Introduction

This course is an introduction to digital photography. The class will encourage you to be in control of your cameras and technology, to develop an artistic style moving beyond the snapshot, and to learn to describe and critique work with a command of digital and artistic vocabulary.

Photoshop is not required. We will work directly with images from the camera.

The major goals of the course are:

1. to understand a digital camera and how it works
   
   
2. to produce a photographic portfolio of digital images that have personal significance for the individual student.

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Texts and Materials

Textbooks

• The BetterPhoto Guide to Digital Photography by Jim Miotke, 2005, Amphoto Books (required)

• Black and White Photography: A Basic Manual, revised 3rd edition, by Henry Horenstein, Little, Brown and Company (optional)

The required and optional texts can be obtained from Friday Center Books & Gifts at the Friday Center either by ordering online or by printing and mailing the book order form.

Electronic Reserves

Some of your reading assignments are accessed via the University Library's online e-reserve system. See Course Mechanics for more information on accessing these resources.

Websites

• Steve’s Digicams—Check this site for information about your specfic camera and additional information.

• www.digicamhelp.com—This Web site has lots of very helpful information. You should refer to it throughout the semester.

Remember to use the Internet web for additional infomation on technique. There are many sites that can explain the information in various ways, which might help you understand things easier. If you find good Web sites please share them with us by posting the URL on the discussion forum.

Materials

• Camera—You must have a digital camera with manual controls. You must be able to control aperture and shutter speeds.
  
  
• Memory card for your camera
  
  
• Tripod (optional)

If you only have a zoom lens, make sure your lens is set at 50mm for all of the technical assignments.

Suggested Suppliers:

• Calumet Photo—Ask for their 5% student discount
  
  
• B&H Photo—Long-time suppliers to the trade.
  
  
• Southeastern Camera—Southeastern Camera carries used equipment and will help you select an appropriate camera. Ask for their student discount (919-933-7757, 205 West Main Street, Carrborro, NC 27510).

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Approach

You will complete reading assignments and lessons, and post photography assignments and participate in critiques of your classmates' work in asynchronous postings on our ART 390 Flickr group site. Images will be due by midnight on the Tuesday that ends the lesson; image comments and critiques will be due on Flickr by midnight on the Friday that follows.

If you have general questions, please post them so the whole class can benefit from the answers. Post them under the “General Questions” discussion forum on Blackboard.

Some assignments require you to work with a partner. I will make partner assignments and post them on our Flickr group site.

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Grading

35% Flickr group/discussion forum participation
65% Image assignments

Grading at UNC is done according to the following criteria:

A         Highest level of attainment
B         High level of attainment
C         Adequate level of attainment
D         Minimal passing level of attainment
F          Failed-unacceptable performance

Grades will be assigned for each image assignment as well as for the Flickr group and discussion forum participation. You may e-mail me anytime during the semester regarding your grades.

Image assignments are graded on the following criteria:

1. How successful are the images?
2. How well did the project fulfill the assignment?
3. What kind of effort was put into making the images?
4. Was the student willing to make changes during the process?
5. How does this piece compare with other pieces in a similar situation?
6. The subjective views of the instructor.

Deadlines

All photography assignments must be posted by the deadline. Grades for any assignments posted after the deadline will be lowered by a letter grade. Any discussion forums missed will be considered a missed class or unexcused absence. Two unexcused absences lower your grade by a letter grade.  For example, if you have an A and two absences you will receive a B, three absences will lower your grade to a C.

Example Photos

Some of the example photographs you will see are black-and-white images from previous students. I may want to use your images as examples in future lectures and classes. Unless you tell me otherwise, I will assume that you have given me permission for this.

Flickr Postings (Critiques)

Critique—"A critical review or commentary, one dealing with a literary or other artistic work." 

Critiques are intended to help you make better work. They can help you achieve a better understanding of how to make what you want to make, and how to communicate what you want to say with your art. Critiques are also a way to develop your vocabulary and skill at discussing visual art. You are expected to pay careful attention to other people's discussions about your work, realizing that they are discussing your work and not you personally. Generally your work is discussed before you provide any input. In this way, discussions can be more open, curious, and perceptive. Critiques can be very emotional. Please be sensitive and respectful, but also courageous and smart. You are expected to offer your thoughts on other students' work.

You are expected to adhere to the University of North Carolina's Honor Code in all of your work.

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Course Mechanics

Blackboard

Some of your class components are accessed through a software package called Blackboard, and you will need to login to Blackboard using a unique identifier known as your UNC Onyen (Only Name You'll Ever Need) and Onyen password.

If you do not already have a UNC Onyen, go to the Onyen Web site and follow the instructions for creating an Onyen. If you have an Onyen but have forgotten it (or the password), you will find help on the Onyen Web site.

Use your Onyen to login to Blackboard, then click on the "ART 390 CCO" link. You will see navigation buttons on the left taking you to the Discussion Forums, E-mail Communication, and so on.

If you experience problems accessing Blackboard, this is what you should do:

• If you do not already have a UNC Onyen, go to the Onyen Web site and follow the instructions for creating an Onyen.
• If you have an Onyen but have forgotten it (or the password), you will find help on go to the Onyen Web site.
• If you have your Onyen but can't log in to Blackboard, contact Janice Durham at the Friday Center.
• If you can log in to Blackboard but can't find this course listed, contact Janice Durham at the Friday Center.
• If you can't locate an exam or discussion forum in Blackboard, contact the Instructional Designer.
• If you have other technical problems while using Blackboard, contact Blackboard Help (use the Help button in Blackboard, or call 919-962-HELP).

Library Services and E-reserves

Students enrolled in Carolina Courses Online can access online library resources from the UNC Library System by linking to Library Services for Distance Education Students. This site includes information on using general online reference works as well as accessing e-reserves. If you are using an off-campus computer, you will need to consult this page for instructions on how to access the resources. The UNC library staff is available to assist any students who have difficulties accessing online library resources.

E-mail

All communication from your instructor will go to your UNC Onyen e-mail address (the one that appears when you post to the discussion forum). Off-campus users can access their UNC e-mail using Webmail. You can have your e-mail forwarded to a different e-mail address by clicking “Forward e-mail” at the Onyen Web site.

If you use a filter on your e-mail account, you are responsible for ensuring that it does not prevent you from receiving messages from me, the course listserv, or Friday Center staff. Hotmail users should be aware that Hotmail will block messages sent from within Blackboard because Blackboard uses “blind carbon copy” to protect privacy. We recommend that you use your UNC Onyen e-mail account rather than forwarding to Hotmail for this course.

Submitting Assignments

It is extremely important for you to save copies of any work you send to me via e-mail. If I don't receive your work, you must have a duplicate copy, indicating the date sent, to prove that you submitted the assignment on time. It is your responsibility to maintain copies of your sent e-mails, as there is no way to guarantee that any e-mail message will be delivered.

Please check your e-mail software to see how it manages sent and saved messages. Some software automatically deletes messages one month after they have been sent; others only save messages if they are filed in folders; others save messages received but not those sent. You may need to send yourself a copy of your e-mailed assignment at the same time you send it to your instructor, or you may need to print a copy of the e-mail message and any attachments to keep in your paper files. No matter how your system works, make sure you know how to save a copy of all work that you submit to your instructor and that you save the copy for several months beyond the end of the course.

Other Questions—Contact Information

Contact your instructor with questions regarding the content of the course and your progress. There is an e-mail link to your instructor at the top of every lesson page. Please include "ART 390 CCO" in the subject line of your e-mail.

Contact the Instructional Designer at the Friday Center about problems with the course Web site, including bad links.

If you have any logistical questions as you work through the course (enrollment, Onyen, credits, withdrawal, and so on), contact the Student Services staff at the Friday Center for Continuing Education (phone 919-962-1134 or 800-862-5669).

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Course Schedule

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Lesson 1