Digital Imaging Fall, 2009

ARTD 360
CRN: 11064
Credits: 04

Time/Location:
08:00-10:50 Tuesday, Thursday - 113 Millrace 1

Faculty: Craig Hickman
Office: 101 Millrace 1
Email: chickman@uoregon.edu
Telephone: 541 346-3605
Office Hours: 12 - 2 Wednesday
Web Site: photonplanet.com

A digital camera is required.

Course Description

This section of Digital Imaging is an intermediate level course that focuses on the use of photographic, camera-based imagery as a medium of expression and communication. In addition to the nuts-and-bolts aspects of digital imaging, ARTD 360 will emphasize the aesthetic, historical and social aspects of the photograph.

We will be using the camera as the primary means of acquiring images, Adobe Photoshop as the primary tool for editing images, and both the screen and the printer as a medium for displaying images.

Grading
Grades are based on the quality of work, timeliness of assignment submission (normally one assignment is due each week), attendance and class participation.

In-class reviews are important! All projects need to be finished before the start of the class in which they are due and any assignments turned in after the class is over are considered late.

Late Assignments
Late assignments will be accepted up to one week after the due date. They will not be given full credit.

Using Computers in Class
It is fine to use the computers in the classroom when there is not a lecture or review going on. You may even check your email, and if your assignment for this class is finished, work on assignments for other classes. However, while a lecture or review is in progress, all monitors should be turned off and there should be no sound of clicking keys unless you are following along in a technical demonstration.

Attendance
Poor attendance will lower your grade. This is not a correspondence course. Your participation in class discussions and reviews is essential.

Most assignments will be turned in at the time they are reviewed in class. All assignments are turned in digital format. Emailing assignments does not count as turning them in.

H1N1 Policy:
Students with severe respiratory or flu-like illness must avoid attending class until they are without fever for 24 hours without the aid of fever-reducing medication. Students with absences related to severe respiratory or flu-like illness will be given the opportunity to make-up their assignments and class content without penalty. It is the responsibility of the student to notify the instructor, in advance, when absent due to influenza. Faculty are under no obligation to excuse absences related to concerns of acquiring influenza by coming to class. Pregnant students in clinical areas where direct contact with patients positive for influenza is likely should work with their instructor to prevent exposure. All students should utilize the following precautions to prevent influenza exposure: 1) Frequent handwashing – consider carrying a bottle of alcohol cleanser with you at all times; 2) Cover your cough; 3) Place used tissues immediately in the waste basket followed by washing your hands; 4) Use approved disinfectants on shared surfaces – such as doorknobs, desk tops, etc. and, 5) Stay home if you have severe respiratory or flu-like illness. Call your health care provider if you are experiencing flu-like symptoms AND you have an underlying health condition which increases your risk of complications OR if you become concerned about your condition. Seek care immediately if you develop warning signs of more severe infection.
Students should anticipate absences and assure they have access to the Internet and Blackboard. Regardless of a student’s H1N1 status, students must complete the requirements of the course to receive a passing grade.

Use of Found Images
Except for the "Curated Exhibit" assignment, you will need to take all of the pictures you use. That means you can't use Google Images, Flickr, etc. for source material.

Schedule

WEEK 1

Tuesday, September 29
Introduction to the course
Color Theory in a Nutshell - biology, color perception, index color, fixed color, image depth, resolution, etc.
Assignment: “Self-Portrait,” due October 6.
Make a series of three photographic self-portraits that tell us something about you. You may be as literal or as metaphorical as you like. These pictures will be reviewed on-screen, no need to print. Again, just bring the file.

Examples:

Above examples by Molly Horner, Knut Skjaer, Karlin Johnson, Daniel Sexton, Travis Bachmeier, Elena Pressprich, Genevieve Curry and Greg Mombert (left to right, top to bottom.)

Velazquez
Gustave Courbet
Lucas Samaras
Yasumasa Morimura
Robert Mapplethorpe
Laura Kicey (Essay)
Protection Island's Photostream (Flickr)
Cindy Sherman
Phillip Colla
Mowling
Eleanor Hardwick
Lee Friedlander
Chuck Close
Betiti

Thursday, October 1
Histograms etc.
 
WEEK 2
Tuesday, October 6
Review Self Portrait assignment
Cameras, both film and digital.
Assignment: “Point of View," due October 13
Make three pictures that are framed in a non-standard way or from taken from a non-standard point of view. Pay attention to your pictures edges. Also, experiment with the subtleties of your curves and levels adjustments. Develop your own look. Print these pictures out on 8.5” X 11” paper. Use any printer you like.

Examples:

Examples above by Sean Kesterson, Lee Rommes, Elena Presprice, Allison Ho, Andrew Hassold, Lauren Seiffert.

Thursday, October 9

Lenses, shutter speed, depth of field, ISO, color balance, camera handling, flash. Moving pictures from the camera to the computer. If you have any questions about your camera please bring it to class. Use The Interactive Camera to understand how your camera works.

Long-term Assignment:
Read at least two critical essays on photography and deliver a short, 5 minute presentation on November 12. Incorporate issues relevant to digital photography in your talk. Start with resources listed at the red-green-blue.com web site (scroll down).

WEEK 3
Tuesday, October 13
Review Point-of-View assignment
Printing. Paper, ink, resolution, printers, profiles.
Constructing Photographs
Assignment: “Constructed Photograph,” due October 20 .
Create one picture that were fabricated in Photoshop from separate elements.

Examples:
Jerry Uelsmann
Lori Nix
Gregory Crewdson
Loretta Lux

Above examples by Knut Skjaer, Sarah Shire, Jace Giddens, Arthur McMahon, Kyle Knapp and Devon Brockopp-Hammer.

Thursday, October 15
Compositing Techniques
In Class Assignment: "Interpretations"
Everyone will be provided with the same two digital files. We will work on the pictures in Photoshop and at the end of the class we will compare interpretations.

WEEK 4
Tuesday, October 20
Review constructed photograph assignment.
Preparing images for the web.
Assignment: “Photography and Time,” due October 27 .
Create a series of at least 3 pictures that explore the relationship between photography and time.

Examples:
Fotonovela
Duane Michals
Demolition Pictures
Twin Peaks
Muybridge
Marey
Edgerton
Re-Photography

 

Thursday, October 22
Actions
Copyright
Working with RAW Format
Flash
 
WEEK 5
Tuesday, October 27
Review "Photography and Time" assignment.
Assignment: “Image and Text,” due November 3.
Create three pictures that employ text in an interesting and insightful way.

Examples:
ASCII Art
Captions
Image Speller
New Yorker Caption Contest
Barbara Kruger
Comics

Examples above by Micah Champion, Megan Nuttall, Jess Andrews, Jadd Tryon, Ashley Woods and Michael Schoenfelder .

Thursday, October 29

Working in The studio with studio lighting.

WEEK 6
Tuesday, November 3
Review Image and Text assignment
Assignment: “Monochrome,” due November 10.
Make three related pictures that appropriately use a monochrome palette.

Examples and Info
Robert Frank
Edward Weston
Southworth and Hawes
William DeLappa

Examples above by Steven Uppinghouse, Elena Pressprich, Molly Horner, Annie Schoenecker, Bryan Davidson and Patrick Finney .

Thursday, November 5
More Color Theory in a Nutshell
Simultaneous contrast, vibrating edges and color wheels and color solids. Color harmony and color taste. Is color harmony hard-wired or social convention? All about additive and subtractive color.
In Class Assignment: "Color Harmony by the Numbers."

WEEK 7
Tuesday, November 10
Review Monochrome Assignment
Using the flatbed Scanner
Assignment: “The Scanner as Camera,” due November 17.
Create three related pictures that were made by placing real objects on the a flatbed scanner.

Examples:
Katinka Matson
Mooks
Maggie Taylor
Doris Mitsch
Face Your Pockets Project

Examples above by Steven Uppinghouse, Annie Schoenecker, Micha Champion, Megan Nuttall, Elena Pressprich, Jacqueline Hwang, and Greg Mombert.

Thursday, November 12
Research Reports.

WEEK 8
Tuesday, November 17
Review scanner as camera assignment
Assignment:"Curate an on-line exhibition" due November 24.
Using pictures from the Library of Congress online collection of public domain images, or other online source such as flickr curate a short on-line exhibition.

Thursday, November 19
In class assignment: Working with image modes.

WEEK 9
Tuesday, November 24
Review Curated exhibitions
In class assignment: Low Res.
Assignment: Start working on final project.

Thursday, November 26
Thanksgiving Break
 
WEEK 10
Tuesday, December 1

Thursday, December 3
Final Reviews