UNIVERSITY MISSION
Felician University is an independent co-educational Catholic/Franciscan University founded and sponsored by the Felician Sisters to educate a diverse population of students within the framework of a liberal arts tradition. Its mission is to provide a full complement of learning experiences, reinforced with strong academic and student development programs designed to bring students to their highest potential and prepare them to meet the challenges of the new century with informed minds and understanding hearts. The enduring purpose of Felician University is to promote a love for learning, a desire for God, self knowledge, service to others, and respect for all creation.

SCHOOL OF ARTS AND SCIENCES MISSION
The School of Arts and Sciences is committed to promoting the University’s Franciscan-Felician mission by providing an environment that fosters the intellectual, emotional, and spiritual development of our students. The Liberal Arts curriculum challenges students to explore creative ways of thinking within a broad scope of study that integrates intellectual traditions with essential values. Our diverse programs encourage students to become lifelong learners and compassionate contributors to the well-being of others throughout their lives.

DEPARTMENT OF ART MISSION
The Art Program at Felician College produces artists with the skills, knowledge, and critical sensibility to effectively communicate ideas through individual forms of expression. Offering a variety of courses in Fine Art, Graphic Design, and Photography and New Media, the Department's objective is to emphasize the teaching of technique in concert with the critical study of different historical forms of art production, providing a life-long reference of cultural understanding.

Through a rigorous and dynamic curriculum, graduates of the Art Program will be able to implement a variety of creative skills and techniques, as well as produce a range of forms and styles; critique works of art based on their survey knowledge of major historical examples and schools of thought; recognize trends in contemporary cultural thinking; understand the importance of the arts in society; assess their personal strengths and interests; and create and present work suitable for exhibition and publication. Ultimately, graduates will be able to integrate and synthesize their skills, knowledge, and experience into a powerful career strategy.

ART-274-R COLOR AND DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY 3 credits, undergraduate, traditional Spring 2018 TH 2:35-5:05, Martin 301 INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION Michael J. Nyklewicz, M.A. Associate Professor Email: nyklewiczm@felician.edu 201-335-1437 Office Hours   Canon T3i Manual Resources Mac Lab Schedule     Updated 03/29/18

COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course is an introduction to digital photography and the creative use of color in image making. Using Photoshop as a digital darkroom, students will learn the technical skills needed to create meaningful photographs, while also developing a critical framework through which to understand digital imagery.

COURSE OBJECTIVES
This course satifies GECC Theme Area III - Communication & Expression:

1. Communicate creatively and aesthetically through writing, speaking, and/or performance
2. Demonstrate college-level English language competence through reading, writing, and speaking with clarity, coherence, and persuasion
3. Demonstrate the ability to communicate orally in social and professional situations

In this course, students will:

• identify the functions of a digital camera, comparing them to the functions of film cameras (#1)
  
• properly plan and creatively compose a photograph (#1)
• apply techniques through image-editing software to adjust for proper density, contrast, and color (#1)
• evaluate different types of inkjet media and select those best suited to achieve their goals (#1)
  
• critique photographs on both a personal level and from within established criticism (#2)
• assess their creative process and interpretation of assignments (#3).

RECOMMENDED TEXT

• Barbara London and Jim Stone, A Short Course in Digital Photography, Prentice Hall, 2009 (approx. $50.00)
  

REQUIRED MATERIALS

• Notebook / sketchbook

COURSE CONTENT
Worlds in a Snapshot

INTRODUCTION
Please note: unless otherwise specified, images taken prior to this course cannot be submitted for credit.

PROJECTS

 

Week One (01/18)
Process, Materials, Content
Presentation/discussion on the differences of traditional and digital photography - using Photoshop as a digital darkroom - working with studio lighting - in-class image critique.

• Survey: Process & Materials
  
• In-Class Critique: Content
• What Our Brains Can Teach Us
  

Week Two (01/25)
Camera, Lenses, and Lighting
Presentation on how to take a photograph - functions of the camera and lens - metering the scene - aperture and depth of field - shutter and motion - creative composition - introduction to the studio - different kinds of studio lighting - presentation/discussion on The Ideal Copy project.

• Canon T3i Manual
  
  
• Lydia
  • Model-Morphosis
  • Model Mothers
  
  

Week Three (02/01)
Studio

• Shoot: Fashion
  • Source: Electric Feathers
    
    
• Assignment: Untitled Film Still synopsis
  • Cindy Sherman
  • Alex Prager
  • Hollywood Heroines

Week Four (02/08)
Lab
Introduction to Photoshop - setting up the work space - choosing preferences - file format choices - saving meta data - color profiling.

Week Five (02/15)
Studio

• Shoot: Untitled Film Stills
• In-Class Assignment: Correct the exposure for each of the images you shot with the different lenses; use masks to empasize the subject (ie. lighter subject, darker background).
• Practice: Try to recreate this image using this image, adjustment layer(s), mask(s), and filter(s).
  

Week Six (02/22)
Lab
Working with layers - retouching - using photo filters to correct/change color - adding a mask layer - adding adjustment layers to control density and contrast.

• Practice #1

Week Seven (03/01)
Studio

• Shoot: Form
  • Metropolitan Museum of Art
  • MoMA
  • Bridgeman Art Library
    
    
  • Nudes Are Old News at Playboy
  • As Playboy and Penthouse Fade, Newer Magazines Tilt Artistic
  • Why We Love Beautiful Things
  • The Ways of Lust

Week Eight (03/08)
Spring Break - no class

• Practice #2
  

Week Nine (03/15)
Midterm

• The Artist's Statement:
  • In Love With My Planet
  • Genesis by Sebastiao Salgado
  • Machine Age

Week Ten (03/22)
Midterm

Week Eleven (03/29)
Easter Break - no class

Week Twelve (04/05)
Studio

• Shoot: Hello
  • The Photographer Who Introduces Celebrities to Themselves

Week Thirteen (04/12)
Studio
Review & reshoots

Week Fourteen (04/19)
Studio
Review & reshoots

Week Fifteen (04/26)
Studio & Lab
Preparing files for printing - ink-jet media choices - alternative methods of presentation.

Week Sixteen (05/03)
Studio & Lab
Review & reshoots.

Week Seventeen (05/10)
FINAL
Presentations of student work and their creative process - no work accepted after this date.

PROJECTS Final drafts of all projects due ARTIST'S STATEMENTS Written statements about all projects due

No work accepted after 05/10

Additional Readings:

• Learning to See Data
• Logging Off to Trace a Web Photo to Its Source
• Photographers Band Together to Protect Work in "Fair Use" Cases
• Storm-Tossed Memories
• Amy Arbus's One-Woman Show With a View
• Frayed Prospects, Despite a Degree
  

GRADING RUBRICS

GRADING POLICIES
Grades will be based on the criteria found in GRADING RUBRICS (see above).

• Semester Projects: 70%
• Midterm: 20%
• Artist's Statements: 10%
  

Total percentage is 100, which is translated into a letter grade using the standards published in the College Catalog (see below); there will be no grading curve.

Felician College operates on the 4.00 grading system and determines the academic standing of students according to the following scale:

COURSE POLICIES

• All communication of course-related matters will be done only via Felician University email addresses.
• Please expect to spend time outside of class working on your projects.
• Students are expected to attend all classes. Should you need to miss class for an emergency, please contact me by email, preferably prior to class if possible, but within 36 hours after class. In the event of a missed exam, please also provide documentation prior to taking the make-up exam. Two (2) unexcused absences will lower your final grade by three (3) points; each additional unexcused absence will lower your final grade by three (3) points. After four (4) unexcused/excused absences, you may be asked to withdraw from the course.
• Please see the Student Handbook for the College's policies on plagiarism and acceptable conduct.
• All written work will be checked through Turnitin, with revisions allowed based on the Similarity Report.
• Please refrain from personal use of computers and electronic devices during class.
  

NOTE

• University Wide Policies can be found in the University Catalog.
• By enrolling in this course, you agree to abide by the Felician University Honor Code, which states you pledge your honor that you will neither give nor receive inappropriate aid on all exams, quizzes, and similar work assigned during the semester.
• Extenuating circumstances may necessitate a change in the syllabus or schedule. Every effort will be made to provide adequate notice of such changes.