Introduction to Photography Visual Art 1401 Bowdoin College Spring 2019
Michael Kolster 725-3185, [email protected] Edwards 231, office hrs: 11-12 M or by appt.
Mon/Wed 8:30-10:55am - Edwards 104
Course Objective: In this class you will learn how to make black and white photographs and how to critically assess their personal and cultural value. Our discussions of the images you produce will examine how making photographs shapes and is influenced by our perceptions, our memories, and attachments to the world. A few important questions we will ask each other:
What do you like to look at? How does looking through the camera affect how you observe the world or even what you tend to notice? What does your choice of what and when to photograph in the world reveal about your inner, and perhaps hidden, desires and fears? What does photography share with other modes of inquiry? What sets it apart from the other ways you have attempted to formulate your ideas, impressions, and experiences?
Course Structure: Class will include demonstrations of photographic techniques, slide presentations, class critiques, and discussions. Field trips and darkroom sessions will make up the balance of our time together.
Weekly critiques will require you to share work and ideas with an audience of peers and to respond to their images in kind. Readings on a variety of topics are intended to broaden the experience of thinking about and responding to the physical world.
Grading/Attendance: All students are expected to attend every class and allow ten hours per week outside of class for reading, photographing and working in the lab. Each student is responsible for obtaining any materials/information missed if absence is unavoidable. Classes will start on time and leaving class early will count as an absence. Unexcused absences will adversely affect your final grade. Excessive absences will result in failure regardless of quality or quantity of assignments completed.
Assignments must be completed on time. Late assignments will be marked down a full grade. Assignments later than one week will not be accepted. Unsatisfactory assignments will be labeled "redo" and must be resubmitted within two weeks of receiving "redo" or credit for the assignment will not be given. Students may reattempt any assignment by the last class meeting for reconsideration if it was initially submitted on time.
The final grade is weighted accordingly: 60% semester assignments, 20% Final Portfolio, 20% participation.
Grading standards: A Outstanding, above and beyond expectations, original and creative problem solving, punctual, ample evidence of risk-taking. B Thorough and capable handling of challenges, punctual, satisfactory level of risk-taking. C Assignment completed according to expectations, minimal risk taking, punctual. D Less than satisfactory completion of expectations, minimal results, late, sloppy or incomplete. F Failure to complete minimum expectations. Assignments: Photogram (04 Feb) Light (18 Feb) Time&Focus (25 Feb) Portrait (06 Mar) Self Portrait (01 Apr) Unions and Intersections (08 Apr) ReDo (15 Apr) Mimic (22 Apr) Self-Designed I (29 Apr) Self-Designed II (06 May) Final Portfolio Viewing (10 May)
Student Presentations on Individual Photographers 10 & 17 April
Readings: Each student will be responsible for leading part of the discussion of one of the readings. All students must post a short response to each reading at least 24 hours before the date indicated below.
Anne Lamott “Looking Around” from Bird by Birds (28 Jan)
Barry Lopez “Children in the Woods” from Crossing Open Ground “Murder” from About This Life (11 Feb)
John von Hartz Preface to August Sander, Aperture AND Diane Arbus Interviews, writings, thoughts from Diane Arbus, Aperture (27 Feb)
Stephen Shore The Nature of Photographs (04 Mar)
Paul Auster “The Red Notebook” from The Art of Hunger (03 Apr)
Robert Adams “Colleagues” from Beauty in Photography (24 Apr)
Equipment: We have manual cameras with a normal focal length lens available for loan, but students are encouraged to use their own. We also have a limited number of tripods for temporary student sign-out - they can be checked out at IT Loaning in the basement of Coles Tower.
Materials: The Bookstore in Smith Union has assembled a Photo I supplies kit. See supplies handout for details. Mat board is required for Final Portfolio presentation at the end of the semester. Total materials cost associated with the class should approach at least $400.
The thing that’s important to know is that you never know. You’re always sort of feeling your way. -Diane Arbus Photo I Fall 2019 Michael Kolster Bowdoin College
Jan 23 W Intros, camera usage purchase supplies bring camera to next class Read: Lamott, “Looking Around”
28 M metering (finding a correct exposure), exposure controls, discuss LIGHT assignment, photogram intro, discuss Lamott Shoot one roll of LIGHT Bring photo paper/photogram objects to next class
30 W darkroom – make photograms ! Feb 04 M look at photograms, overview of film processing Shoot second roll of LIGHT (don’t forget white/gray/black frames)
06 W darkroom – EXTENDED SESSIONS film processing, demo making contact sheets Read Lopez “Children in the Woods” and “Murder” ! 11 M demo of printing, look at negs,/contacts, discuss Lopez, discuss TIME&FOCUS Print one negative with 3 different filters
13 W darkroom – EXTENDED SESSIONS printing Print Light ! 18 M look at LIGHT assignment,
20 W darkroom – EXTENDED SESSIONS printing Print Time&Focus 25 M look at Time&Focus, Read Arbus, Sander excerpts
27 W discuss Portrait and Arbus/Sander, advanced metering, lighting demo Shoot PORTRAIT, Read Shore “The Nature of Photographs” on reserve, art library ! Mar 04 M film push/pull, discuss Shore, discuss Self-Portrait, discuss Unions and Intersections, spotting demo Print Portrait
06 W look at Portrait
Spring Break 25 M MK on press in Italy, make up: darkroom session Sun Mar 31
27 W MK on press in Italy, make up May 11 portfolio viewing, dinner ! 31 Su make up darkroom session
Apr 01 M look at Self-Portrait, Read: Auster “The Red Notebooks”
03 W mounting demo, discuss Auster, ReDo, and Mimic, library visit print U & I assignment ! 08 M look at U & I
10 W photog presentations 1-9, discuss Self-Designed 15 M look at ReDo
17 W photog presentations 10-18 ! 22 M look at Mimic Read Robert Adams “Colleagues”
24 W discuss Adams, discuss SD ideas, museum visit ! 29 M Look at Self-Designed I
May 01 W studio visit ! 06 M Look at Self-Designed II
08 W hang portfolios
10 Fr Edwards Art Open House 5-7
11 Sa gather to view portfolios, with dinner and print swap