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Digital Photography:
From the Basics to Creating a Web Portfolio This course approaches digital photography in a pragmatic manner emphasizing skills development and creating a portfolio. Topics include the basic use of a digital camera, methods for transferring images to a computer, preparing images for the Web or multimedia presentations, creating digital prints and special techniques such as photographic animations and Quicktime Virtual Reality images (360 degree panoramas). Real-world concerns like image format specifications, presentation standards and cataloging will be covered. Class is held in a Macintosh lab and students will have access to PhotoShop software. NOTE: Participants must own or have access to a digital camera (one with manual exposure control is recommended). Topics: Basic functions of the digital camera. Applying basic photography techniques to the digital camera. Framing and cropping; exposure; shutter speed, aperture, depth-of-field. Resolution, pixels, and the repurposing of images. Importing images from a camera to a computer. Digital manipulation of digital images. Preparing images for the Web or multimedia. Working with a Web Template. Image formats and use. Software: Basic and Intermediate level Adobe Photoshop skills. Basic and intermediate level Adobe ImageReady skills. QuickTime Virtual Reality preparation. Basic Web page setup. Eight Sessions 1. What can you do with a digital camera? General introduction. Distribution of syllabus. Brief lecture on general principles followed by real-world examples of what can be done with a digital camera. View an artist's portfolio. In-class fun group project. Consider: What are the characteristics of digital photography? What are three models of practice? How does the technology change photographic practice? Homework: each student will read through the manual of their own camera to determine its functions, specifically exposure, resolution and basic settings. 2. Field Trip: UCR/California Museum of Photography, 3824 Main Street, Riverside CA 92501. Bring your camera. 3. Five easy pieces: creating controlled images with a digital camera. Three-question 5-minute quiz on the basic functions of the camera (per owners manual). Brief lecture on five photographic principles. Alphabet assignment -- each student will be assigned a letter and will photograph something in the room that visually corresponds to the letter and we will as a class import these images and discuss them. (Hands-on photography and importing images into the computer -- repeated with each student to drill the technique home.) Exposure test / portraiture shoot. Homework: reading a one-page information sheet on image format (JPEGs, GIFs and Photoshop formats). 3. Creating an animation from digital stills. Simple Quiz on image format material. Class will work in small groups to create "cinematic animations." 4. Working to the Web Will cover the specifics of preparing images for the Web or multimedia. Hands-on work with Adobe Photoshop and Imageready. Homework: analysis of two Web sites (image content, file sizes, download times, types of images, etc.) 5. The Issue of Quality and Working with Light Brief lecture on standards for Web, digital printing, working for publication, museum standards, etc., as these issues relate to digital photography. Introduction on ideas about working with natural and artificial light. Emphasis on understanding light as key to digital photography. Lighting-related in-class shoot. Homework: creating a proposal / list for a final portfolio along with 3 - 5 "raw" images. 6. Begin Work on Final Portfolio Projects Lecture on specifics of digital portfolios. Using a Web template. Hands-on work preparing portfolio pages. Quick QTVR review. Homework: analysis of a Web gallery or a photography portfolio. 7. Work on Final Portfolio Projects Portfolio work. 8. Critique / Review of Final Projects |