Elizabethtown College

Department of Communications

 

 

Com 371/Art 371 Black and White Photography     May Term 2006  

4 Credits                                                                          Mon. – Fri. 8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

Dr. Hans-Erik Wennberg

208H Steinman Center

Phone: 361-1259

Home Phone: 367-2424

e-mail: wennberg@etown.edu

http://users.etown.edu/w/wennberg

 

Office Hours:      

M – Thurs.  1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Fri. 8:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.

Others by appointment

 

          

Prerequisite:

 

None

 

Textbooks (required):

 

Schaefer, John P., Ansel Adams Guide Book 1, Basic Techniques of Photography, Revised Edition, Little, Brown and Company, New York, NY, 1999.

 

Class Materials (required):

 

Package of production supplies for Com 371 -- purchased during the second session of class, cost $70.00.

 

Use of a 35mm single lens reflex camera capable of manual exposure setting and manual focus and electronic flash are necessary to complete the photography assignments.

 

 

 

Resource Materials:

 

See list of library and departmental journals for related publications.

 

Communications Department Regular Lab Hours:

 

8:00 a.m. – 4: 00p.m.

Monday - Thursday

8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Friday

closed

Saturday

closed

Sunday

 

Additional hours will be by special arrangement and as necessary.

 

Class members will be permitted to use the photographic Labs at hours other those above if: 

         ¥ They call security for admission to Steinman when the Building is locked.

 

         ¥ Sign in and out on the darkroom sign out sheet.

 

¥ Work should be confined to 8 am to Midnight and the student must have someone else present.

 

In all cases, materials and equipment must be washed, and dried as necessary and returned to their proper storage locations.

 

Any violations will remove the students name from the after hours access list.

 

Please note:

 

"The second floor of the Steinman Center, TV control room, and radio station are equipped with HALON fire extinguishers - special equipment to fight fires and keep electronic equipment damage to a minimum.

HALON extinguishers use a gas that can be harmful to humans after prolonged exposure.  If a fire occurs point and release the special extinguishers as normal in fighting a fire.  However, during the course of fire fighting, when one's voice is affected enough to sound like "Donald Duck," leave the fire areas before the gas becomes disabling.  The effect on the voice is temporary and not harmful."

 

Course Description and Purpose:

 

This is a course in beginning black and white photography.  Photography will be dealt with as a photojournalistic form and an art form.  No prior knowledge or experience in the arts or photography is expected.  Demonstrations and supervised lab periods will be used to instruct students in basic camera and darkroom techniques of black and white photography.  Individual and group critiques/discussions of student photography will be held.  Discussion of photographic history, criticism and aesthetics will be used to help the student understand class projects and to increase appreciation of photographic traditions and contemporary trends.

 

Course Objectives:

 

The student will be able to:

 

1. Demonstrate successful composition and production of a realistic image in continuous tone black and white photograph.

 

2. Demonstrate the ability to operate a manually controlled 35mm single lens reflex camera.

 

3. Identify characteristics of a successful professional photographer.

 

4. Create appropriate lighting for a portrait photograph.

 

5. Demonstrate successful composition and production of a digitally produced black and photograph.

 

6. Demonstrate the ability to produce a black and white image in a variety of lighting situations.

 

Course Policies:

 

Attendance:

 

           It is expected that all students attend every class and be on time.  Absences severely handicap the learning process because you are unable to acquire knowledge through first-hand discussions and demonstrations.  Being late for class interrupts the momentum of the class and distracts other students.

 

           A student may miss one class session (equivalent of three classes or one week) without penalty; however, on each successive absence, a grade reduction will be made from the course final grade.

 

Makeup Work

 

           Work or tests missed, as a result of absence will only be made up by prior arrangement with the instructor.  Unless allowed to be made up, a grade of 0 will be given.  Projects are due at the beginning of the period.  No late work will be accepted and a grade of 0 will be given.

 

Written Work

 

All final drafts of treatments and scripts must be typed (word-processed).  Students are encouraged to submit all drafts typed.

               Standards of Academic Integrity

 

Elizabethtown College assumes that its students will act honorably and will conduct themselves accordingly.

 

Students in Com 371 are expected to adhere to the Pledge of Integrity adopted by the Student Senate and the Faculty Assembly. Academic dishonesty – including cheating and plagiarism – constitutes a serious breach of academic integrity. It is expected unequivocally that all academic work be the honest product of the studentÕs own endeavor. Only in this way can students reveal authentic achievement and potential to an instructor.

 

 


Grading

 

           The final grade for the course will be determined in the following manner:

 

Quiz Grades

10%

Short Term Assignment

30%

Photo Criticism

15%

Final Portfolio

45%

 

 

*Examinations will cover theory, technique, general knowledge and production skills section of the course.

 

Grading Scale

 

                     Graded work will be awarded (+) and (-) letter grades each corresponding to a fixed numerical value on a scale of 10.

 

9.3 A+

9.0 A

8.7 A-

 

8.3 B+

8.0 B

7.7 B-

 

7.3 C+

7.0 C

6.7 C-

 

6.3 D+

6.0 D

Below 6.0 F

 

 

The instructor reserves the right to alter course content or pace to accommodate class progress.

 

Cell Phones

 

The use of cellular telephones during class time will not be tolerated.  If you are in an emergency situation, set you cell phone to vibrate and leave the class immediately before taking the call.  If you cell phone rings during class you will be asked to leave and not return until the next class.  You will be marked absent for the partial class day.

 

Course Calendar

 

Schedule:

 

Monday, May 15th

Course Introduction

Basic Exposure

and Photo Composition

Distribute first roll of film

Tuesday, May 16th

Film Processing and Contact Sheet

Production

First Contact Sheet

Due

Wednesday, May 17th

Selection of Negatives and

Black and White Printing

 

Thursday, May 18th

First group criticism

Flash Photography

First Prints Due


 

Friday, May 19th

Photo Printing Techniques

Dodging and Burning

Location Photography - Masonic Homes

Quiz Number 1

Flash Contact Sheet Due

Monday, May  22nd

Portrait Lighting

Distribute Film

Tuesday, May 23rd

Introduction to the Zone System

Historical Development of Photography

 

Wednesday, May 24th

Review of Portraits

Portrait assignment Due

Distribute film

Thursday, May 25th   

Location Photography

Field Trip - Harrisburg

 

Friday, May 26th 

Preliminary Portfolio Review

Quiz Number 2

Distribute Film

Written Criticism of the work of Professional Photographer

Monday, May 29th 

No Class meeting

Memorial Day Holiday

Tuesday, May 30th 

Review of Zone Assignment

Use of Lenses

Mounting and Display

Of Photography

 

Wednesday, May 31st

Black and White Digital Photography

Comparison of Negative and digital Prints

Digital Cameras will be distributed during class time.  Bring you own if you have one.

Print Critique

Thursday, June 1st

Laboratory Session

Printing Problems

 

Friday, June 2nd 

Course Summary and Conclusion

Quiz Number 3

Final Portfolio Review and Criticism

 

 

 

Assignments

 

Quizzes

Periodic Quizzes will be used throughout the class

Short Term Assignments

Periodic review and Grading of Photo Assignments throughout the class

Photo Criticism

A written review of a noted professional photographer with comments on style, aesthetics, subject and presentation.

Minimum of 4 pages typed – Class presentation of the photographer

Final Portfolio

20 mounted 5 x 7 printings showing a range of photo subjects.

Portfolio will be judged on print quality, composition, and aesthetics.