--Commercial - Black & White Photography 1



Commercial - Black & White Photography 1

Alexander Hamilton Senior High

2955 S. Robertson Blvd., Room 810

Los Angeles, CA 90034

310.280.1400

Frank Burton - Instructor

fburton.hamilton@





Course Concept.

Photography is a tool that artists see the world through, lets call it a lens. This lens allows said artists the freedom to create fact or fiction, to produce anger or love in viewers, and most importantly to express themselves.

Course Description.

Upon completion of this course students will be capable of operating various types of film and digital cameras, be able to hand process black and white film as well as hand print black and white images, speak about photographs in a critical and informed manner, and apply these skills towards employment in the photographic industry. Class will consist of lectures, demonstrations, laboratory work, group critiques, and individual meetings. It is required that you attend class and participate in all activities that take place, if there are circumstances that keep this from being accomplished please speak with me.

The following state content standards will be met in this course:

1. Artistic Perception

2. Creative Expression

3. Historic and Cultural Context

4. Aesthetic Valuing

5. Connections, Relationships and Applications

Grading.

Your grade is based on the technical proficiency of your projects, effort shown during class critiques and activities, quizzes and your final portfolio. All assignments are due when stated. Late assignments will be accepted but will be worth 10% less per class day late. If turning an assignment in late is your only option, please speak with me. My grading system is as follows; 40% of your grade is based on your Portfolio, 25% based on Attendance and Participation, 30% based on Assignments and 5% based on your Quizzes. Extra credit is always possible!

Course Overview.

-INTRODUCTION AND SAFETY

-TYPES OF CAMERA EQUIPMENT - Quiz

-LENSES - Quiz

-TYPES OF FILM - Quiz

-PRODUCT PHOTOGRAPHY

-PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY

-DARKROOM TECHNIQUES AND OPERATION - Quiz

-WORKING WITH PROFESSIONAL LABS

-PHOTOGRAPHY NEEDS OF INDUSTRY

-EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS

-REVIEW AND EVALUATION OF STUDENT PROGRESS

Course Assignments.

- Photo Diary

- Film Processing

- Darkroom/Contact Sheet

- Up Against the Edge

- One Image 2 Contrast Grades

- Self Portrait

- Street Photography

- Look Ma’ No Camera

- Final Project

- Written Comparison

- Portfolio

Assignment Descriptions.

#1: Photo Diary – 100 points

Produce a printed document of your life.

Photography is a way to express what you know, whether real or fictional, use your camera to inform and explain how you perceive the world around you as well as yourself. Examples could include your daily morning rituals, hanging out with friends, or your adventure to the molten hot lava core of the earth. When done bring prints or digital files to class for discussion.

#2: Film Processing

#3:Darkroom/Contact Sheet

#4: Up Against the Edge – 100 points

Produce a contact sheet for review.

The 35mm camera reduces the visual record of life to a .9"x1.3" rectangle, how can this rectangle be subverted? In this assignment we will be dealing with the "frame" our camera gives us. The idea is to see how we can transform the world simply by altering it through our cameras. A very famous photographer once said, "I photograph to find out what the world looks like photographed." Examples of the use of the frame could include fragmenting a subject so that we only receive small pieces of information, or isolating a subject from the "world" around it. Shoot 1 roll of B&W film and bring to class, unprocessed, when listed in calendar.

#5: One Image / Two Contrast Grades – 100 points

Produce 2 - 5x7 prints

#6: Self Portrait – 100 points

Produce a minimum of two 5x7 prints as well as one contact sheet.

I despise pictures being taken of me and maybe you do also. Now the tide has turned. You are in control of how you appear, or don't appear, in the images. Investigate self-portraiture. What constitutes a self-portrait? Perhaps portrait doesn't even mean the physical presence of a person. Experiment with unusual camera angles, vary your depth of field, use your self-timer, and control your lighting. If you're not interested while making the images contemplate how interesting they will be when encountered by a viewer.

#7: Street Photography – 100 Points

Produce a minimum of two 5x7 prints as well as one contact sheet.

Throughout history many photographers have made a name for themselves by exploring their city and the residents in it. Your assignment is to photograph your city in a way which others may not see it. All of your photographs must be taken while standing in a PUBLIC space with one focal length lens, NO EXCEPTIONS!

#8: Look Ma’ No Camera – 100 points

Produce three 5x7 prints.

Make one Photogram and one pinhole camera negative and positive. Instructions will be supplied in class

#9: Final Project – 200 points

Produce three 5x7 prints that work together as a series. One contact sheet also required.

Throughout the course of the semester we have been dealing with coherent themes throughout a series of pictures. For this assignment it is now your turn to tell me what idea you want to convey. You may envision something completely new or revisit one of the earlier projects from the semester. Keep the borders and size of your prints consistent, unless there is a reason for inconsistency. Think of your images gathering strength in numbers, feeding off of each other, revealing your topic over time. Individual meetings with each student will be used to explore ideas and prospects for the final project. A written proposal will be required which will help you to verbally articulate a coherent outline of your main objectives, both conceptual and technical, and will assist me in providing support and feedback.

#10: Written Comparison – 100 points

Minimum 2 pages TYPED. Must also include copies of the images talked about on a separate page or pages.

Compare and contrast two different photographs by two different photographers. At least one must be a contemporary photograph (an image that has been created in the last thirty years). Suggestions for comparison/contrast could be; motivation, formal qualities, "effect" or mood of image. Use the 4 steps to critiquing artwork to give you some ideas for comparison and contrast. Typing must be 12 Point Font or Smaller, Double Spaced, 1 Inch Borders, Times New Roman, Courier or Helvetica Font. Remember, I was a student once also and have seen plenty of ways in which people try to make extra space. Your 2 images must be on a separate page/s from your typing.

#11: Portfolio – 1200 points

8 prints

Compile your images from the semester into a professional looking portfolio to display to clients, galleries and employers. Your portfolio is one of the most important aspects of being a professional photographer. Without being able to show someone your skills in creating images they will have no idea how talented you are.

Portfolio Requirements:

- Your portfolio must be in some type of book form. I must be able to open it, leaf through the pages and close it when done. It can be a photo album, a binder with clear pages in it, a handmade book or it may take on many other forms.

- Please stay away from really bright, neon colors. When looking at a portfolio a viewer needs to be able to focus on the image, garish colors can draw attention away from your beautiful pictures.

- Your name must be somewhere on your portfolio. It must be typed and no handwriting should be employed. We are striving for a very professional presentation.

- Do not tape or glue your images. One of the advantages of a portfolio is being able to add or subtract images as your skills improve and you take more pictures. Portfolios should only include your best images that you are most proud of, if you glue or permanently tape images then they will be there forever and will be unchangeable.

- If you purchased your portfolio/binder/album and it came with any stickers, printouts, etc. please remove them. We are not trying to advertise for the maker of the book, we are advertising our services as a photographer.

- If you have any crooked borders or spots on your prints, reprint them. Any flaws in an image will become very apparent when viewed next to perfect images and you will lose points.

- And last but not least, MAKE IT LOOK GOOD! =)

4 Steps to Critiquing Artwork

Step 1 - Description

What is the name of the artist who created the artwork?

What kind of an artwork is it?

What is the name of the artwork?

When was this artwork created?

Name some other major events in history that occurred at the same time this artwork was created.

List the literal objects in the artwork (trees, people, animals, mountains, rivers, etc.).

Consider the significant art elements that are present in this artwork and describe them:

| LINE | TEXTURE |

| SHAPE | COLOR |

| FORM | VALUE |

| SPACE | PATTERN |

Step 2 - Analysis

In this step consider the most significant art principles that were used in the artwork.
Describe how the artist used them to organize the elements.

| BALANCE | CONTRAST | EMPHASIS |

| HARMONY | VARIETY | UNITY |

| GRADATION | MOVEMENT | RHYTHM |

| PROPORTION | DEPTH | COMPOSITION |

Step 3 - Interpretation

Based on what you have learned so far about the artwork, what do you think the artist was trying to say?
Why did the artist create this artwork? What do you think it means? What feelings do you have when looking at this artwork? Do you think there are things in the artwork that represent other things - symbols?

Step 4 - Judgment

Do you like this artwork? Do you think it is a good artwork? Do think it is an important artwork? Would display this artwork in your home? Is this artwork good enough to put in a museum?

Justify your opinion. Explain why you feel the way you do about this artwork based on what you have learned about it.

SUPPLIES

Hamilton High supplies a laboratory stocked with all of the basic chemicals and equipment for students to produce a black and white portfolio. Students must supply a 3-ring binder and we really appreciate it if the students also provide a 35mm film camera, 2 rolls of black and white film (24 or 36 exposures is OK) and 25 sheets of black and white photographic paper (if any of these supplies are not a possibility please speak with me ASAP). I suggest buying the starter pack of film and paper made by Ilford, Kodak, Freestyle Photographic or any other manufacturer. The pack typically includes 25 sheets of resin coated variable contrast paper (glossy or matte/pearl/lustre is fine) and 2 rolls of PROFESSIONAL black and white film. Some black and white film purchased at drugstores etc. cannot be used for this class, if you have questions please ask. The following companies are great resources for purchasing the materials and typically offer a student discount, make sure you ask for it!

East Hollywood

Freestyle Photographic (offer a student discount, if you don’t want to drive they ship next day with $25 min. order for $4.99)



5124 Sunset Blvd.

Hollywood, CA 90027

1-800-292-6137

Westwood

Bel Air Camera (not sure of student discount)



10925 Kinross Ave.

Los Angeles, CA 90024

Midcity

Samy’s Camera (offer student discount)



431 S. Fairfax Ave.

Los Angeles, CA 90036

323-938-2420

Venice/Mar Vista

Samy’s Camera (offer student discount)



4411 Sepulveda Blvd.

Culver City, CA 90230

310-450-4551

Wish List

In the past, a few parents mentioned that a wish list of supplies that may help us out should be included. Here we go.

Dear Mr. and/or Mrs. Claus (also known as Extremely Generous Parents),

Any help for the photo classes would be much appreciated. All donations of photography related equipment are very welcome; I am incredibly resourceful and can use pretty much anything, I’m kind of like MacGyver. Some specific items that would be beneficial are:

- Extra starter packs of film and paper for students who cannot supply their own. Actually, any

extra paper and film boxes/packs/rolls you would like to donate are awesome!

- Any 35mm film cameras (preferably SLR’s with a manual setting but ALL are helpful) to

check out to students who don’t have one of their own.

- Studio photography/grip equipment of any kind.

- World Peace! (It is a wish list, right?)

THANK YOU!!!!!

Calendar.

Week 1 & 2. Introduction and Safety, Clean Up, Cameras, Lenses, Film (bring cameras),

Feb. 9-19 Sun Prints, Introduce Diary

Week 3. Critique Diary, Cameras, Lenses & Film, Introduce and Shoot Up Against the

Feb. 22-26 Edge

Week 4. Demo Film Processing, Process Film, Quiz

March 1-5

Week 5. Introduce Darkroom Contact Sheets, Print Up Against the Edge Contact Sheets,

March 8-12

Week 6. Introduce Darkroom Prints, Print 1 image 2 Contrast Grades,

March 15-19 Introduce Self Portrait

Week 7. Process & Print Self Portrait, Quiz

March 22-26

**SPRING BREAK!!!

** March 29-April 2

Week 8. Print Self Portrait , Introduce Street Photography

April 5.9

Week 9. Print & Critique Self Portrait, Process & Print Street Photography

April 12-16

Week 10. Process & Print Street Photography

April 19-23

Week 11. Print Street Photography

April 26-30

Week 12. Critique Street Photography, Introduce Look Ma’ No Camera

May 3-7

Week 13. Print Look Ma’ No Camera, Introduce Final Project

May 10-14

Week 14. Critique Look Ma’ No Camera, Individual Meetings for Final Project

May 17-21

Week 15. Process & Print Final Project

May 24-28 Digital Demonstration

Week 16. Written Comparison Due, Print Final Project

June 1-4

Week 17. Critique Final Project, Portfolio Due

June 14-18

Week 18. FINALS WEEK – Return Portfolio, Clean Up

June 21-25

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