principles for effective archival output. (Technical)
Prepare images for multiple output formats (web and print) through manipulation of color space, size, resolution, file format and gamut. (Output)
Develop an open and inquisitive approach to viewing unfamiliar directions in photography and to exploring intersections with other media. Resist premature closure in order to examine ideas completely. (Flexibility, Tolerance for Ambiguity)
Develop aesthetically cohesive works that demonstrate an intermediate to advanced understanding of the elements and principles of design while moving towards a unique artistic identity in the medium of photography. (Aesthetics)
Take risks with creative work, look for unique, individual and complex solutions to visual problems, demonstrate a willingness to explore several approaches to your work, and approach new and unfamiliar experiences with openness and curiosity. (Creative Process)
Explore the use of photography as a medium for self–expression and social commentary. Visit and respond to exhibitions on campus and in the surrounding community. Explore and reflect on a wide range of styles and themes in blog assignments. (Themes in Art, Civic and Cultural Engagement)
Develop the ability to work collaboratively as a member of a team in group exercises and as an active participant during critiques and peer presentations.(Team and Collaborative Work)
Transition from defined assignments to independently driven work in order to develop conceptually sound and technically proficient final projects. (Capstone Experience, Planning, Communication)

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