Photo Communication Syllabus



                                                          Art 255 (3 credit hours)
                                                               Spring Term 2000
                                                           Goshen College: VA 22
                                                          Instructor: John Blosser

I. Course Description
This course is designed to introduce you to fundamental knowledge and skills requisite to producing strong black and white photographs. This knowledge and skill base includes the anatomy, function and use of the camera, plus basic processing, printing, a brief introduction to computer technology and presentation information. Additionally, this course stresses the employment of photography as a means of recording events, people or places (photojournalism) of interest and as a powerful tool of expression (art). 

II. Course Objectives
 A. Develop keener observation skills. 
 B. Cultivate a higher level of compositional (design) skill. 
 C. Achieve fundamental knowledge of the use and function of the camera, lenses, filters, light, light meters, exposure  and equivalencies, black and white (and some color) film, enlargers, digital camera, scanner and PhotoShop computer technologies, and the use and ingredients of developing chemistry. 
 D. Gain a deeper appreciation for the power of photographic statement, including functional and aesthetic purposes. Legal and ethical implications of photography will also be considered. 
 E. Achieve a modest familiarity with the history of photography. 

III. Resources
 A. Text: Photography, 6th edition, by Barbara and John Upton. 

B. Study Guides: 
Study guides have been devised for your assistance in understanding each major technical concept. These study guides generally follow the chapters in your text (see the assignment schedule above). Regular use of this form will be very helpful to you as you prepare for quizzes and tests. Occasionally I ask for these to be submitted to check their usefulness to you. 

 C. A variety of films and videos, guest lecturers and field trips to local/regional photographers. 

 E. Periodicals:  Aperture Magazine

IV. Course Requirements
 A. All major assignments including: developed negatives, contact sheets and photographs ("prints") and written or verbal reports are to be submitted on time, i.e., by the beginning of class. NOTE: For these projects, the final grade for that work will be lowered one half letter grade for each day it is handed in late until it has reached the "D" level. If extenuating circumstances prevent you from completing the work on time, extensions may be made ONLY prior to the day that work is due. 

 B. Class attendance is imperative, including field trips. 

 C. Participation in class critiques is an expected part of class participation. Your level of participation will be noted and figured into the "Class involvement" grade (10% of the final grade). 

 D. Class time is too brief for completion of required work, therefore, a minimum of four additional hours of work outside of class time should be planned for and spent. I suggest that you budget your time according to the speed with which you know yourself to work and according to the relative difficulty of the assignment. 

 

 

 

 
V. Course Grading 

 Projects:  70%
   Shot record                             10% 
   negatives                                  20% 
   contact sheets                           20% 
   photographs (prints)                  50%
              project total:                 100% 
Tests and papers:    20% 
   3 tests 80%
2 papers 20%
Test and paper Total 100%

          Class Involvement  10%

Total = 100%

* All work will be evaluated on an A (excellent), B (good), C (average), etc. 

VI. Evaluation Criteria
A. Evidence through quizzes and tests of adequate knowledge of technical photographic information. 

 B. Evidence of appropriate/substantially improved camera, exposure, dark room and compositional skills, through submission of shot records for each roll, negatives, contact prints and enlarged prints. 

 C. Submission of work on the appropriate due date. (See V. Course Requirements, Section A). 

 D. Appropriate involvement in class critiques, discussions and field trip events. 

NOTE: The above schedule and procedures in this course are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances. 

VII. Consultation 
I will be available during the hours posted on my office door and Corporate Time.  Feel free to contact me with any concerns during those hours. 

 Phone:
 535-7595 (office)
 534-2356 (home) 

 *Please call between 7 p.m. and 10:00 p.m., rather than during supper hour, and not after 10:00 p.m.  Thank you!

 E-mail: johnb@goshen.edu    (NOT johnrb)
 
 

VIII. Materials list 

 A. Required: 
  1. 35 mm Camera (with manual control capabilities and metering system). 
  2. Film (approximately 15 rolls, 20 exposures each): 
   T-MAX 100 T-MAX 400 
   Plus-X 150/125 Tri-X 400 
   (See assignment lists for appropriate film types for specific problems.) 
  3. 2 or 3 film cassettes
  4. Paper - 8 x 10 sizes - polycontrast rapid RC medium weight 
  5. Computer 3" floppy disc 
  6. Mat board 
  7. Negative sleeves (1 per roll of film) 
  8. Lens paper
  9. Loose leaf notebook and 8" x 10" plastic sleeves for submitting contact prints and project prints 
 B. Optional:
  1. Film: Kodak 2475 high speed 
    Infra red, and other films 
  2. Other papers 
  3. Other lenses 
  4. Contrast filters: yellow (Wratten 8) 
     red (Wratten 25) 

  *These materials may be purchased from the department.  Additional materials may be needed, depending upon the nature of your project. 

IX. Photography Laboratory Expectations

 A productive laboratory experience depends upon wholesome community relationships and individual responsibility and respect for both laboratory facilities and equipment, and for fellow students' rights. To achieve a healthy learning environment, I ask that each student follow the procedures listed below. 
1. The Art department is open 7am – 11 pm, M-S.  Passes for late hours will be available on request. 
2. Please respect other’s work and space. 
3. Each student may select a drawer for storing personal tools and equipment. You will be responsible for cleaning out your locker at the end of each semester. 
4. Students will be responsible for purchasing many of their own photo materials, either at the bookstore, or in some cases, from your instructor. Records of materials from the department will be kept and you will be billed accordingly. 
5. No student work is to be taken from the laboratory until the conclusion of the course. 
6. Each student is responsible for cleaning his work area and the equipment he used at the end of each work period and the end of the term. 
7. You are required to wear safety goggles at all times while working with photo chemistry in the lab. 
8. Please do not bring walkmans, radios or tape players to class. They may be used in the photo lab outside of class time. Please respect others in their use. Thanks!

X. Photography Bibliography
      See Library Web Page (Search under Photography, etc.) 
     Periodicals:
                        Aperture 
                        Popular Photography