Advanced Black and White Photography – TEC 2022—Spring 2009
TEC 2022 3 Credits Kerr Scott Hall Room 105 TR
Instructor: Pac McLaurin phone 963-7883 pac911@charter.net
Text: Photography. Same one you used in Tech Photo 1011
This course will cover advanced technical information about cameras, films, exposure systems, and control of light, processing, and printing. Assignments will stress the technical control of the medium and challenge the student to visualize a subject and reproduce it as a photographic print. The direction of the assignments will be toward the studentsŐ individual interests. One goal of this course is to translate your ideas into conceptual photographic images producing a final body of professional images. Along the way we hope to not only increase our technical skill, but to develop our esthetic sense of photography as a creative, artistic medium.
Objectives:
1. Demonstrate a thorough understanding of camera systems.
2. The understanding of an exposure control system (modified Zone System) to consistently produce quality negatives.
3. Effectively use processing and printing controls. Including: variable film development (Normal/Expansion/Contraction), two bath developing, toning, bleaching, intensification, contrast control, dodging, burning, and split filter printing.
4. The use of black and white contrast control and correction filters on the cameraŐs lens to alter the final tonal range and quality of the image. Understand the use of variable contrast paper and filters for printing exhibition quality prints.
5. Effectively use light as an expressive photographic tool.
6. Demonstrate the use of archival methods for presentation and storage of photographic materials.
7. Gain some ability to describe, interpret, and evaluate photographic images.
8. Gain some understanding of photography as a means of expressing oneŐs conceptual, esthetic, and intellectual ideas.
9. Develop a strong portfolio of exhibition quality prints with content that exhibits some vision and insight as a photographer. This will be an important component of your advancing in the photography program and I take our work this semester very seriously.
Craft
and Creative Expression:
At the beginning of the semester we will devote time to discussion of technical aspects of photography and darkroom work. Your attendance is essential if you are to do well. It is important that you start shooting immediately in the semester. Make good contact prints and bring them to class with you. There will be several shooting assignments. When you turn in an assignment, you need to submit the following: final print, negatives and contacts, and the print record for the print. You will absolutely have to work in the darkroom and film lab outside of class. Toward the end of the semester as you prepare your final portfolio more of the classes will be open lab/studio classes. It is during those labs that we consult with you on an individual basis to work out the problems you might be having with your printing. It is strongly advised that you take advantage of this.
Attendance:
Going to class is
your primary job. Education is not something that takes second place to
part time work. This class meets
twice a week. You must be present for critiques
short of some extraordinary situation. Attendance Policy: Consistent with the
UniversityŐs policy on attendance, you are expected to attend each of the
scheduled class and lab meetings. If you expect to miss one or more class
meetings because of participation in a University sponsored activity, the
instructor should be notified in advance. You are responsible for the
information given during the time of your absence.
If there are
extenuating circumstances that should keep you from attending class and or lab,
it is your responsibility to notify the instructor so that the class work can
be made up. The instructor will determine if an absence is excusable.
Grading Policy:
Final grading is done on a ten point system: A=100-92; B=91-84; C=83-70; D=69-60; F=below 60Grades will be derived as follows:
4 shooting assignments 30%--(10% each)
2 quizzes 20% --(10% each)
Final portfolio 20%
Final Exam 20%
Assignments and tests not submitted on time
will receive a grade of 0.
Tests and Quizzes:
There will be scheduled quizzes during
the semester. There are four ŇshootingÓ assignments. They must be completed and
submitted on time to gain any grade for
that work. The Portfolio review at the end of the class will count
substantially toward your grade. Both technical issues and content will be
evaluated.
Final Portfolio
Your
Final Portfolio is an important part of the work for this course. It is already
time in your career to start thinking about a portfolio of your work. At the
end of this year all sophomores will have to submit a portfolio of their work
so far and have it reviewed by a faculty committee. A decision will be made as
to your readiness to move ahead to higher level studio courses. The eventual portfolio that you amass
will be the single most important aspect of you finding a suitable position
after you graduate.
Your
final portfolio should be on 11Ó x
14Ó fiber based paper.
If you do this, then you donŐt have to
mount and mat your work, you can submit prints in a portfolio box. Your work must be in a box! Garbage
bags, old bubble envelopes, and
homemade folders will not be accepted.
You should have 12, one dozen, the square root of 144, the sum of 6 plus six—12-prints for your portfolio- not ten,
not 13 or 14, but 12.
If your prints are smaller than 11 x 14Ó
then you must mount them on mat board by dry
mounting them. Dry mount, not
archival tape, not glue, not archival corners, but dry mounted. Typically smaller prints should be on mat board of 11
by 14Ó dimensions.
If so, they still must be submitted in a
portfolio box. They do not need to be over matted. It is not essential that you
have a single theme although this is preferable. It is essential that you have
and exhibit a consistent style or approach. I will attempt to grade the photos
on their technical qualities as much as possible, but content will undeniably
have its influence and get some credit.
There will be several assignments. They must be turned in when due. Your assignments should be viewed like a working photographic assignment. If you donŐt produce, you donŐt get paid. No editor will tell you it is OK to print your news photos over the weekend and run them next week. No bride will put off her wedding until next weekend because you wanted to go to a concert Saturday night. A final portfolio of fiber-based prints, properly toned, matted and ready for public exhibition is expected the final class of the semester. It will not be accepted if not finished on that day. Photographers must learn that failing to perform has consequences. So late equals zero unless we discover some profoundly exigent circumstance in your life. The titles of the assignments are included on the schedule.
Materials:
A 35mm analog
film camera fully adjustable with manual
exposure control, exposure meter (built in camera or hand held), tripod,
cable release, flash, at least one B&W contrast control or correction lens
filter (red, green, yellow, polarizing, neutral density), lens tissue, Print
File sleeves, scissors, mount board, tape, notebook, spotting brush #000,
rubber gloves, burning and dodging tools, darkroom tool box, apron, film
cleaner, dust-off, anti-static cloth, film, printing paper, and a good towel. You will be supplied with
an anti-static cloth, towel, and a 25 pack of 35mm film sleeves and 2
portfolios boxes, 1=11x14 inches, the other =16x 20 inches, as spotting brush,
and a lab manual.
Can be purchased at
the Student Book Store, ITC, or can be ordered from one of the photo supply
houses. B & H and Adorama in New York City are reliable. Freestyle in Los
Angeles has made a big commitment to education and continuing B&W
photography and is worthy of support.
This covers
the use of the equipment, dry mount tissue, photographic chemicals, and other
misc. items. It includes the basic supplies given you early on.
Equipment may
be checked out for special use.
There is a sign out book and procedure. You are responsible for the
equipment while it is in your possession.
Do not sign anything out if it is
not in good working order. If it is damaged or non-working when you sign it in,
you pay. If departmental
equipment is broken, damaged, or lost while signed out to you, you are
responsible for full repair or replacement cost. This is added to your
departmental account and must be settled before grades are released or you are
allowed to re-enroll.
Heads-up
1. All of you should learn how to set up the chemistry. That way you are not dependent on a lab assistant.
2. The lab is closed M-T-W evenings 5:30—7:30 for another class, stay away.
3. Save your empty paper envelops. They are light proof and enhance your mobility.
4. Everyone must use 8 x 10 tray to carry wet prints into the light for proofing and reviewing. If you are caught dripping on the floor, you will next be seen mopping.
5. The lab is for your use. Keep it clean. Treat both your equipment and the departmentŐs with respect. If I get a complaint about our class from another faculty member, the entire class will do the photographic equivalent of running laps.
6. You
must have a properly working camera. I recognize that most want digital
cameras. I applaud that. Nonetheless, this course requires a 35mm SLR camera with
a properly working light meter or that you have a separate light meter to
determine exposure. I have found that most of the oldies brought in lack
functioning batteries. REPLACE THE BATTERY NOW!
Problems:
I understand that college can be stressful. Life can be stressful. A certain amount of stress is a good thing. It is what motivates us to keep on trucking. No matter how much you might love Photo Two, there will be days when you want to roll over and go back to sleep. DonŐt! Not unless you can deal with the consequences that will inevitably follow such a decision. When things get beyond our control and demands are made that simply canŐt be met, then that level of stress is unhealthy and some intervention needs to be made. As long as we remain in control, then the stress of life and school can be dealt with. I do care that you get some education and I very much care that you remain healthy and find learning enjoyable. If that is not happening for you, then you should talk to me sooner, rather than later. I will help you find whatever resource we need to find so that you get the attention and care you need. The University maintains an excellent and broad variety of resources for counseling, health care, and academic help. If things are going poorly, letŐs solve that early rather than waste a semesterŐs resources. Each one of you is at a critical point in your life—your education and career choice. LetŐs not waste it by wrong choices, shyness, or thinking that it will just get better. I like magical thinking as much as the next, but I have lived long enough to realize it rarely works long term, so Speak Up!
You are being asked to sign a pledge that your work will conform to the standards of the Academic Integrity Council. If you sign it, mean it, the penalties are grievous. Honesty in academic pursuits is an important part of the university ethic, as it is in professional life. Failing to give due credit for work done by others, cheating on exams, and plagiarism are all examples of violations of the ASU Academic Integrity Code. Students who are found to be in violation of the Code are subject to reduced or failing grades on the assignment or the course. The Academic Integrity Code can be found at: http://studentconduct.appstate.edu/ . Click on ŇAcademic Integrity CodeÓ and follow the links to the document.