J 325 Photography I

Description and Objectives

By the end of this course, you should have a strong working knowledge of 35 mm cameras and mastered the skills of proper exposure (metering), controlling depth of field (making equivalent exposures), flash, focus, using a variety of lenses, b&w darkroom printing, as well as working with subjects (posing and establishing rapport) and multi-image storytelling. You will also be introduced to the process of digital photography – shooting, manipulating and printing digital image. In the lab, you will learn the basics of Photoshop, Photo Mechanic, and negative scanners.

In keeping with the mission of the School of Journalism, the objectives of this course also focus on:

1) Ethics, Professionalism, Personal Integrity. This means meeting deadlines and being mature and responsible in the way you approach assignments and interact with your subjects. Photojournalists work with the public and their images are seen by the public. Be accountable for your own actions and respect the privacy of the people you photograph. NEVER make promises to subjects (i.e. “I’ll send you a print”.) that you do not intend to keep.

2) Writing skills. This is essential in photojournalism. It is imperative that photographers are able to write clearly and accurately to produce strong captions and to describe their work for critiques, interviews, web sites, magazine articles and books.

3) Critical thinking skills. Not only through subject choice, but also in terms of strong picture editing with an appreciation of and sensitivity for diverse audiences.

Grading System

This course is designed to provide a strong foundation in photographic technique, preparing you for the more advanced PJ courses in the sequence. The course consists of class discussions, shooting assignments, regular critique sessions, darkroom and digital lab work, and a final project.

9 shooting and printing assignments (Eight assignments are worth one point each and one assignment is worth 3 points) – 11 points.

Final Project (an in-depth photo essay) – 5 points

Lab Hours

TAs teach a mandatory workshop at the beginning of each assigned lab time. The lab times represent a block of time each week that those students have priority in the processing rooms and wet lab; however, students may work in the lab any time it is open.

Prerequisites

J 310, J 315, and J 316 with a grade of at least C in each, a score of 45 or better on the Grammar, Spelling, Punctuation (GSP) test, a score of 29 or better on the Word Processing (WP) test, and admission to the Journalism Upper Division Photojournalism sequence or Consent of Instructor.

Please note: Students should own or have regular access to a 35mm SLR camera body, a 50 mm lens, and a flash that can be taken off of your camera. Nikon and Canon equipment are recommended. It is also recommended that you invest in a light meter, especially if you plan to pursue photography professionally.