Expressive Photography Syllabus for 2017-2018
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Course

PHTC-1343-001 Expressive Photography

Prerequisites

<p>Prerequisite: ARTS 2356 or instructor consent</p>

Course Description

A study of formal, professional and individual uses of photography by applying photographic technology to personalized needs. Emphasis on creative visual thinking and problem solving and the exploration of personal vision.

Student ResourcesStudent Resources Website

Department Expectations

Occupational License Disclaimer

Notice to Students enrolled in an educational program for preparation of issuance of certain occupational licenses:

Students enrolled in an educational program in preparation for obtaining certain occupational licenses are potentially ineligible for such license if the student has been convicted of an offense. For further information, please contact your advisor, the Legal Clinic, or the faculty member in charge of the educational program that you seek to enroll in. The further information you will receive will include notification to you of your right to request a criminal history evaluation letter from the licensing authority in order to clarify your particular situation.

Hours

(3 sem hrs; 2 lec, 4 lab)

Class Type

On Campus Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

Required Common Reader The Things They Carried, by Tim O’Brien (provided)

Supplies

Supplies will vary for each student depending on project needs, technical issues, and obsessions. Film and Photo Papers are sensitive to light and heat. Do not leave in the car on a hot day. Do not open photo papers except in the darkroom with safelights on. Do not tempt curious children by leaving light sensitive materials within reach.

Recommended suppliers:

B&H Photo/Video: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/

Freestyle Photo: http://www.freestylephoto.biz/

 

Students should order these supplies asap

8x10"- B/W, RC, Ilford multigrade, photo paper, glossy, minimum 50 sheets

TMAX 400 ISO, 120 roll film, 5 pack

8x10” – Pictorico, Ink jet transparency, minimum 20 sheets

 

Available in AC Bookstore:

1 ink cartridge for the Epson printers (colors to be assigned

Stonehenge Paper White, 22x30 inch sheets as needed

 

Misc.

Holga camera (optional)

1 1/2 or 2 inch hardware brush (optional)

Hand towel, and wear an apron or old t-shirt to protect clothing

Nitrile gloves to protect hands from chemistry

Other supplies may be suggested throughout the semester

Student Performance

End-of-Course Outcomes  Exhibit creative visual thinking; perform and execute photographic practices that include traditional and nontraditional procedures; and interpret various types of photographic imagery. (WECM)

 

Pre-requisite Fundamentals of Photography I

Specific Course Outcomes

Students will

• Demonstrate knowledge of traditional and nontraditional darkroom procedures
• Experiment with alternative methods of making and/or presenting photographic images
• Analyze images for proper exposure and/or development
• Develop concepts and strategies for expressing visual ideas through photographic techniques
• Develop a personal style or theme of expressive photography
• Present work for grading in a professional manner, as directed by the instructor
• Participate meaningfully in critique
• Maintain a professional and respectful attitude
• Maintain classroom facilities and shared supplies

Students Rights and Responsibilities

Student Rights and Responsibilities

Log in using the AC Connect Portal

In order to receive your AC Connect Email, you must log in through AC Connect at https://acconnect.actx.edu .

If you are an active staff or faculty member according to Human Resources, use "Exchange". All other students, use "AC Connect (Google) Email".

Expected Student Behavior

Course & Conduct

AC Connect (Blackboard)

The syllabus, assignment sheetsand other documents are located on the Blackboard web page for this course. Students should contact AskAC with questions regarding log in. Students are responsible for downloading and printing documents as needed. Grades are posted on a regular basis and should be reviewed by the student.

Attendance & Participation Policy

In order for students to complete this course successfully, it is necessary to attend the class and participate in the daily activities. Material covered during class, and in-class activities cannot be “made-up” and students should expect to do poorly on test questions and assignments related to topics discussed on missed days. It is the student's responsibility to get class notes from another student for any missed classes. In order to be fair to students that do attend classes, the instructor cannot provide private tutoring sessions to individual students who miss class. Because the instructor cannot possibly know the reason why a student missed class, there is no distinction between excused and unexcused absences.  Because student engagement plays a crucial role in learning, all students must attend every scheduled class. Each missed class reduces the Activities and Participation grade by 25 points, up to 200 points and/or 20% of the overall grade. Arriving late to class, or leaving early, reduces the Activities and Participation grade by 5 points. If students do not miss more than 3 classes (-75 points) the deduction will be waived at the end of the semester.

Critique Policy

In order to provide each person with a thoughtful critique of their work, all other activities must stop once a critique begins, and students need to engage in the critique process. So that everyone feels comfortable expressing their ideas about images, students need to listen to each other and respect varying viewpoints. To ensure students are able to hear all comments about their work, refrain from private conversations and direct all comments to the group discussion. Students learn about the creative process not only though creation, but also through looking at other work. Learning to use visual language to think and talk about photographs is another key component of the learning process. Before class review handouts on visual thinking, come prepared to discuss photography. A portion of the grade for a project is connected to critique participation, to earn full credit students must stay for the entire critique. Student projects not completed by the start of critique are late. (Refer to “Late Work Policy” for details) In fairness to those who completed their projects on time, please set aside incomplete projects so as not to distract from the critique. Unfortunately, the course schedule does not allow time to provide late projects with a group critique; the instructor will assess late work on the appropriate grading rubric.

Email Policy

All students are assigned an email account by Amarillo College that can be accessed through Gmail. For correspondence with the instructor, please use rwest@actx.edu. The instructor and Amarillo College will use student’s Gmail accounts and AC Online for correspondence. For this reason, students are responsible for checking both on a regular basis.

Technology

Cell phones and unrelated computer use detract from the learning environment. For this reason, inappropriate use of technology such as checking email, texting, Facebook, headphones, working on projects unrelated to class, etc. during lectures, demonstrations, activities, and critiques may result in loss of points.

College Disability Statement Any student who because of a disabling condition, may require some special arrangements in order to meet course requirements should contact Disability Services (SSC 119, Phone: 371-5436) as soon as possible.

Drop Policy It is the responsibility of the student to drop a course. The last date to drop is

Friday, November 21.

 

Coursework & Exams

Quizzes & Exam Policy There are a few safety quizzes that need students need to answer all questions correctly on before using the related process and/or darkroom.

Homework Policy Although some open lab time is scheduled during class, successful completion of this course will require work outside of class. To earn full credit for projects students must have projects completed at the start of class on the scheduled due date.

Late Work Policy Projects considered on time will be ready for presentation at the beginning of class on the scheduled due date. In fairness to students who finish projects on time there are penalties for late projects. Late projects submitted within one week of the critique date receive a 20% deduction in total points for the assignment, and for projects submitted within two weeks there is a 30% deduction in points. Projects not submitted within two weeks are not accepted. Common Reader Visual Response Critique (last photography assignment) must be submitted on time: no late projects are accepted. Students that do not submit this project will fail the course.

Make-up Exam Policy Students must complete safety quizzes before working with processes.

Department

Photography Policy Throughout the study of photography, students must make new photographs for each assignment; this ensures that students are using their cameras on a regular basis and refining their visual thinking and technical skills. Submitting old photographs or photographs used as an assignment in another class will earn a zero for the project. Appropriation of images, regardless of the source, is plagiarism (refer to Plagiarism Policy).

Lab Policy Only students currently enrolled in photography classes are allowed to use photography labs. Do not invite friends and family into the labs. The computer labs, darkrooms, and studios require students be enrolled in a course, or have taken specific courses, before using those areas.

Plagiarism Policy It is crucial for students not to pass off the ideas or words of another as their own, to do so is considered theft and will be treated accordingly. When paraphrasing or quoting another source always use parenthetical citation to credit the source, and include all websites and/or books reviewed in the bibliography. In fairness to other students who worked hard on their essays and photographic projects, students caught plagiarizing will earn a zero for the project and may be subject to additional disciplinary actions by Amarillo College.

 

 

Grading Criteria

Grading Criteria/Grade Scale

Percentages for assignments breakdown as follows:

1^st Portfolio – Pinhole: 20%                                        

2^nd Portfolio - Holga and Cyanotype: 20%

3^rd Portfolio - Common Reader Visual Art Response: 20%

Lab Notes Worksheet: 20%

Activities / Participation: 20%

Refer to handouts for the requirements on each assignment and the portfolios.

Grading Format / A-F 1000-0 points

A = Excellent (1000-900)

B = Good (899-800)

C = Adequate (799-700)

D = Weak (699-600)

F = Unacceptable (599-0)

Grading Policy

Assessment of projects will be based on the following:

Visual Expression

Individual interpretation of assignment

Intentional compositional design

Explores the concept of photography as visual art

Technical Skills

Demonstrates knowledge of darkroom and camera operation

Presents technically well-crafted photographic in a professional manner

Demonstrates a willingness to experiment with new concepts

Displays an understanding of the concepts and techniques assigned

Professional Practices

Attends lectures, labs, and demonstrations

Participates in in-class activities, discussions, and critiques

Shows work in progress

Discusses ideas and asks questions while projects are in progress

Comes prepared for class, stays on task, and brings appropriate materials

Presents projects on time and meets the requirements of each assignment

Advanced Students Only

After successful completion of this course, students may repeat the course to further their research. The requirements differ from students taking the course for the first time in the following ways: Advanced students will do three portfolios that adhere to the critique schedule for the course. They will participate in all Common Reader components of the course – book club, final critique, and competition.  Instead of the Lab Notes they will conduct personal research on a related photo technique and present their research to the class. All research projects must be approved in advance by the instructor.

Advance students are graded with the following percentages as follows:

1^st Portfolio: 20%                                            

2^nd Portfolio: 20%

3^rd Portfolio - Common Reader Visual Art Response: 20%

Research and Presentation: 20%

Activities / Participation: 20%

Attendance

Attendance & Participation Policy

In order for students to complete this course successfully, it is necessary to attend the class and participate in the daily activities. Material covered during class, and in-class activities cannot be “made-up” and students should expect to do poorly on test questions and assignments related to topics discussed on missed days. It is the student's responsibility to get class notes from another student for any missed classes. In order to be fair to students that do attend classes, the instructor cannot provide private tutoring sessions to individual students who miss class. Because the instructor cannot possibly know the reason why a student missed class, there is no distinction between excused and unexcused absences.  Because student engagement plays a crucial role in learning, all students must attend every scheduled class. Each missed class reduces the Activities and Participation grade by 25 points, up to 200 points and/or 20% of the overall grade. Arriving late to class, or leaving early, reduces the Activities and Participation grade by 5 points. If students do not miss more than 3 classes (-75 points) the deduction will be waived at the end of the semester.

Calendar

Additional Information

No additional information available