Hello

Hey classes, this will be our 'official' portal for communicating stuff for class. You may from time-to-time see things on my blog that I'd like you to check out. I will tell you when they are going to be counted as part of your grade.

On the right side of this blog is a list of the two seperate blocks of the Vision class...Y block and Z block. Only Y block students will be able to see their classmates blogs, same with Z block. I will be able to see both of your classes blogs...because...well...I'm special.

Oh yeah, here's the syllabus:

PHOTOGRAPHIC FOUNDATIONS 2
VISION

Y & Z BLOCK

“...Just as in music we find that the simpler the theme, the more thorough must be the knowledge of the musician in order to compose acceptable variations thereon. So, in fact, in every art this rule obtains, and the simpler the apparent result – assuming, of course, that such result is really beautiful – the greater are the care, knowledge and taste required.”

Alfred Steiglitz

Fall, 2007
Mr. Slade
Office: Photography Studio
Phone: 816-2924
E-mail: michaelslade@waterfordschool.org


Course Description: This course builds on the photographic fundamentals covered last year and refines the students’ compositional and craft skills. In the fall term, students will complete a series of directed assignments focusing on the elements and principles of design. These assignments are designed to emphasize composition and the formal qualities of an image. The choice of subject matter is important in photography but if the compositional elements in an image are weak the subject falls apart. The craft of black and white printing will be covered in the winter term and the use of color as an additional photographic tool will be introduced in the spring.

This course will have a bit of a change from past years in that this class will be all digital. We will not shoot any film cameras for this class. This will be about seeing, and how the digital camera can be a tool to help you with your vision and attaining your creative goals. THIS IS NOT A PHOTOSHOP CLASS. We will not even open Photoshop officially during this class. You will be too busy shooting too many images to even open them in Photoshop, much less play with them. There are other classes that will cover Photoshop, and it is redundant to teach it here. We are concerned about camera control, getting it right the first time, composition, seeing, principals of design, rolling all of those things into a ball and spitting out wonderfully crafted, well thought out images. Again, THIS IS NOT A PHOTOSHOP CLASS. You will be docked points and your grade will suffer if you manipulate these images in post-production. Post-production? Yeah, possibly a new term that you will become very familiar with.

Policies

Student Expectations: This class is an elective and being in the class is an indication of serious interest in the subject. It is a privilege to be in this program. Students in this class are expected to:

*Respect each other and the equipment
*Come to class prepared and on time
*Work diligently and efficiently
*Be open to new ways of “seeing” and solving creative challenges

Attendance and Uniforms: It is important to be in class on time and in uniform at all scheduled class meetings in order to keep up with the pace of the class. You will be responsible for all information given in class. If you miss a class it is your responsibility to find out what content was covered and what assignments were made. Your final grade will be lowered by one point for each three tardies accumulated during the term.

Class Participation: Participation is particularly important in this class. You must come to class prepared to share ideas, to show your prints, to discuss your work, and to ask questions! If the initial idea for an assignment was good but the execution did not produce the desired results, I will take that into consideration during grading only as long as you can fully articulate your intent.

Academic Honesty: Academic dishonesty is defined to include, but is not limited to, cheating; copying another’s work; lying; dishonesty in or inappropriate collaboration on homework papers or examinations; submitting work done for one course to another course; deliberate falsification of data; interference with other students’ work; and copyright violations. Plagiarism, a particular form of academic dishonesty, occurs when a student intentionally or unintentionally uses someone else’s words, ideas, or data, without proper acknowledgement. Students are responsible for knowing the conventions of documentation and acknowledgment of sources required in academic discourse. The Waterford School Handbook states “cases of academic dishonesty and/or plagiarism will be referred to the School Dean. Violations are treated seriously, with particular attention paid to repeat offenders. In all cases, students receive zero credit for work that violates the school code of honesty. In addition, disciplinary action can include suspension or expulsion”.

Lab Use: The digital lab will be open for student use from 8:00 AM until 4:30 PM Monday through Friday. Students will be able to use the facilities during lunch and after school. Students may work during a scheduled study hall only after they have obtained permission from the appropriate photography teacher(s) as well as signed permission from the study hall teacher. Students working outside of class must allow enough time to complete the process on which they have been working during that time. Students in class will have priority over those students working during their free time. The photography lab will close on the last class day of the term and will not reopen until the first day of the following term. The lab WILL NOT be open during final exam periods.

Cameras: Students have the option of using their own digital cameras or borrowing one from the Waterford School. Cameras must be able to be operated manual shutter settings and aperature settings. Manual focus, while not necessary, would be nice. Students will not be charged for the use of school cameras but will be responsible for any damage incurred while in their possession.

Supplies: Students will be given one 1gb SD memory card to store images on at the beginning of each term. Digital photography is slippery (we will discuss this later). An external hard-drive to back-up images on would be a good idea, but will not be required. It will not be supplied by Waterford School. Students will store their images on the Waterford server and have access to them from networked computers in the digital lab. Additional SD memory cards are very inexpensive, and while not required are an option. Each assignment should be able to be completed on one memory card before re-formatting for the following assignment.

It is each student’s responsibility to take care of the supplies and cameras that will be handed out. Lockers will be provided but students must supply their own locks. Students must come prepared to every class with notebook, paper, writing instruments and anything else required for the class. If you lose any supplies you will need to buy replacements.

Put Your Name on Everything and Keep Track of It!

Grading Criteria

Assignments`/Projects 35%
Participation 10%
Journal 10%
Final Portfolio 45%

Evaluation: In evaluating assignments and the final portfolio, the product of your ongoing creative work, I look for three key elements:

Technical Competence - consistent work during the year will allow you to achieve technical competence. We will go over the criteria of what meets 'technical competence'.

Visual Aspects - the composition of your photographs improves when you study the work of other photographers, work consistently and frequently, and critically evaluate the results of your own work. Part of your homework will be to look at other photographers and write what you have learned about them in your notebooks. On ANY GIVEN DAY I may ask one of you to open your notebook (or blog) and talk about the photographers (plural) you have been looking at. This should not be a surprise for you.

Content - the willingness to ask yourself to do difficult work, and asking difficult questions within your work, will make meaningful content possible. This class will require you to dig deep inside your own head and pull out ideas and thoughts that you have stored in there. I want to see what you think...this class is about getting what you think about into a visual medium. I expect you to go beyond what is expected. The more your head hurts the better your work will be.

The following offers some of the criteria used in determining grades:

A - means outstanding work exceeding the requirements in both quantity and quality. A clear and complete understanding of techniques and processes is evidenced. Significant participation in critiques has occurred. Finished and fully developed work is innovative and well presented. I do not give out many A's. If you get one, you should pat yourself on the back. If you do not get one, don't cry. An A-minus is a GOOD grade from me...not the best, but pretty dang good. If your 4.0 is riding on this class, reconsider taking it.
B - means good work beyond the requirements. Good participation in critiques and understanding of techniques and processes is evidenced. Individual approach has formed.
C - means average work. Requirements are met and projects are completed on time. Adequate participation in critiques and understanding of techniques and processes is evidenced.
D - means poor work. Requirements are barely met, understanding of techniques and processes lacking. Skill level low.
F - means unacceptable work. Requirements are not met and there is little understanding of techniques or processes. It is not my job to fail you. It IS my job to help you succeed. If you do not, then you have had to try very hard to fail.

Assignments turned in more than two weeks late will not be accepted. Final portfolios, notebooks and journals will not be accepted after the class in which they are due. No exceptions will be made. If you have any questions at any time during the term about how these criteria relate to your photographic work, be sure to ask me!

Assignments/Projects: All assignments/projects are DUE on the first class meeting period of each week. If we meet on Monday (Y-block), then assignments are due for critique on Monday. If we meet starting on a Tuesday (Z-block), then assignments are due on Tuesday. If we skip a Monday or a Tuesday, then due-dates will be pushed back to the next class period. In order to be considered complete, the required number of images must be uploaded to your folder before editing and viewing will occur. I am requiring that nothing is deleted...bad exposures and all. I will look for sequentially numbered files. If images have been deleted, points will be deducted. These cameras are not toys and are to be used for class assignments only. Pictures of your friends for 'MySpace' can be done on your cellphones...not the school's cameras. Unless otherwise indicated, all images must be made off-campus. Students photographing an assignment on campus will have 2 points taken off that grade.

Assignments will be graded on a completion basis as follows:

10 points – assignment/project complete, turned in on time, no technical problems and visual requirements of assignment exceeded

9 points – assignment/project complete, turned in on time, no technical problems and visual requirements of assignment met

8 points – assignment/project complete, turned in on time, with technical problems and visual requirements of assignment exceeded

7 points – assignment/project complete, turned in on time, with technical problems and visual requirements of assignment met

6 points – assignment/project complete, turned in late, no technical problems and visual requirements of assignment exceeded

5 points – assignment/project complete, turned in late, no technical problems and visual requirements of assignment met

4 points – assignment/project complete, turned in late, with technical problems and visual requirements of assignment exceeded

3 points – assignment/project complete, turned in late, with technical problems and visual requirements of assignment met

0 points – assignment/project not turned in and/or not complete

Presentation: The presentation is a format for students to demonstrate their in-depth knowledge of a specific photographer. The presentation must include a biography of the photographer, his/her influence on the photographic community and a selection of his/her work. In-depth research, a creative presentation and personal conclusions are encouraged. Further instruction will be provided during the term, but I can tell you I do not want a regurgitation of information provided at the beginning of a monograph.

Notebook: The notebook allows the viewer to witness the progression of the student’s work throughout the term. This may be in the form of a blog or in the form of an actual physical notebook. I would suggest a blog, it will be easier to gather information from the web. We will go over setting up a blog. These blogs will not be public, will only be viewable to members of your class, and will only be used for blogging the various items you do research on the internet. COPYRIGHT NOTICE – because these blogs are for educational use only, any potential copyright infringement of including images or text from other sources is considered 'Fair Use' and is not against US Copyright Law. We can go over this more in class if there are any concerns.

Final Project Portfolio: The portfolio due at the end of the fall term will consist of 20 images consisting of a single theme or idea. We will look at many examples of extended projects quite a bit in class. All projects must be reviewed with the instructor prior to the beginning of shooting. There may be a written component to the Final Project.

HOW TO SUCCEED IN THIS CLASS:

USE YOUR BRAIN – it is your most valuable tool. EVERYTHING boils down to using your brain wisely.

Be prepared. Always have your notebook and any necessary supplies for class. Pay close attention to the schedule to see what will be expected of you each day. Be sure that you keep up on any changes to the printed schedule, especially if you have been absent. This is my first year here, so the schedule is a bit confusing to me...I will do my best to announce in advance what is due when. There will also be a schedule of due-dates for each assignment.

Work efficiently. These are very short class periods for working in the lab. In order to get your work done you will need to get started very promptly and minimize distractions while working.


Manage your time. You all have many other classes and activities that demand your time. And this particular class has quite a few deadlines, overlapping assignments, etc. It requires dedicated attention on your part to manage these demands.

Be engaged in class. See the description for the Effort and Participation segment of your grade.

Produce (not vegetables...). The only way to get better at anything is to practice – to actually do it.

Push yourself. Stretch your boundaries. Make your head hurt...but remember to enjoy the process. If you can't enjoy photography you will have a much more difficult time succeeding.

Tell a strong story. Photography is about communicating, sharing information, telling stories. If your images do not communicate, then you as an image maker have not succeeded. You will know what a strong story is, the components of strong story telling, and how to execute them in your own photography.


Schedule
FALL TERM

Syllabus Revisions: Changes will be announced in class and/or via email, so check your email frequently and attend class!

We are going to run this class on a 4-class cycle...meaning that we will spend four class periods covering each assignment. The cycle will run like this:

Group Edit – Each student will upload and view their entire assignment, get individual editing advice, suggestions, critiquing on shooting technique, concepts, etc...
Final Critique – Each student will display final edit (usually 4-5 shots, with one 'best' shot). Images will be shown on projector for entire class to see. Classroom participation in the critique is critical and will be part of the participation portion of the grade.
Lecture – Instructor will lecture about the upcoming assignment and cover related principals of design.
Lab – Instructor will lecture about technical issues of digital photography relative to our assignments.

Lab and Lecture periods may be swapped in order to give students an entire weekend of shooting time where they will have the requirements for the following assignment.

If a class period is missed due to holiday, acts of God, etc..., we will pick up where we left off.

Cycle 1

Introductions, distribute Camera Checkout forms and supplies

Lecture: Class emphasis, class goals. Image compression, JPG format...why it's good...why it's bad...why we're going to use it for this class.

Assign equipment. Go over workflow, set-up cameras, assign computers, set up image folders.

Make images, test cameras, perfect workflow from camera to screen.

Mini-assignment – shoot some images. I don't care where, I don't care when, I don't care what of...just get some images on the card and have something that we can go over workflow with. Get this done the first day you are assigned your cameras. Bring the camera/flashcard to class. These cameras are small...get in the habit of bringing them to each class period. You might consider trying to take photographs that will help me remember your name.

Cycle 2

Lecture: Workflow - editing

Principles of Design – Emphasis/Focal Point

Assignment 1: Explore your street – I want you to take 100 steps from your doorway at the place you live. At that location sit down and look. No, really, LOOK. I want you to see where you are and what you can photograph. Don't start shooting quite yet. Look at the light. Listen to the wind, smell the flowers, trees, etc... Become familiar with your surroundings. Take AT LEAST 10 minutes to just look and listen. Now you can start shooting. Make 50 images of anything you want. You MUST use the principals of design covered during lecture this week. This will be the pattern for all subsequent assignments. You will shoot, sometimes an assigned topic or concept, but it MUST follow as well as you can the principals of design that have been covered during the week's lecture.

Technical assignment: While you are shooting Assignment #1, I want you to take one scene that you like and shoot it a bunch of different ways. Shoot it on each .jpg resolution setting you have. Shoot it on each compression setting you have. Mix and match the compression with the resolution to get a wide variety of combinations. We will look at these under a microscope (literally, not figuratively), and it will make sense what was lectured about the previous week.

Cycle 3

I don't want to take the calendar beyond Cycle 3 right now. I want to look at the past two cycles and evaluate how it has gone, make any changes and/or adjustments necessary. You will receive a revised schedule sometime in the middle of Cycle 2.