The world through a lens-retouched. An introductory non-darkroom photography course with emphasis on camera types and uses, films, lighting, exposures, composition and digital-image-handling (Adobe Photoshop). An overview of the technical, aesthetic and professional aspects of photography and the new traditions brought about by digitalization.
A practical introduction to digital photography and Photoshop.
The course is divided into two parts: “The Portrait,” where image making is detailed from the classic film cameras to the digital ones.
Students will produce Portraits, based on techniques shown previously.
They also learn how to deal with a digital reflex camera.
The second part, “The Documentary,” is also very practical, students start manipulating images with Photoshop tools and learn how to make final images in order to publish them on a newspaper.
II. Objectives:
To gain a practical working knowledge of:
Camera controls and terminology
Lighting control and manipulation
Professional photography language and market
Photoshop digital retouching
III. Course Outline:
Course Part One - The Portrait
1. How is an image created?
Reflex camera functioning: shutter speed, diaphragm. The film. ISO Speeds. Development. (Classroom, cannon, laptop).
2. Jump to Digital.
Comparison between the digital sensor and the film. Pixels, CCD, White Balance. Resolution. (Classroom, cannon, laptop).
3. Question: What makes an image a good photo?
Exposure, Framing, Quality of Light, Interest. Students must bring their cameras today, Professor will give orientations about each camera. (Classroom, cannon, laptop).
4. In Action: First Portrait Session.
Based on the four aspects of a good picture, seen the class before, students will start making portraits. (Classrom and around the school).
5. Computer Lab.
Unload photos to computer and start viewing them. Critique based on former class´s aspects. Last day to drop course without receiving a W.
First contact with Photoshop interface: file-open.
6. The professional Photography:
Photo-art, photojournalism, portraits, fashion, social photography. (Classroom, laptop, cannon).
7. The professional Photography:
Emphasis on Alberto Garcia Alix´s work: La Movida Madrileña. (Classroom, laptop, cannon).
8. Portrait Professional Session.
Photo session with professional equipment. After this session, students will be asked to make another one, by themselves, at home, using the techniques learned on this class. (Classroom).
9. Computer Lab.
Unload photos. Open in Photoshop. Levels, crop.
10. Computer Lab.
How to improve a portrait. Clone Stamp, Opacity, introduction to Layers.
11. Computer Lab.
Bring Final Portrait Today. Written Critique.
12. Still life session.
Each student should bring an interesting object to be shot in class. Advanced light control. The flash meter. Depth of field in studio. (Classroom).
13. Computer Lab.
Montage of still life photos (done at the previous class) on a different background. Layers masks, Brush tool.
14. Computer Lab.
Supervised exercises on Phshop. Submit grades.
Course Part Two: The Documentary
15. The documentary.
View of professional photojournalist´s work. Critique. (Classroom, cannon, laptop).
16. Discussion:
How to make up a story with photos. In groups, students discuss how to make their own photo stories, from assignments given by the professor. The intention of this activity is to work as if they were at a newspaper, with deadlines, edition techniques, etc. (Classroom).
17. Production:
Production of group’s photo documentaries supervised by professor. (Around the school, classroom).
18. Computer Lab.
Edition class. How to edit a documentary in order to publish it. Final edition with máx. 6 photos.
19. Computer Lab.
Retouching the photo story in order to publish. What can or cannot be done in photoshop when you are working at a newspaper. Levels, crop. Clone stamp.
20. Computer Lab.
Prepare the photos to publish. Image size. Resolution. Compressions: Jpeg, Tiff, first comments about RAW.
21. Computer Lab.
Supervised exercises on Pshop. Use tools.
22. Report:
The School. Students should bring their cameras and individually make a photo report showing their view about the school, people who work here, facilities, architecture, etc... (Around the school, classroom).
23. Computer Lab.
Edition of School Report.
24. Computer Lab.
Final edition and retouching of School Report.
25. Computer Lab.
The digital black and white.
26. Computer Lab
Final overview of all the photos produced by class. Critique, final retouches.
27. Course Evaluation.
Bring 6 final photos from School Report edited to publish.
28. Final Exam.
Final test: students will retouch a given photo in class.
