1 Portrait Photography (GH242) 4 Credit Hours Spring 2015 Course Description: This course offers the student a comprehensive, step by step, introduction to the planning, creation and finishing of portraiture. Students deepen the process of mastering the fundamentals of the cameras, lenses and compositional elements based in the portrait as art; with lecture, practical exercises, and photographic assignments. People placement, at locations, and studio work, as well as lighting and finishing in Photoshop all geared to creating the final captured moment. Instructor s Introduction: Succinctly, Portrait Photography: is a hands-on class stressing the steps in camera use, composition, portrait lighting, shooting, and finishing in Photoshop. The course will be taught through a series of lectures, with question and answer periods, and through ample hands on participation. Course Learning Outcomes: After successfully completing this course, you will be able to: 1. Operate cameras and lenses specific to the class and use Photoshop for portraits. 2. Demonstrate understanding of a visual environment or creating an environment where portraits may be made. 3. Demonstrate fluency with compositional placement as it applies to the photographic 4. Demonstrate lighting and its use as a component of fine art portraiture. 5. Utilize the language unique to the practices of portrait photography. Assigned Reading: The Photographer s Eye By Michael Freeman, Burligame, MA: Focal Press, 2007 Suggested reading: BDM Creative Series, The Ultimate Beginners Guide to Photoshop Volume One, Black Dog Media, Fall 2012
2 Assignments: The written assignments will be graded in organization, spelling, and grammar; they will be typed, double-spaced and stapled. Your name and the date should be placed on the top right of the page. Your final exam will include essay questions, as well as, short answers. Evaluation: Written essay, (with a minimum of 500 words), due Class Six. Topic: visual exploration of a portrait photographer of your choice and how his/her work affects your perception of art in portraiture. Value: 10% of final grade. Class Participation and professionalism. Value: 10% of final grade. Mid-term exam exploring definitions, of camera equipment used in the class, including lenses; and composition. Value: 20% of final grade. Final Exam: Summary of class information, exam Value: 20% of final grade. Final class project: A portfolio of six finished images including but not limited to: shots based in, studio and on location. Only pictures made during the quarter will be graded - Value: 40% of final grade. Due dates are firm without prior consent. All assignments are due at the beginning of the designated class session. Make up Policy: This course includes activities that may not be possible to recreate. If you expect to be absent discuss this with the instructor. Please be prepared to show documentation if you are asking for dispensation for attendance, or a due assignment, for medical or bereavement reasons. Attendance Policy You will be allowed two (2) absences in this course. If you reach three (3) absences you will receive an F and be removed from the roster for the class. Three latenesses equals one absence. CCH ATTENDANCE POLICY (As published in the Scholastic Catalog) Attendance is critical to learning, academic success, and support for other students particularly during production shoots. Regular and prompt attendance at all Columbia College Hollywood classes is required. Instructors are not obligated to assign extra work or prepare additional examinations for classes missed.
3 Class attendance policies are determined by each instructor and must be included in the course syllabus distributed the first class session. The College recommends as a minimal policy that students who are absent 20% of the course will be failed. What constitutes an excused absence is a matter between the student and instructor although The College expects leniency for documented illness and hospitalization, bereavement, personal emergency, military service, and observance of a religious holiday. Students who do not attend the first two class meetings of a course in which they are registered may be administratively dropped. If a student wishes to contest the instructor s application of the attendance policy he/she may petition the Dean of the College. The Dean will conduct an investigation and respond to the petition as quickly as possible. Students who have filed such a petition may attend class sessions while the matter is under review. Applied Hours: In order to fulfill the requirements of this course, a student should expect to spend two (2) hours outside of the class room for every credit hour, or eight hours per week engaged in reading, class preparation, fulfilling assignments, location scouting, and other requirements. The count of eight hours of outside work per week is an average, it is expected that it will be much higher as the student begins photographic field work. Students are also expected to scour magazines for photographs and bring their assessments and questions to class for discussions. Grading Scale: In keeping with CCH Policy, grading is designated as follows: 92.5 100 = A 90 92.49 = A- 87.5 = 89.99 = B+ 82.5 87.49 = B 80 82.49 = B- 77.5 79.99 = C+ 72.5 77.49 = C 70 72.49 = C- 67.5 69.99 = D+ 62.5 67.49 = D 60 62.49 = D- Below a 60 = F
4 Definition of letter grades: A: Performance at the highest level, and demonstrates full and uncompromised commitment and effort. B: Performance is at a high level and demonstrates consistent and effective achievement in meeting course requirements. C: Performance has been adequate to meet the basic requirements of the course. D: Performance has been sub-par to basic requirements, although meets minimum standards. F: Performance has been such that minimum course requirements have not been met. Cheating and Plagiarism: As with any academic institution, Columbia College Hollywood considers cheating on exams, assignments, and projects, as well as plagiarism, and knowingly furnishing false information as unacceptable behavior on the part of a student. This behavior is punished severely. Refer to your Scholastic Catalog for the CCH Policy on Academic Honesty. Cheating is defined as the act of obtaining or attempting to obtain or aiding another to obtain academic credit for work by use of any dishonest, deceptive, or fraudulent means. NOTE: Use of a script written for one class or footage shot for one class for academic credit and then used in another class is considered cheating unless you receive approval for such use from your instructor. Plagiarism comes from the Latin word for to kidnap. It means you are stealing someone else s words thoughts, and/or conclusions. To avoid plagiarism, be sure to reference with source any words or materials you take from the published or otherwise disseminated work of another person(s). If you are unschooled in or confused about how to source your work, the Librarian is available to answer your questions. Electronic Devises: The use of mobile devices (cell phones, etc.) will not be tolerated during class time. No cell phone calls Allowed! No text messaging Allowed! No Emailing Allowed! The use of laptops for taking notes and referencing source material is allowed, but you are on your honor when using your laptop for class purposes. SCHEDULE OF MEETINGS: Session One: Introduction Discuss class requirements, and Syllabus Read over school safety guidelines and rules Equipment Center rules and regulations Discuss camera settings, and lenses that are best for portraits. Discuss digital files and quality issues Explain class projects, including weekly discussion of a practice photo you will take:
5 Develop a style, your style. Look in magazines and books. Start a simple book of images that you d like to duplicate and create your own version; this will be a tool to help your shooting throughout the rest of the quarter. Session Two: Composition Various elements of composition as it pertains to shooting people and pets. An example session using available light will be demonstrated. ASSIGNMENT: Students will shoot a portrait of a person using available light; this will be due next week. Session Three: Visualization Various lighting styles will be explored indoors and outdoors. After a lecture and photographic exploration students will use their cameras to explore: 1. Chiaroscuro 2. Side lighting 3. Classic or Rembrandt lighting. The student on camera will be helped by all other students. Students will recreate professional studio portraits from the thirties and forties, using equipment from the equipment center. Session Four: After the shoot work flow. The file and Photoshop, Color and Photoshop, Black and White and Photoshop; students will input their files and save a redundant copy on either flash drive or disk. Explore how each image will look its best. And, save those images, as well as the original. Session Five: Location Shoot The class will car pool to Balboa Lake Park, where we will use our cameras to practice the exterior portrait techniques we have been studying. Bring a model, either a student or someone else you d like to shoot. Session Six: Mid-Terms Essay Due Midterm, written exam. Using photo s we shot last week we ll detail on Photoshop. Session Seven: Create a three point lighting set up and guide students into portrait duplication of photos from the student s style books. HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS: shoot and bring to class your best three shots of the following: Medium shot of one or more persons, best close shot of two people, and your best individual portrait. Session Eight: Location shoot, incorporating people and nature. Carpool to Bee Canyon Park; concentrate on backlight front fill. These should be actor style headshots.
6 Session Nine: Show still image homework assignment from week 7; spend the remainder of class in Photoshop detailing images from the location shoot on week 8. Start printing; a one on one with the teacher. Session Ten: Share your book of style with the class describing the images and why you ve chosen them and show how you shot your version of the pictures. Continue printing with Photoshop, one on one with the teacher. Session Eleven: Final Photoshop session, Print pictures for final project. Session Twelve: Final Exam, turn in Photographers final project portfolio. Last question and answer period. PS, There may be a weekend location shoot at Vasquez Canyon, County Park. This will be discussed the first week.
7 Photography: Course Rubric: You can expect the following grades based on the criteria below: Comprehension Participation You demonstrate an excellent You show strong participation in class discussions. understanding of the course objectives and course materials You demonstrate that you have read the assigned materials. A based on exam scores, assignment scores, and class You turn in all assignments and presentations as scheduled. discussions. Portraits are of You do the essay paper with documentation and professional quality. turn in the essay. You demonstrate a good You participate in class discussions. understanding of the course objectives and course materials You usually demonstrate that you have read the assigned materials. B based on exam scores, assignment scores, and class You turn in most assignments and presentations as scheduled. discussions. Portraits are a high You do the essay paper with documentation and quality. turn in the essay. You demonstrate a moderate You sometimes participate in class discussions. understanding of the course objectives and course materials You often demonstrate that you have read the assigned materials. C based on exam scores, assignment scores, and class You turn in some assignments and presentations as scheduled. discussions. Portraits are of an acceptable quality. You complete the Photographer essay. You demonstrate a poor You don't often participate in class discussions. understanding of the course objectives and course materials You rarely demonstrate that you have read the assigned materials before the class session. D based on exam scores, You turn in few assignments and presentations as assignment scores, and class scheduled. mediocre at best. discussions. Portrait are You do a poor Photographer essay. You demonstrate a very poor You rarely participate in class discussions. understanding of the course objectives and course materials You do not demonstrate that you have read the assigned materials. F based on exam scores, You miss three class sessions. assignment scores, and class You do not turn in all assignments and discussions. presentations as scheduled. You have cheated or plagiarized in some form. You do not write the required essay.
8 Written Assignments Rubric: You can expect the following grades based on the criteria below: Content Structure Organization Style A B C D F Shows an excellent understanding of the assigned topic. Clearly and precisely addresses the topic. Provides excellent support for the main points of the paper. Demonstrates a good understanding of the assigned topic. Clearly addresses the topic. Provides good support for the main points of the paper. Demonstrates a moderate understanding of the assigned topic. Somewhat addresses the topic. Provides some support for the main points of the paper. Demonstrates a poor understanding of the assigned topic. Does not clearly address the topic. Provides little support for the main points of the paper. Demonstrates a very poor understanding of the assigned topic. Does not address the topic. Provides little or no support for the main points of the paper. You have cheated or plagiarized in some form. Have a clear introduction, body, and conclusion that are closely tied to the topic and are structured as per the provided checklist. Have a clear introduction, body, and conclusion that are adequately structured as per the checklist. Has an introduction, body, and conclusion, that are somewhat structured as per the provided checklist. Have an introduction, body, and conclusion that is incomplete as per the provided checklist. Has no clear introduction, body or conclusion. The paper is logically organized with a clear thesis and excellent supporting arguments. The paper is well organized with a clear thesis and good supporting arguments. The paper is somewhat organized with a thesis and some supporting arguments. The paper is poorly organized with a vague thesis and few supporting arguments. The paper is poorly organized with no thesis and no supporting arguments. Few to no grammatical or spelling errors. Proper citations Meets or exceeds the 500 word minimum. Is submitted on time. Some grammatical or spelling errors. Proper citations Meets or exceeds the 500 word minimum. Is submitted one week late. Several grammatical or spelling errors. Improper citations Does not meet or exceed the 500 word minimum. Is submitted two weeks late. Numerous grammatical or spelling errors. Improper citations Does not meet or exceed the 500 word minimum. Is submitted three weeks late. Numerous grammatical or spelling errors. Improper citations Does not meet or exceed the 500 word minimum. Is submitted more than three weeks late or not at all.
9 CLO Rubric CLOs A B C D F CLO 1: Operate cameras and lenses specific to the class and basic Photoshop concepts. Generally is able to identify and use a camera, and can identify parts and lens attributes. Identifies some of the camera and lens combinations that may be used to create a specific picture. Identifies only the most basic camera concept and struggles to make the tool do what they wish it to do. CLO 2: Demonstrate understanding of a visual environment or creating an photos may be made. CLO 3: Demonstrate fluency with compositional placement as it applies to the photographic Consistently is able to handle equipment at a professional level understanding part and parcel the tool that is the camera, lens combination; enabling swift use as is needed in many assignments. Consistently demonstrates understanding of the visual environment or creating an photos may be made. Consistently demonstrates fluency with compositional placement as it applies to the photographic Generally demonstrates understanding of the visual environment or creating an photos may be made. Generally demonstrates fluency with compositional placement as it applies to the photographic Demonstrates understanding of the visual environment or creating an photos may be made. Demonstrates partial fluency with compositional placement as it applies to the photographic Demonstrates limited understanding of the visual environment or creating an photos may be made. Demonstrates limited fluency with compositional placement as it applies to the photographic Does not have the ability or will to use a camera. Does not demonstrate understanding of the visual environment or creating an photos may be made. Is unable to demonstrate fluency with compositional placement as it applies to the photographic
10 CLO 4: Demonstrate lighting and its use as a component of fine art portraiture. Consistently demonstrates lighting and its use as a component of fine art portraiture Generally demonstrates lighting and its use as a component of fine art portraiture. Partially able to demonstrate lighting and its use as a component of fine art portraiture. Is limited in demonstrating lighting and its use as a component of fine art portraiture. Is not able to demonstrate lighting and its use as a component of fine art portraiture. CLO 5: Utilize the language unique to the practices of portrait photography Consistently utilizes the language unique to the practices of portrait photography. Generally utilizes the language unique to the practices of portrait photography. Partially utilizes the language unique to the practices of portrait photography. Is limited in utilizing the language unique to the practices of portrait photography. Is not able to utilize the language unique to the practices of portrait photography.