Photo1+Course+Info


 * Photojournalism 1 - Course Information**

Instructor: Jeff Coleman -- Room 107 -- 720 423-7146

The best way to contact me is e-mail: jeff_coleman@dpsk12.org

Online at: http://coleman.tjcomputermagnet.com/

Office hours: 7:00 AM-7:20 AM, 2:45 PM-3:15 PM daily, other times by appointment

Pre-requisite: Intro to Computer Magnet 1 & 2 or permission of instructor

Overview: In this course we will explore the basic techniques of black and white photography and color photography, as they relate to journalism, business and the arts. Students will learn to operate digital cameras to capture images, and will use Adobe Photoshop to process their photos. Students will also learn to operate video camcorders and edit video using Final Cut Express. The course will require some writing in the form of articles, captions, proposals, and critiques. Throughout the course the focus will be on moving away from the production of mere snapshots and home video, and moving toward the production of well-composed photographs and videos that will have an artistic quality beyond their content.

Textbook: None. Written material will be distributed in the form of class handouts.

Homework: While there will be little in this class that resembles traditional homework, students will be expected to spend considerable non-class time taking photos, writing proposals, critiques, and articles, and working on the computers to do photo processing.

Grading: Students will be graded primarily on projects that will demonstrate acquired competencies. Point values will be given with each assignment. Mid-term and final grades will be based on a percentage of the possible points earned using the following scale:

93-100 =A • 90-92=A • 87-89=B+ • 83-86=B • 80-82=B- 77-79=C+ • 73-76=C • 70-72=C- • 60-69=D • 0-59=F

Participation grade: Students will receive 10 points per week for participating enthusiastically, being in attendance and on time, and contributing to the class in a positive way. Students may recover lost participation points by participating in Excel time on Wednesdays.

Lab fee: In order to offer a photojournalism course at TJ it is necessary for us to require each student to pay a lab fee. During the course of the semester we spend approximately two hundred dollars per student on materials, equipment, and software. Since we don’t have a big enough budget to cover these expenses, we ask the students to pay for part of the materials and equipment they use. The lab fee is $80 for the year or $40.00 for this semester. This fee is due on Friday, August 28.

Excel Time: Students are encouraged to use Excel Time on Wednesday afternoons for extending their learning beyond the classroom, working on current projects, and making up work missed due to absence.


 * Course Syllabus**

Imaging with Light How the eye works; How the camera works Basic Composition Rule of thirds, Simplicity, Balance, Framing, Lines, Avoiding Mergers

Camera Competencies Parts of the camera - buttons and dials Modes and functions ISO Auto focus/Manual focus Auto Exposure, Shutter priority, Aperture priority, Manual Exposure Depth of Field Formatting media

Subjects Landscapes and architecture Portraits Still Life Geometric Shapes Alternate Worlds Motion, narrative, three-dimensionality

Processing with PhotoShop Image storage and organization Creating and organizing files and folders on the hard drive Backing up files to CD Batch renaming individual image files Image size and resolution, preparing images for screen and print Color management Image manipulation Expressing motion, narrative, and three dimensions in still photographs

Presentation PowerPoint and other screen applications Print

Video:

Camcorder competencies Tripod use Pan, Tilt, Zoom, Static Shot Editing Sound track, Final Cut Express Voice-over, Interview, Action