South Portland, Maine 04106
Title: Documentary Photography Catalog Number: ARTH 135 01 South Portland Campus Tech Building 101 Friday 9 -11:45 | Fall 2016 Credit Hours: 3 Total Contact Hours: 45
Instructor: Christian Farnsworth MS MFA email *: [email protected] *All e-mail to instructor SHOULD have your name, course code and subject in the Subject Line
“There is only you and your camera. The limitations in your photography are in yourself, for what we see is what we are.” Ernst Haas
Course Syllabus
Course Description
From the faded black and white photographs of the Civil War battlefield to the digital images on online newspapers and magazines, the stillness of a photograph remains a powerful influence on how we view the world. In this course we will focus on documentary photography, examining the works of photographers who have mastered this fine art of visual storytelling. Through readings, films, slide shows, and fieldwork, you will gain a better understanding of the medium. We will explore and emulate different areas of social documentary, photo essays, photojournalism, and visual narrative. This class also invites you to question the context, purpose, and point of view of photographs.
In addition, this is a hands-on photography class is open to students of varying skills. Photographic processes both film and digital will be discussed, but shooting assignments will require a digital camera. You will learn digital image editing and work on a semester- long photo-documentary project: a photo essay of a chosen subject in the community.
ARTH 135 Fall 2016 Course Objectives • Understand the various genres of documentary photography • Demonstrate an understanding of the readings • Communicate theories of photo-criticism • Develop a documentary photography proposal • Complete a photo-documentary of personal interest • Gain a better understanding of the professional world of photojournalism
Course Requirements • Complete all in-class and homework assignments and demonstrate comprehension in class discussion • Produce projects for critique deadlines; submit all completed projects for final critique • Have access to a camera & computer for posting photo assignments. • Complete a series of photography assignments • Complete required readings and demonstrate comprehension during in class discussions • Actively participate in studio work, projects discussions and critique • Spend at least 3 hours per week on assignments outside of class. • Deliver a paper and presentation on a documentary photographer • Submit a portfolio of all exercises, studies and projects produced during the semester for mid-term and final review.
Topics covered in class:
Theoretical What Is Documentary ? Styles of Documentary Ethical Considerations Selecting a documentary topic The Documentary Proposal Street Photography Photojournalism
Photographic Camera Basics Composition & Photographic Elements Digital Image Workflow Image Editing Sequencing Photographs Creating a Portfolio
ARTH 135 Fall 2016
Materials Notebook, Digital Camera (with manual Shutter and Aperture capability, preferred), memory cards. External storage drive -AT LEAST 8 GB
REQUIRED TEXTS: In addition to Witness in our Time, photocopied and online readings will be posted on RESERVE in the library.
• Light, Ken; Witness in Our Time, 2nd ed.
• Sontag, Susan; Regarding the Pain of Others • PACKET: Selected articles, chapters, references & assignments
o NOTEà Students are responsible for all assigned readings in preparation for subsequent topics/conversations.
Recommended Readings o Clarke, Graham; The Photograph o Sontag, Susan; On Photography o Strauss, David Levi; Between the Eyes o Wells, Liz; Photography: A Critical Introduction o Westerbeck, Colin; Bystander: A History of Street Photography
There are two kinds of photographers: those who compose pictures and those who take them. The former work in studios. For the latter, the studio is the world.... For them, the ordinary doesn't exist: every thing in life is a source of nourishment. – Ernst Haas
Documentary Photography ARTH 135 Fall 2016
COURSE OUTLINE subject to change
9/02 WEEK 1: INTRODUCTION Intro: Syllabus; course objectives; textbooks & packet. Concepts: History and Influence of Documentary; Photojournalism vs. Doc Photo Assignments: READ and NOTE -> PACKET: p.3 / A. Kratochvil Photojournalism & Documentary; Pp.29-49 / G. Clark Documentary Photography; TEXT / Witness in our Time, Pp. 1-36; Intro & Mieth and Rosenblum; Begin repetitive subject shoot, “Week to Week”. Bio/ e-mail instructor by Monday 9/5 noon; Bring camera, manual & accessories to class #2.
9/09 WEEK 2: Historical Roots continued; The Language of Photography Concepts: The Camera: Depths of Field; Aperture and Shutter ->> Task: Continue historical trace; Demo DOF & Motion; Choose Noteworthy Photographer <<->> Note: Presentations due Week 8 & Noteworthy 10 Research due Week 5. Assignments: Photo Shoot #1A & 1B: Depth of Field; Motion due Week 3; READ and NOTE -> PACKET: Pp. 13-15 / Answers.com, Documentary Photography, History; Pp. 27-28 / H. Durer, On Documentary Photography. “E-Journal #1” (2 topics) à RE Text/Witness, focus on p.15 Mieth, & p.24 Rosenblum. (journal of assigned readings; use template questions in Packet II, p.17: e-mailed and due by class Week 3); Week to Week.
9/16 WEEK 3: Imac: Adobe PhotoShop and Bridge; Editing Images Concepts: The Camera -> / Intro to Bridge/PhotoShop Task: Download and Edit Photo Shoot #1A; Consult re Semester Project / Choose topic ! Assignments: Shoot #3 POV; “E-Journal #2” (3 topics) à1. RE Packet II p. 24-38 focus on article “Kill Team”; RE Witness: focus on 2. Eugene Richards p.90 & 3. Sebastiao Salgado p.108 – emailed & due by class Week 4). “Noteworthy 10”: e-mailed and due by 9 am Friday 9/30, Week 5; Week to Week. DUE: Photo Shoot #1A & Shoot #2 (1B) w/ labtime; E-Journal #1.
9/23 WEEK 4: ETHICS, CENSORSHIP and the POWER of the IMAGE; Street Photography and the Animated Landscape Concepts: The impact of photography - How do we see ? ; Consult Project – Get started !; Tasks: Topic Discussion; Abu Ghraib; Kill Team; D. L. Strauss, Kevin Carter, A. Jaar; Shoot #2 post-production & due….. Concepts: Approaching Subjects, Making Contact, Decisive Moment, Witnessing Tasks: Discussion: Pushing the envelope; shooting from the hip; Intro Shoot #4/ Scale; Start Projects (shoot highest image quality) Assignments: Draft proposal –>> Semester Documentary Project <<-e-mailed/due by 5pm Thurs 9/29 Week 5; Shoot #4/ Scale; “E-REVIEW #1”: (critiquing [3] online Photo-Essays; use template questions Packet II, p.22; e-mailed and due by class Week 6). Week to Week. DUE: Photo Shoot #3/POV w/ labtime; E-Journal #2Field Trip – Next Meeting: Time/Place__ ARTH 135 Fall 2016
“The first question must always be: Who is using this photograph, and to what end?” David Levi Strauss
COURSE OUTLINE
9/30 WEEK 5 FIELD TRIP and THE Long-Term DOCUMENTARY PROJECT Concepts: Field Shoot; Discussion of Final Project ideas /proposals; MeCA Library research Task: Field Trip/Shoot #5; MeCA Research for presentations: TBA __ BRING Gear to shoot outdoors Assignments: READINGS and NOTE: PACKET: p.75-91/ B. Newhall Documentary Photography; Project Proposal (final- hard copy due next class); “E-Journal #3” (3 topics) à RE Text/Witness, focus on p.99 S.Meiselas, p.132 D.Ferrato & p.172 P.Howe, (template questions in Packet II, p.17: e-mailed and due by class Week 7); Week to Week; Semester Projects (week 2) ! DUE: Noteworthy 10; Draft Proposal (semester project) (ß emails due the day before class).
10/07 WEEK 6: Documentary images; Post-production / Photoshop Task: Photo Shoot # 4 & 5 / Lab ->> download, edit and archive Concepts: Photographing with all your ideals… Assignment: Mid-Term -> Take Home Essays; DUE Week 8; Semester Projects well underway (week 4)!! Week to Week; READINGS and NOTES: TBA ______. DUE: Shoot #4/Scale and Shoot #5/field – w/lab time; Semester PROJECT PROPOSAL (turn in hard-copy); E-Journal #3; E-Review #2. DUE: E-Review #1 (e-mail).
10/14 WEEK 7: TBA
10/21 WEEK 8: Presentations Due_ Assignment: READINGS and NOTE: PACKET p.51-74/ Curtis, Making Sense of Documentary Photography; Packet II p. 15-16/ Street Photography Tips; Sontag, Chapters 1 & 2. “E- REVIEW #2”: (online Photo-Essays; template questions Packet II, p.22; e-mailed and due by class Week 8); Shoot #5 / Street: due week 10; Semester Projects: REFINE; Work Prints due Week 10. Week to Week DUE: Noteworthy Presentations (turn in labeled folders at 9 am with presentation, notes and urls/doc for websites/multimedia); MID-TERM (hard copy). Field Trip – Next Meeting ->>
10/28 WEEK 9: FIELD TRIP ->> TBA Concepts/Task: Street Photography Portland; BRING Gear to shoot outdoors / 2+ hours Assignment: Semester Projects (week 6); Sontag Ch. 3, 4; Week to Week; Field Time / Place ______.
ARTH 135 Fall 2016
COURSE OUTLINE
11/04 WEEK 10 Tasks: Post-Production 1. Shoot #6 / Street; 2. Week to Week compositions. Assignment: E-Review #3 (questions Packet II, p.22; e-mailed and due by class Week 12); DUE: Shoot #6 / Street – w/lab time (top 5 shots); Work Prints (4x6”/project) due Week 12 / bring Semester Project/Printing Top Choices;
11/11 WEEK 11: Holiday
11/18 WEEK 12: Lab Time – Work Prints and Project Consult; Organizing and Printing Final Photo Series Concepts: Work Prints; How can/do images narrate a story ? Sequence - Rhythm and Flow. Task: Critiquing / refining / sequencing; Consulting with peers and instructor; First Printing for Portfolio (Top choice/s – in class; BRING projects !). Assignments: 2 weeks to Final Project Critiques; Organize remaining project needs and shooting targets; Choose top few choices to Print; Prep all Project to Print next class. DUE: E-Review #3 (questions Packet II, p.22; e-mailed).
11/25 WEEK 13: Holiday
12/02 WEEK 14: Last Prep and Print Day / Lab Time Concepts: Final selections, prep and print Semester Project Portfolio Task: LAST PRINTING of SEMESTER PROJECTS; large files / TIFs (Labtime) Assignments: Semester Projects Due Week 15 by 9 am. Critiques start early – all will Critique next class !; Determine final project needs (last shooting and printing options). DUE: E-PORTFOLIO is DUE BEFORE END of our LAST CLASS…(FOLDER: 12 LABELED, re- SIZED, re-RESOLUTIONED IMAGES & 1 INTRO.doc; [once FOLDER has been turned in to instructor, also send E-MAIL with 13 ATTACHMENTS].
E-Portfolio is a reduced resolution/size electronic version of your critiqued / printed portfolio -
Ø Folder: arth 135_Fall16_Final_Last Name SIZE: 10 x 15”; 72 dpi; jpg Labels: 6CF_Final 1_72.jpg (images #1-12)
12/09 WEEK 15: CRITIQUE / FINAL DOCUMENTARY PROJECTS DUE: PORTFOLIO à 12 Prints: 10 x 13”; Printed Introduction Ø Arrive early (8:30 am) prepared for critique. TASK: Critique of Semester Projects / all participate 1. array work 2. review peers’ work and prepare critical talking points Critique: ~20 minutes / student ARTH 135 Fall 2016 COURSE OUTLINE
12/16 WEEK 16 “E-Portfolio”: post production / turn-in for credit; wrap-up. Tasks: E-PORTFOLIO is DUE to instructor BEFORE END of CLASS; once collected, e- mail project attachments.
Student Evaluation and Grading Criteria for evaluation include: completion of assignments, level of self-challenge, time and effort spent, quantity and quality of work produced, understanding of concepts covered and growth and development of aesthetic sensibility. Grades will be assigned as follows:
A The highest level of commitment, effort and enthusiasm, demonstrated by working independently and carrying through ambitious and challenging projects. All assignments are complete, often taking more than the expected 5 hours per week. B A high level of effort and enthusiasm. The student demonstrates a sincere level of commitment and a devotion to learning the skills of the class. All or most assignments are complete. C A sufficient level of achievement in quantity and quality of work. Multiple assignments are incomplete or rushed. D Deficiency in commitment and accomplishment. Many assignments are incomplete. F Extreme deficiency in commitment, understanding and accomplishment. Very few assignments are attempted.
Grade Evaluation Grades will be calculated on the following parameters:
Class (21%): Attendance 7% Participation 7% Preparedness 7%
Written (38%): Noteworthy 10 / research 5% Noteworthy Presentation 5% E-Review #1 3% E-Review #2 3% E-Review #3 3% E-Journal #1 3% E-Journal #2 3% E-Journal #3 3% Midterm Research Essay 10%
Photo Shoots (18%): Depth of Field 3% Motion 3% Point of View 3% Field 3% Scale 3% Street 3%
Final Semester Project (23%) Proposal 3% Work Prints 3% Portfolio 15% Critique 2% ARTH 135 Fall 2016
When emailing instructor • Identify yourself in the subject line: “Doc Photo Fall 2016 / Subject or assignment / Last Name For Example: Doc Photo Fall 2016 / E-Review # 2 / Jones
• USE the following e-mail address: [email protected]
Lab You will be provided with Adobe Photoshop and Bridge in class. We will be emphasizing post-production methods of photography, digital image workflow and methods of archiving.
Participation Grade Your participation grade is evaluated based on your participation in class critique and discussion, in-class exercises, attendance and preparedness.
Participation: Playing an active role in class discussions, exercises and critiques is essential to success in this class. The majority of seminars will consist of in-class lectures and studio projects that occur under the guidance of the instructor and in tandem with your class mates. Studio classes, group critiques, field trips and lecture days are all equally essential toward meeting the learning objectives of the course. Please practice civility when in class. Honor your classmates’ opinions by listening during discussions and offer your own critique respectfully. Please do not make or receive calls or text messages during class.
Preparedness: It is your responsibility to refer to the syllabus to know what assignments and readings are due and what materials are to be brought to each class. It is your responsibility to obtain the reading and proper art materials for the class. It is expected that you will arrive to class with the completed projects required for each group critique. Unpreparedness and nonparticipation will lower your participation grade.
Attendance Policy Students are expected to attend every class. A student who misses 4 or more classes will be advised to drop the class. A student who misses three classes in a row without contacting the instructor will be automatically dropped from the class. Late arrivals and early departures will be recorded and your grade will be automatically lowered for each. If the arrival or departure is beyond 15 minutes you may be considered absent. Excused absences may be allowed if they are requested and approved at least one week in advance. If you miss a class, it is your responsibility to complete the assignments.
End-of-Course Evaluation In order to gain access to final course grades, students must complete evaluations for all courses. Students can now evaluate their SMCC courses online and anonymously by going to Academics on the SMCC homepage and choosing Course Evaluations. This feature is typically available the last two weeks of every class (in most cases, this will be the last two weeks of the semester).
ARTH 135 Fall 2016
ADA Syllabus Statement Southern Maine Community College is an equal opportunity/affirmative action institution and employer. For more information, please call 207-741-5798.
If you have a disabling condition and wish to request accommodations in order to have reasonable access to the programs and services offered by SMCC, you must register with the disability services coordinator, Mark Krogman, who can be reached at 741-5629. There will be some documentation for your teachers that must be supplied before accommodations can be given. Further information about services for students with disabilities and the accommodation process is available upon request at this number.
SMCC Pay-for-Print Policy Students can print 100 pages per semester for free. If you print over 100 pages, you will be charged 10 cents per page to your Beacon Bucks account. Left over pages will roll over to the following semester but will zero out at the end of the academic year. A pilot project tracking public printing has shown that this amount of free printing meets the needs of the vast majority of students. The College's pay-for-print system monitors printing on all public printers (i.e., those in general access labs, library printers, the LAC, and technology labs). Each time you log in to the system, the print station displays the remaining print quota. Once the printing quota has been exceeded, users will be charged $0.10 per page on their Beacon Bucks accounts. Color printouts will be charged at 11- page units. This means each color printout will count as 11 pages toward the quota and cost $1.10. Students can add money to their cards using a credit card online.
Add-Drop Policy Students who drop a course during the one-week “add/drop” period in the fall and spring semesters and the first three days of summer sessions receive a 100% refund of the tuition and associated fees for that course. Please note any course that meets for less than the traditional semester length, i.e., 15 weeks, has a pro-rated add/drop period. There is no refund for non-attendance.
Withdrawal Policy A student may withdraw from a course only during the semester in which s/he is registered for that course. The withdrawal period is the second through twelfth week of the fall and spring semesters and the second through ninth week of twelve-week summer courses. This period is pro-rated for shorter-length courses. To withdraw from a course, a student must complete and submit the appropriate course withdrawal form, available at the Enrollment Service Center (no phone calls, please). The designation “W” will appear on the transcript after a student has officially withdrawn. A course withdrawal is an uncompleted course and may adversely affect financial aid eligibility. Failure to attend or ceasing to attend class does not constitute withdrawal from the course. There is no refund associated with a withdrawal.
Plagiarism Statement Adherence to ethical academic standards is obligatory. Cheating is a serious offense, whether it consists of taking credit for work done by another person or doing work for which another person will receive credit. Taking and using the ideas or writings of another person without clearly and fully crediting the source is plagiarism and violates the academic code as well as the Student Code of Conduct. If it is suspected that a student in any course in which s/he is enrolled has knowingly committed such a violation, the faculty member should refer the matter to the College’s Disciplinary Officer and appropriate action will be taken under the Student Code of Conduct. Sanctions may include suspension from the course and a failing grade in the course. Students have the right to appeal these actions to the Disciplinary Committee under the terms outlined in the Student Code of Conduct. ARTH 135 Fall 2016
A Few Good Monographs and classic photography books:
• The Americans Photographs by Robert Frank
• American Photographs by Walker Evans
• Revelations by Dianne Arbus Periodicals / Some Suggested Websites • Bomb
• Aperture
• ArtNews
• Artforum
• Art on Paper
• Blind Spot
• New York Times (Fridays and Sunday’s Arts & Leisure section)
• Portland Press Herald (Thursday’s “GO” section)
• Art New England
• Art in America
• www.aperture.com /Aperture
• www.magnumphotos.com /Magnum
• www.martinparr.com /Martin Parr
• www.jmcolberg.com/weblog/ Joerg Colberg / Conscientious
• http://iheartphotograph.blogspot.com/ IHeartPhotograph
• http://www.blanz.net/ Hubert Blanz
• http://www.egglestontrust.com/ Wm. Eggleston
• http://www.masters-of-photography.com Masters of Photography
• http://www.eugenerichards.com/ Eugene Richards
• http://www.luminous-landscape.com/ Luminous Landscape
• http://www.blindspot.com/ blindspot
• http://www.moma.org/ MOMA ; http://www.sfmoma.org/ SF MOMA
• http://www.guggenheim.org/ Guggenheim Museum
• http://www.artsjournal.com/ Arts Journal
• http://www.frankgohlke.com/ Frank Gohlke
• www.mediastorm.org