J355 ADVANCED PHOTOJOURNALISM

SYLLABUS: Fall 2009 Course Description

Unique Numbers: 7595 & 7600

FALL 2009 - Tuesday and Thursday 9:30am to 11am

CMA 6.168 - UT Austin

Professor Eli Reed

Office Hours:

Tuesday and Thursday –

4:00PM to 5:00PM

Class Meeting Times:

Tuesday and Thursday –

5:00PM to 6:30PM CMA 5.134A

Tel: Office 512-471-3938/Home 512-342-9430

elireed@mail.utexas

elireed@mac.com (close monitor contact)

This syllabus should be viewed simply as a guide to this semester. A very serious guide as in – there will be occasional sudden changes in the schedule at times that are part of the learning curve.

Methodology

This class is about, "thinking your way out of the photojournalistic box." There are quite a few ways to accomplish this. Photographers have to rid themselves of the fear that prevent them from making intelligent choices within the sphere of their work. Patience and understanding goes a long way in helping the photographer go beyond the obvious.

A successful photographer needs to develop personal qualities that connect aesthetic value and clear crisp communication. The ability and the "PERSONAL EYE", matter. These personal POV's are the shot, the gesture, the story, the historic story telling visual. How one does that, will take the photographer on his and her journey.

Deadlines: DEADLINES ARE LISTED IN THE ACCOMPANYING COURSE SCHEDULE and will be announced when each assignment is given. Late assignments will be accepted only in cases of extreme personal hardship and with prior approval from the instructor. In such cases, you will have one week to complete the work with my discretion. This is not an opportunity to barter. Late work will not be accepted without written approval from the instructor.

THIS COURSE IS DESIGNED TO TEACH PROFESSIONAL TECHNIQUES:

Used by newspaper, magazine and on-line photographers to document and publish professional quality photographs of the personalities, relationships, events and scenes that inhabit and define our world.

EACH STUDENT SHALL MAINTAIN: A journal notebook that shall include the following:

1) Notes on lectures

2) Notes on assigned readings

3) Project outlines for each assignment

4) Captions for all photos in presentations

5) Assignment Journals will be submitted for evaluation and graded during the semester at various times.

(Twenty percent toward final grade)

Assignment Completion:

(Twenty per cent toward final grade)

Collective Project work over course of the semester (Prints delivered in Mac Book portfolio form with corrected color and captions with one page word essay at project end:

(Forty percent toward final grade)

Contest participation (COPY, POY, World Press, etc.), and photography journal files:

(Twenty per cent toward final grade)

THOUGHTFULNESS, INSIGHT AND CLARITY OF EXPRESSION are always essential traits for all who work with media. Mastery of Photographic Reporting and Storytelling concepts should make your professional life much richer and more productive, whatever your ambitions may be regarding the pursuit of a professional career in communications.

POINTS TO REMEMBER: Valuable information is presented during critiques. Cultivate the habit of writing down points that are emphasized by the instructor that will aid retention whether or not you ever consult your notes.

There are times when people with little or no prior photo experience make the most imaginative photos. In photojournalism, as in most areas of life, curiosity and enthusiasm are the keys that unlock the richest opportunities. Students with considerable prior photo experience who tend to imitate what they have seen others do make some of the more conventional photos. Duplicating pictures you’ve seen before can be instructive, like practicing musical scales. However, to become a virtuoso, seek inspiration in your own distinctive, personal experiences. Listen and learn to trust your own instincts at the right moments.

Class Schedule

Class Final: Mac Photo Portfolio book due on December 1 to 3, 200. Twenty to thirty photographs with at least seven to ten of the photographs in a picture story.

All assignment presentations are to be presented via photographic prints with captions unless indicated otherwise by instructor.

Aug 27 - Course Introduction overview with lab prep paper work, course overview discussed. Henri Cartier Bresson and instructor viewed.

September 1 – Present your photographs via CD or print.

Assignment: One page essay on work of W. Eugene Smith and Annie Leibovitz.

September 3 - Every picture has a role in the different kinds of photographic narrative. Work of Smith and Leibovitz will be discussed.

Assignment: One moment of Labor Day, one 8 by 10 inch print with twenty images contact sheet for delivery September 10 lecture.

September 8 – Discussion: photojournalism in the real world.

Assignment: Photograph the effect of the economy in Austin, Texas which will be due on October 1 as a long form photographic essay which can be done in B/W or in color.

September 10 - Presentation and discussion of student Labor Day assignment and contact sheets

Critique: photographs.

September 15 - Work of German photographer, August Sander presentation and lecture.

Assignment: Create five modern day portraits in a similar manner of his work. One photograph will be made in B/W. The remaining four will be made in color. Due September 22.

September 17 - Humor in the photographic essay/discussion of Elliot Erwitt, and other photographers work.

Assignment: Photographic essay using humor, leave the pies at home Due September 29. A minimum of four prints or more is called for depending on the depth of your sense of humor.

September 22 – Bring to class as instructed, five modern day portraits in the photographic style of August Sander using normal focal length. One photograph made in B/W with the remaining four made in color.

September 24 - Every picture tells a story. Looking at significant photographic images through history that have had a strong journalistic and societal impact.

Assignment: Make one photograph toward finding the larger story (Planned discovery). Bring some of your previous work in the form of contact sheets and three prints (Sizes may vary from 5 by 7 inches to larger sizes) for discussion on September 29.

September 29 – Critique and discussion on finished assignment for “Every picture tells a story” class.

Assignment: photograph an American Family. (Google “An American Family, The Loud Family” documentary. Perhaps the first ever reality television)

Black and white photographs shot in film with detailed captions, (no exceptions) with contact sheets and five 8 by 10 prints or larger due on October 8.

October 1 - Long form photographic essays on the economy are due with critique and discussion in during class.

Assignment: Analysis in one written page of the different approaches of your fellow students toward completing the assignment.

October 6 – Continued long form photographic essays on the economy due with critique and discussion.

October 8 - Film documentary (America’s Children, Poorest in the land of Plenty) with strong use of still photographs.

Fictional political film segment (Tanner 88, HBO Films)

Assignment: One page commentary on each of the two films due October 13.

October 13 – Television documentary commentary is due. Lecture and discussion will deal with different kinds of short photographic essays. Essays will be newspaper stories about a senior citizen and her farm, professional wrestling, etc..

Assignment: Portrait of a place assignment in B/W or color and three 8 by 10 inch prints due October 20.

October 15 – There may be a guest lecture. If the lecture takes place, the assignment will be due on the next class but don’t count on it. Ransom Center viewing of work done by conflict photographers.

Assignment: Write two page essay on the work comparing it to current coverage in conflict zones. Due October 22.

October 20 – Looking at award winning photographs, what distinguishes them to contest judges, what is to be learned from them and what kind of impact they bring to job hunting.

Assignment: Portrait of a place in B/W or color. Three 8 by 10 prints with contacts of shot images due October 27.

October 22 - Finding the assigned story and ‘making it yours’ discussion.

Assignment: Doing local onsite research for stories. One page essay due on October 29.

October 27 – Due: assignment portrait of a place in B/W or color. Three 8 by 10 prints with contacts of shot images Equipment use: Paring down to essentials for given stories/lens use/creative seeing to final conclusions. Discussion of: Life Magazine classic photographic essays

Assignment: Get some rest.

October 29 –

Discussion about making interesting photographs out of nothing without getting yourself fired.

Assignment: Shoot Halloween activities without showing children. Not less then four images and no more then 6 images. One of the photos should be a strong enough to make the front page. Due on November 3.

November 3 - Simulation of difficulties of overseas work session due for critique and discussion.

Assignment: Ten photographs forming portrait of a community due on November 10.

November 5 - Beginning of movie, “Once Upon a Time in the West.” Detailed discussion on realizing vision with looking at the work of William Allard and Pete Turner/Getting past daily grind.

Assignment: Set your camera to normal focal length and photograph the edge of light where things change. Write one page essay on your process getting there. Due November 12.

November 10 - Ten photographic portrait of a community ready for critique and discussion, critique and discussion.

November 12 – One page essay on your process getting past daily grind with your photographs critique and discussion.

Assignment: START THE PROCESS – of choosing images and designing the Mac Photo Portfolio book due on December 3, 2009 for final. Twenty five to thirty photographs with at least seven to ten of the photographs in a picture story.

November 17 – Walking tour/Zen photographs on the hunt

Assignment: Bringing all the elements together into one photograph. Make five 8 by 10 inch Zen photographic prints that is due on November 24.

November 19 – Black and White vs. Color photography

Assignment: Photograph a quiet but peak moment of the Thanksgiving Holiday in one photograph. You can only make one frame. Due December 1.

November 24 – Five 8 by 10 inch Zen photographic prints that are due for critique and discussion.

November 26 – Thanksgiving Day

December 1 - A quiet, peak moment of the Thanksgiving Holiday in one photograph due for critique and discussion.

December 3 – Finished portfolio presentation Final

“ 13 - Olympus Guest Lecturers and discussion on election coverage, good and bad.

NO EXCUSES!

You can use another system for creating the book if it is up to the quality of the Mac Books. (Suggestion: Order two books if you have impressed yourself enough because the book handed in remains in the journalism department and you might want to have one for your self.)

- Proper Cover Titles and captions are required.

- There is to be a single page essay (with correct spelling) printed in the pages regarding your work along with

- Contact information also printed inside on the last printed page.

- The photos should be color corrected properly and presented via a thoughtful manner and professionally.

“ 20 – Walking tour/Zen photographs on the hunt

Assignment: Bringing all the elements together into one photograph.

“ 25 – Black and White vs. Color photography

Assignment: Photograph a quiet moment of the Thanksgiving Holiday in one photograph. You can only make one frame. Due December 2.

“ 27 – Thanksgiving Holiday

December 2 - Quiet moment of the Thanksgiving Holiday in one photograph due. Presentation Final Photography Portfolio

" 4 – Final: Presentation/portfolio

Attendance

Regular attendance is critical to completing this course successfully. I will take attendance in class and count this towards your class attendance and participation grade, which represents 20% of the final grade.

Absences due to serious documented illness are excused. Medical documentation consists of a note from your Doctor on official letterhead, indicating the dates you must miss class. It is your responsibility to provide this documentation and to keep a copy for your records. Please consult Student Disability Services if you have a long-term illness, chronic health condition or disability requiring accommodations. See note below.

Attendance is essential on dates scheduled for special presentations. Otherwise, you are allowed two absences during the semester to cover situations that you judge to merit an excused absence, but that do not involve serious illness. I require no explanation, as it is your responsibility to decide what circumstances merit missing class. My responsibility is to apply course policy consistently without exception.

Based on prior experience, my recommendation is to save the two permitted absences for unanticipated circumstances, which may occur later in the semester. Each additional absence (without medical documentation) will result in a two point deduction from your final grade. Five or more unexcused absences may result in your automatic withdrawal (WA) from the class.

Student athletes who anticipate missing class meetings due to participation in competition should contact me at the beginning of the course so I can provide them with the respective policy statement.

(Teaching assistants to be announced soon. Last minute changes have been made.)

Important note for students with disabilities: The University of Texas at Austin provides upon request appropriate academic accommodations for qualified students with disabilities. For more information, contact the Office of the Dean of Students at 471-6259, 471-4641 TTY.

All work done in this class must be original work done by you for this class alone. The goal is creation of images and text that are journalistically sound but represent your personal vision and voice. For information on academic integrity and plagiarism, see http://www.utexas.edu/depts/dos/sjs/academicintegrity