Course description:
This course is an introduction into digital imaging, digital photography and manipulation. It will be principally concerned with digital cameras and Photoshop, although will cover contiguous subjects such as scanning andprinting. It will contextualise these technical concerns through lectures and presentations into digital imaging and digital artists and active engagement with these theoretical and conceptual concerns is encouraged and expected.
Technical components:
Basics: Using Macs, using the finder, basic data management, scanning and printing.
Digital Cameras: digital camera controls, parts, types and theory; how to shoot digtally, the differences between film and digital, the advantages and disadvantages; the theory and practice of basic camera optics.
Photoshop: navigating Photoshop; file types; using the file browser; selections; basic layers and advanced layer techniques; ‘painting’ tools; alpha masks, and quick masks; image ‘extraction’; healing, cloning and other retouching tools; liquifying images; useful filters and effects.
Lectures and presentations:
There also will be lectures on digital imaging, contemporary photographic practice and the theory of digital imaging.
Grading:
Grading is based upon the quality, aesthetics and conceptual execution of the final work produced; its presentation; a quiz upon technical aspects of digital imaging, and upon a written paper based upon a visit to a gallery /museum in the city.
A an ‘A’ grade will show excellence in the execution of the work, in active discussion and participation in the class, and the presentation skills of the work.
B will demonstrate the same but with above average quality
C with average quality
D showing below average quality
Attendance is mandatory, two absences are allowed, beyond that a grade will be deducted for every class that is missed. Turning up more than 15 minutes late will result in attendance marked as absent. Work that is submitted late will also be reflected in a lower grade.
Required Materials:
A digital camera – if you do not wish to buy a digital camera, these can be rented from the Photo Lab in Rm.131. We have a selection of Nikon Coolpix cameras and several of the brand new Nikon D70.
Writable CD’s for archiving and transporting of data.
Anon., Adobe Photoshop CS: classroom in a book, Adobe Press, Berkeley, 2004.
Ciaglia, J., London, B., et al., Absolute Beginners Guide to Digital Photography, Que Publishing, Indianopolis, 2004.
Paper for printing – type to be discussed during class.
Suggested Materials:
The Photo Book, Phaidon, 1997.
LeVitus, B., Mac OS X for Dummies, For Dummies Publishing, 2003.
- Or, more advanced –
Litt, S., et al., Mac OS X Bible, John Wiley and Sons, 2004.
Mitchell, W., The Reconfigured Eye, MIT Press, 1992.
Eismann, Kattrin, Real World Digital Photography, 2nd Edition, Peach Pit, 2004.
Sabau, Luminita, The Promis of Photography, Prestel, 1999.
Also materials from the following will be used:
Bayer. J, Reading Photographs, 1977.
Batchen G., Each Wild Idea, MIT Press, 2002.
Marien, M., Photography: a Cultural History,, Lawrence King 2002.
Thompson, Jerry L., Truth and Photography: Notes on Looking and Photographing, Dee, 2003.
Outline
Week 1 Jan 18 + 21: You might be here: signs of the digital image
Introduction; syllabus, costs of rental and materials.
Lecture: What is digital imaging?
Digital cameras: what is a digital camera, costs, parts, function, etc., advantages and disadvantages of shooting digitally (from chapter 2, Beginners Guide); how a camera works (from chapters 4 & 5, Beginners Guide).
Using Macs: navigating the finder; basic file management; and GUI differences between Wintel machines and Macs; File formats (from Beginners Guide).
Photoshop: navigating Photoshop (chapter 1 from Classroom); using the file browser (chapter 2 from Classroom) and basic exercises to familiarise you with Pshop (chapter 3); and selections (chapter 4).
Due for next two classes: a 'card' of 30 images showing various photographic qualities... first one: showing aperture, shutter speed. second one: showing: ISO variety, focal length variety.
Week 2 Jan 25 + 28: Isn’t s/he beautiful (albeit utterly utterly fake)
Layer Basics (chapter 5 from Classroom) – An introduction to the one of the famous fundamental dimensions of Photoshop.
Masks and Channels (chapter 6 from Classroom) – An introduction to the other considerably less famous fundamental dimensions of Photoshop.
Lecture: digital beauty
Repairing and retouching (Chapter 7 from Classroom) – the chapter that has saved every celebrity for the 20 years from looking wrinkly, spotty, pale and otherwise plausibly imperfect.
Due for next two classes: a card of thirty images showing: subject positioning and alternative framing. To begin during the week: artificial beauty
Week 3 Feb 1 + 4: Alice in WonderRoom230
Painting and Editing (chapter 8 from Classroom): a sometimes garish, but useful, introduction to the painting tools of Photoshop.
The ‘Image>Adjustment’ menu: the menu that has saved many a lousy photograph, and given beauty and atmosphere to as many others.
The ‘Edit>Transform’ menu: resizing and basic distortions.
Basic Liquify-ing
‘Alice in WonderRoom230’ demonstration: volunteers appreciated…
Shooting: list of impossible photographs. Begin: ‘[insert name] in [insert place]’
Week 4 Feb 8 + 11 How to use filters without incurring my wrath, and advanced layer techniques
Healthy use of filters: The blur family, the sharpen family, and using filters in conjunction with masks, quick masks, etc.
Advanced layers techniques (from Classroom chapter 11): the retouched-untouched image.
Due for next week: refocused images (articial DOF) and the retouched-untouched image and three historical images: 2 photographs and 1 painting.
Week 5 Feb 15 + 18 What’s art history, got to do, got to do with it? (Who needs an art when an art can be broken?)
Scanning: getting paper and film images into Photoshop.
The French disease: moiré and how to protect yourself against it.
Upsampling, downsampling, and resizing images.
Mini project: The historic class of 2004
Reading due for following week - selected text from the reconfigured eye. Be prepared to discuss this in class.
Week 6 Feb 22 + 25
Continuation of the mini project
Week 7 Mar 1 + 4 Printing and the an introduction to the problems of color management, or, baby you’re a real geek, too.
Color management; screen to print fidelity. Opportunity to print former images.
Begin Project: The [insert your name] family portrait.
Lecture: digital truth (from the Reconfigured Eye)
Week 8 Mar 8 + 11
Project: The [insert your name] family portrait continued…
Week 9 Mar 22 + 25
Quiz upon all things technical
Project: the digital landscape
Week 10 Mar 29 + Apr 1
The digital landscape continued.
Week 11 Apr 5 + 8
The digital landscape continued.
The family portrait due, and final deadline for all other projects.
Week 12 Apr 12 + 15
Open project and printing of final pieces
Week 13 Apr 19 + 22
Open project and printing of final pieces. Paper Due.
Week 14 Apr 26 +29
Open project and printing of final pieces
Week 15 May 3 + 6
All projects due and presentation of portfolio and work