VA 428 PINHOLE PHOTOGRAPHY Instructor: Stephanie Paine SUMMER 2013 FASS 1015 Email: [email protected] T 13:40 16:30, R 8:40 11:30 Office: FASS 2073 INTRODUCTION : The camera obscura, or literally dark room , was once considered a phenomenal device that was capable of projecting on its inside images of the outside world. Though upside down and reversed, these projections were immediately recognized by 16th and 17th century draftsmen and artists as useful in creating more accurate representations of the world. The camera obscura also led to the birth of photography as it aided experimenters in their attempts to record an image onto a chemically sensitized surface. Even the mechanical photographic camera owes its basic structural design the camera obscura. Though developments in technology have made its use obsolete in the image making process, a revival of similar devices has occurred throughout the 20th century. Lens less, or pinhole, cameras were utilized by Pictorialist photographers who were interested in using its abilities to create soft focused, painterly like images. And pinhole cameras continue to appeal to amateur, professional and fine art photographers as both an exciting novelty and a serious pursuit in artistic expression. DESCRIPTION : This studio course introduces the student to a variety of lens less camera building techniques and photographic pinhole aesthetics. The course will discuss the uses of lens less photography in historical and contemporary contexts. Students will be expected to work diligently during class hours. Each assignment will build upon the previous so it is crucial that the student attend each class session. The course will begin with a simple matchbox camera and advance to telephoto, wide angle, panoramic and digital pinhole cameras. **VA 428 Prerequisites or experience are not required, but an interest in experimental photography is best suited for this course. Recommended Text: Pinhole Cameras: A DIY Guide By Chris Keeny, 2011 Pinhole Photography: From Historic Technique to Digital Application , By Eric Renner, 2008, 4 th Edition MATERIALS : Matchbox, gum box, or other small boxes Cola Can / Juice Can, etc. (several for creating lenses) Milk boxes Black tape (recommended electrical tape) Black construction paper/thick paper/cardboard Black foam core board/photo block Black paint and a brush (recommended one large tube of acrylic) Black markers / Sharpies Various sewing needle sizes Fine grit sand paper (at Koçta / Bauhaus) Glue (recommended Uhu Flex & Clean in tube form) Scissors / Exacto Knife Ruler 120 film (black and white and/or color film) *film will be processed outside of class at a commercial studio One box of Ilford Multigrade IV RC Deluxe Black and White photographic paper, 10 x 15 or 12.7 x 17.8 cm, 25 sheets ( to be shared in groups of 3-4) Digital SLR camera (can be borrowed from FASS) AND 1 used camera body cap ( optional ) ASSIGNMENTS : Assignments will be due weekly and consist of a pinhole camera, processed film, and the submission of four images. Class time will be comprised of demonstrations, instructor guidance, critique sessions, camera building and digital image processing. GRADING : 4 Assignments + Final Portfolio Grading Scale: @18 points each = 90 points 93 100% A Participation = 10 points 90 92% A 87 89% B+ 83 86% B 80 82% B 77 79% C+ 73 76% C 70 72% C 67 69% D+ 60 66% D Below 60% F Your final grade will be determined by the completion of four assignments, the submission of a final portfolio, and your participation in the class. For each assignment you will be graded on the following: the submission of 4 images, the submission of processed fim, creativity, quality and craft, and successful construction and exploration of a camera. The final portfolio is a compilation of 10 12 images that you have created throughout the semester, and submitted digitally in both high and low resolutions. Lastly, participation in the class is integral and will be determined by: your productivity and motivation during class hours, on time arrival to class, and participation during critique sessions. ATTENDANCE : Attendance is mandatory for all scheduled classes and is essential to your success in this course. Attendance will be taken only once during the class period. Students arriving 15 minutes late or more will be considered absent. Students leaving class early or not returning to class after the break will also be considered absent, and there are no excused absences . ATTENDANCE WILL INFLUENCE THE FINAL GRADE AS FOLLOWS: Upon reaching the THIRD absence, the student’s final grade will be lowered by one full letter grade; the FOURTH absence will result in a lowering of two letter grades; and FIVE absences will result in a failing grade. POLICIES : ACADEMIC INTEGRITY AT SABANCI UNIVERSITY Violations of academic integrity include cheating in classroom examinations; plagiarism in take home examinations, homework assignments, essays, thesis and artistic work; fabrication and misrepresentation of facts and data; and assistance to others in commission of these acts, spontaneous or premeditated. These violations undermine values of fairness, honesty and trust in the academic environment and distort the process by which knowledge is shared and evaluated. The academic integrity investigation procedure is a fundamental component of our commitment to maintain a productive climate of learning and a vibrant academic life. A student whose work or behavior is considered to have contravened the principles of academic integrity faces academic consequences. If determined that a violation of this policy has occurred, the student may receive a failing grade for the assignment/examination and/or course. Schedule Subject to revisions Week 1: Course Introduction Lecture: The Pinhole Camera and Historical Review Demonstration: Pinhole Lenses Materials: Small boxes, black tape/paint/papers/markers, etc., tin can, scissors/exacto knife, sand paper, sewing needles Assignment One: Small Box Cameras and 4 Images Week 2: (Group meeting times) Demonstration: Darkroom Paper Negatives Materials: Small box cameras, photographic paper, exposure chart Assignment One: Small Box Cameras and 4 Images Week 3: Critique Assignment One Begin construction for A.2 Materials: foam core board/photo block, black tape/paint/makers, etc., tin can/lenses, scissors/exacto knife, sewing needles, sand paper, film Assignment Two: Panoramic Camera and 4 Images Week 4: Critique Assignment Two Begin construction for A.3 Materials: Milk boxes/others, cardboard, black tape/paint/makers, etc., tin can/lenses, scissors/exacto knife, sewing needles, sand paper, black and white film Assignment Three: Wide Angle / Telephoto Cameras and 4 Images Week 5: Continue construction for A.3 Demonstration: Photoshop – cleaning/spotting, color corrections, image size Assignment Three: Wide Angle / Telephoto Cameras and 4 Images Week 6: Critique of Assignment Three Begin construction for A.4 Materials: Digital SLR camera, used body cap, cardboard, black tape/paint/makers, etc., tin can/lenses, scissors/exacto knife, sewing needles, sand paper Assignment Four: Digital Pinhole Camera and 4 Images Week 7: Critique of Assignment Four / Studio day for Final Portfolio Discussion of VA 428 exhibition, FASSart: Fall 2012 The Final Portfolio will be comprised of: 10 12 images, submitted in high (tiff) and low (jpeg) resolutions. Images will be submitted digitally and must be cleaned/spotted, with minor adjustments to color, contrast, exposure, and saturation. Saved in a folder titled LastName_FirstName Images titled as followed: LastName_FirstName_A1 LastName_FirstName_A2 LastName_FirstName_A2_2 LastName_FirstName_A3 LastName_FirstName_A3_2 LastName_FirstName_A4 Etc. Exam Week: Final Portfolio Due