Syllabus

GRAND VIEW UNIVERSITY

SYLLABUS Communication 355/356
2 CREDITS, Fall 09

Department and Course #: Communications 355 (1 p.m.) / 366 (2 p.m.)
Course Title: Creative Photography
Academic Term: Fall 2009
Academic Division: Humanities Division

Instructor: Andrew Langager
Email: andylangager@gmail.com
Cell phone: 319-290-8229 (please no texts!)
AIM: andylangager2
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/langager
Class Website: http://gvuphoto.blogspot.com
Office/Class Location: Room 121 (1 p.m.) / 116 (2 p.m.)
Office Hours: By appointment

Important: It is a student’s responsibility to check your GVC e-mail account daily for any class updates or announcements.

PREREQUSITE: Basic Digital Photo class. This means that students should already have knowledge of basic digital photographic processes from the camera to the computer image-processing of digital photographs.

LEARNING GOALS AND OBJECTIVES FOR THE PHOTOGRAPHY ACADEMIC MINOR

• The student will exhibit appropriate knowledge about the selection of digital photography cameras, software, computers, and techniques that are used to produce high quality photographs.
• The student will be knowledgeable about the law, practices, and ethics that inform the taking and using of photographs in our society.
• The student will practice good photographic skills in the areas of subject lighting, digital camera expertise, and computer image processing.
• The student will demonstrate an attitude of flexibility and teamwork based upon the ability to learn quickly and adapt to changes in the photographic field.


INSTRUCTIONAL OBJECTIVES

Learning as Knowledge: The student should acquire the skills to create a photo project such as a calendar, a portfolio or a series of similar themed photos.

Learning as Process or Behavior: Students must organize and arrange appropriate times to meet instructor at scheduled dates.

Learning as Attitude: The student should cultivate an appreciation of many kinds of photographs that will be reflected in the finished project.




CONTENT OUTLINE

Students are each expected to individually create a high-quality photo project that blends compelling photographs with a polished presentation. Keep in mind that the main purpose of a Creative Photo project is to give advanced photo students a place to create and showcase their best work to date.

INSTRUCTIONAL RESOURCES

http://gvuphoto.blogspot.com


REQUIREMENTS AND ASSESSMENT

COURSE CONTENT Students will work on an individual photo project in this class. Past projects included a calendar, a portfolio book, a series of photomontages, or a slideshow presentation or DVD. The instructor will show examples early in the semester of different types of techniques and potential project ideas. Students are expected to write a proposal/contract by September 18.

Your coursework will be broken down into three sections in which you will share your progress with the class.

You may choose to explore one, two, or three photography genres throughout the semester.

Here are a few genres you can pick from (you are not limited to these):

By aesthetic quality:
Color
Black and White
Texture
Artistic (composition-based)
Abstract
Lines

By subject:
Conceptual
Street/Urban/City/Architecture
Animal, Pet
Landscape
Travel
Photojournalism, documentary, photo essay, sports (not sure about this)

By camera technique:
Macro/close-up
Night/Long exposure
Stitch/panorama
Pinhole
Time-lapse
Painting with light
Flash photography

By Photoshop technique:
HDR
Tilt-shift miniature
Faux Lomo
Artistic/brush effects
Selective color
Vintage look

Evaluation: Letter grades on your project will be based upon three criteria:

• The quality (creativity and technique) displayed by the student in the project. If the student chooses one genre to explore, has the student shown a thorough mastery of it? If the student picks 2-3 genres, has the student shown a range of technique?

• Visual impact of the project: do the photos work well together? Are they presented in a professional manner? Is the layout visually pleasing?

• Meeting deadlines and one-on-one meetings with the instructor. We will have three class meetings to show progress throughout the semester, You will also meet with me at least five times during our Wednesday and Friday class times.

Letter grades:
"A" work: Deadlines met regularly for assignments; student has gone above and beyond to demonstrate he or she understands the concepts of the assignment. Shows time and effort put into every assignment. Overall work is excellent.

"B" work: Deadlines met for nearly every assignment; student has show he or she has a strong understanding of the concepts of the assignments. The basic requirements of the assignments are fulfilled with good, solid work. Overall work is above average.

"C" work: Most deadlines met, but some missed. Not all assignments fulfilled to specifications. Student shows some understanding for the concepts at hand, but some of the work could have benefited from more time or effort put into it. Overall work is average.

"D" work: Deadlines missed regularly. More than one or two assignments missed. Student does not fully demonstrate an understanding of the concepts. Not much effort put into work. Overall work is below average.

"F" work: Deadlines missed regularly. Assignments left incomplete. Student shows distinct lack of effort towards the class. No demonstration of learning the concepts at hand. Overall work is far below average.
Necessary Skills: In addition to knowing the fundamentals of using a digital camera, other skills needed for this class include knowing how to use the basics of Photoshop CS3, how to access the GVC Photo Lab server to save and store photos, and how to upload photos to the WEB for printing portfolios and calendars.

Photo Lab facilities: The lab computers are available for student use when the Communication building is open. Students may use these facilities when the photo lab is open and no other class is being taught at the time.

Honor Code of Academic Integrity: Each student must independently produce original photos during this semester. All assignments in this course must be completed in compliance with the College’s Code of Academic Integrity (see your Student Handbook).

Photos or assignments created from previous semesters or classes will not be accepted for grading unless approved ahead of time by the instructor. Suspicious assignments will be brought to the appropriate college administrators. If questioned, it is up to students to prove that they are producing original work.

It is important that each student download all the images from the camera to labeled folders on your flash drive and to save all these original camera images. An alternative would be to burn all original camera images for each assignment on a permanent CD that you could show the instructor. Students must be able to prove that the photo shown for grading is that student’s own work.

If a student is caught turning in images that are not their own work, penalties may include no credit on the assignment in question, course failure, or formal college charges of student misconduct. Formal charges can result in academic probation, suspension, and expulsion.

WRITING AND CRITICAL THINKING

Students will have the opportunity to choose from among several offerings to fulfill the requirements of the class. Since students will be working independently, much of the success, or failure, in the class will depend on the ability of each student to make informed, personally advantageous decisions about the options afforded them.

CLASS SCHEDULE

Everyone is expected to come to dates listed in bold.
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Wednesday - August 26
Introduction

Friday - August 28
Creative Photography Overview
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Wednesday - September 2
Share your favorite photographers
** Before class you should email me the URL (web address) of 10 total photos from two photographers you choose -- five from each photographer -- be prepared to briefly talk about why their work resonates with you
Assignment #1, sign up for individual meeting

Friday - September 4
Share favorite photographers, continued
Individual meeting begins if we have time
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Wednesday - September 9
Individual meeting

Friday - September 11
Individual meeting
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Wednesday - September 16
Individual meeting
Everyone should have 1/5 individual meetings by this point

Friday - September 18
Contracts due.
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Wednesday - September 23
Lab/Work day/individual meeting

Friday - September 25
Share your progress: 1 of 3
Everyone in class this day
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Wednesday - September 30
Lab/Work day/individual meeting

Friday - October 2
Lab/Work day/individual meeting
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Wednesday - October 7
Lab/Work day/individual meeting
Everyone should have 2/5 individual meetings by this point

Friday - October 9 **** Fall break, No class ****
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Wednesday - October 14 * Semester mid point
Lab/Work day/individual meeting

Friday - October 16
Lab/Work day/individual meeting
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Wednesday - October 21
Lab/Work day/individual meeting

Friday - October 23 * Last day to withdraw with a "W" grade
Share your progress: 2 of 3
Everyone should have 3/5 individual meetings by this point
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Wednesday - October 28
Lab/Work day/individual meeting

Friday - October 30
Lab/Work day/individual meeting
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Wednesday - November 4
Lab/Work day/individual meeting

Friday - November 6
Lab/Work day/individual meeting
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Wednesday - November 11
Lab/Work day/individual meeting
Everyone should have 4/5 individual meetings by this point

Friday - November 13
Lab/Work day/individual meeting
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Wednesday - November 18
Share your progress: 3 of 3

Friday - November 20


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Wednesday - November 25-27 **** No class ******
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Wednesday - December 2
Lab/Work day/individual meeting

Friday - December 4
Lab/Work day/individual meeting
Everyone should have 5/5 individual meetings by this point
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Exam period: TBA
Share final portfolio/calendar/DVD/etc
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GRAND VIEW UNIVERSITY
INSTITUTIONAL UNDERGRADUATE SYLLABUS STATEMENTS

Academic Honesty/Code of Integrity
Grand View University is dedicated to the development of the whole person and is committed to truth, excellence, and ethical values. Personal integrity and academic honesty in all aspects of the University experience are the responsibility of each faculty member, staff member, and student. A student has an obligation to do work that is his or her own and reflects his or her learning and quest for academic knowledge. Dishonesty and cheating are not acceptable behaviors. Examples include helping others during exams, writing papers for others, falsifying data/records, copying other students’ work, taking work directly from the Internet or any printed source and claiming it as one’s own, and downloading/purchasing papers on-line. Students who cheat, could risk severe penalties, which may include failure of the assignment, failure of the course, or expulsion from the University. “As a member of the Grand View University community, and in accordance with the mission of the University and its Lutheran identity, I agree to appreciate and respect the dignity and worth of each individual. I will honor and promote a community of open interaction, personal integrity, active and intellectual engagement, and academic honesty with students, faculty, and staff.”

Accelerated Courses
Grand View offers courses in accelerated or alternative delivery formats. They cover the same subject content and require the same or comparable assignments that are associated with a traditional fourteen week course.

Accommodation
Grand View University prohibits unlawful discrimination and encourages full participation by all students within the university community. When a student requires any instructional or other accommodation to optimize participation and/or performance in this course, it is the responsibility of the student to contact both the instructor and the Director of Academic Enrichment and Disability Coordinator and apply for any requested accommodation. The director is Dr. Kristine Owens and she can be reached at 515/263-2971.

Class Attendance
The Federal Government requires that students receiving financial aid attend classes. Students, who are identified by the instructor as not attending classes, will be reported to the Registrar’s Office. Students who fail to return to classes may lose all or a portion of their financial aid.