Course Description:

In this basic level photography course, students will learn to create a digital visual diary of their Roman experience. The technical component of the course consists of mastering manual digital camera operation and exposure. Students will also be introduced to imaging software on the computer and digital output to inkjet printers. Students will gain an understanding of the aesthetic possibilities of photography through weekly assignments, lectures on important photographers, photo field trips in Rome and visits to contemporary photo exhibits.

There is also be an on-line component of the course which includes uploading weekly digital photo assignments using Photoshop and to be uploaded to a group website for critiques and feedback through Google drive

Course Learning Goals:

1. Mastering Manual Function of the camera
2. Learn the art of photography through weekly shooting assignments
3. Learn Photoshop Techniques
4. Learn to prepare the image for Exhibition printing
5. Learn to value and understand photos of others

Required Course Materials:

This course requires the following textbook: “Title” (Edition) by Author.
This book may be purchased from Amazon or the Temple bookstore.

Technology Requirements:

• Headphones
• Webcam
• Recommended Internet Speed: 8mbps download & 5mbps upload. You can test your connection at https://www.speedtest.net
• Please note: Hard-wired connections are more consistent than Wi-Fi for Zoom sessions.

This course requires the use of Microsoft Office (i.e., Word, Excel, PowerPoint). Students can gain access to these materials by visiting the Computer Services Download Site (Links to an external site.).

Students should check their Temple email (Links to an external site.) daily for course updates. 

All students are required to comply with Temple University’s Computer and Network Security Policy (Links to an external site.)

 Accessibility of course technologies

• Canvas (Links to an external site.)
• Zoom
• VoiceThread
• ProctorU
• Proctorio
• GoogleDrive

Instructional Methods:

Online asynchronous and synchronous

Possible Instructional Methods: Readings, video-based lectures, individual activities, discussion boards, virtual Zoom meetings.

Course Communication

To facilitate communication, the university requires you to have an e-mail account ending in @temple.edu.

During the semester, I will generally respond to emails within 24 hours of receiving them during the week and with 48 hours on weekends

Grading Scale

A Range	B Range	C Range	D Range	F Range
A  94 - 100	B+ 87 - 89	C+ 77 - 79	D+ 67 - 69	F 0 - 59
A- 90 - 93	B  84 - 86	C  74 - 76	D  64 - 66
	B- 80 - 83	C- 70 - 73	D- 60 - 63

 

Weighting Details

Students will complete a digital portfolio of their best final images by the end of the semester. 30 percent of their grade will be based on weekly assignments, punctuality, attendance and group participation, 35 percent will be on the midterm critique and 35 percent on the final portfolio critiques. Both technical and aesthetic excellence will be evaluated in the final grade.

Total = 100%

Assignment Descriptions:

Please add a description of all course assessments, including due dates, here.

General Policies

All Temple University Academic Policies (Links to an external site.) will be upheld.

The Information Science & Technology, M.S. website (Links to an external site.) details program expectations.

Course Minimum Grade

Although D- is a passing grade, a minimum grade of C- is required in all courses to complete the program.

For more information, please see Temple University's Academic Policies on Grades and Grading.

Incomplete

A student will be eligible for a grade of “Incomplete” only if he/she: 1) has completed at least 51% of the work at a passing level, 2) is unable to complete the work for a serious reason beyond his or her control, and 3) files a signed agreement with the instructor outlining the work to be completed and the time frame in which that work will be completed. The student is responsible for initiating this process and all incomplete forms must be sent to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs prior to the start of study days in that semester.  

Please refer to the following for further details: Temple University’s Incomplete Policy (Links to an external site.) (Policy #02.10.13). 

Withdraw from the Course

If a student wishes to withdraw from a course, it is the student’s responsibility to meet the deadline for the last day to withdraw from the current semester

See Temple University's Academic Calendar (Links to an external site.) for withdrawing deadlines and consult the University policy on withdrawals (Links to an external site.) (Policy # 02.10.14). 

Statement on Academic Rights & Responsibilities

Freedom to teach and freedom to learn are inseparable facets of academic freedom. The University has a policy on Student and Faculty Academic Rights and Responsibilities (Links to an external site.) (Policy #03.70.02).

Academic Honesty

According to the University Student Code of Conduct, students must not commit, attempt to commit, aid, encourage, facilitate, or solicit the commission of academic dishonesty and impropriety including plagiarism, academic cheating, and selling lecture notes or other information provided by an instructor without the instructor’s authorization. Violations may result in failing the assignment and/or failing the course, and/or other sanctions as enumerated in the University Code of Conduct (Links to an external site.).

Netiquette

Your instructor and fellow students wish to foster a safe online learning environment. All opinions and experiences, no matter how different or controversial they may be perceived, must be respected in the tolerant spirit of academic discourse. You are encouraged to comment, question, or critique an idea but you are not to attack an individual.

Our differences, some of which are outlined in the University's nondiscrimination statement (Links to an external site.), will add richness to this learning experience. Please consider that sarcasm and humor can be misconstrued in online interactions and generate unintended disruptions. Working as a community of learners, we can build a polite and respectful course atmosphere.

Disability Disclosure Statement

Any student who has a need for accommodation based on the impact of a documented disability should contact Disability Resources and Services (DRS), Ritter Annex 100, (215) 204-1280 or 215-204-1786 (TTY) or drs@temple.edu, to make arrangements. Students requesting accommodations should meet with the instructor as soon as possible after the start of classes to discuss their needs and to provide documentation from DRS. Accommodations are not retroactive.

Additional information regarding accessibility for all technologies used in this course is provided below:

• Canvas  (Links to an external site.)
• Zoom (Links to an external site.)

Technical & Academic Support

For a listing of Academic support services available to Temple University students, see the Academic and Support Services Page.

For a listing of technical support services available to Temple University students, see the Technical Support Page.

Counseling Services

As a student you may experience a range of issues that can cause barriers to learning, such as strained relationships, increased anxiety, substance use, feeling down, difficulty concentrating and/or lack of motivation. These concerns or stressful events may lead to diminished academic performance and ability to participate in daily activities. Counseling services are available to assist you at the Tuttleman Counseling Center (Links to an external site.).

Privacy Policy

• Temple University (Links to an external site.)
• Canvas InstructureLinks to an external site.
• Zoom

Semester Course Schedule

Class 1: January 14th

 

Meeting point: University

Triangle of exposure: ISO, Shutter speed and aperture

How to use them and what we need to change for which purpose. First trial with the camera aperture priority, depth of field.

Homework: Walk through Rome or to the University with your “alter ego”. Your “alter ego” is any object you get in a Chinese shop or toy shop, which you can easily carry around and it will appear in your photo in some way or other. It can be a little doll, a plastic animal some other object which you perhaps have at your apartment. You put that in some way into your photo.

 

Class 2: January 21th

Meeting point: University

We will go later to Ponte Sisto

We will concentrate on depth of field and shutter speed variation together with the change of ISO. Bring your “Alter ego” with you.

Homework. Go somewhere where people move fast and slow: For example, a park where people do jogging or a busy street or better both. And shoot with different shutter speed: Object is clear but background blurred, everything crisp clear etc.

 

Class 3: January 28th

Meeting point:University. Later Museo Mercato di Traiano (Via Quattro Novembre, 94)

We work on white balance, with little light inside, Outside with little light

We look for different point of views. Looking from down from, above using different focal lenses, controlling the whole frame

Homework: Going through Rome like one of these thousand roman cats. See Rome from the point of view of a cat, shooting inside and outside.

 

Class 3: February 4th

Meeting point: University

Introduction in the digital lab, first critic of photos, which we did: Developing the rules of a efficient and rewarding critic,

Introduction into different rules of composition, Rule of the third, Framing, diagonals, symmetry

Homework: Choosing at least to different rules of composition and shoot with them different pictures

 

Class 5: February 11th

Meeting Point: University, later: Museo dell’ Ara Pacis, Lungotevere in Augusta

We will work with transparency looking through windows, reflection and details

Homework : Look for reflection wherever you will find it and transparency, shop windows

 

Class 6: February 18th

Meeting point University

Midterm evaluation: digital, photography critic

Importance of colour and the use of color in the photo

Homework: playing with color and monochrome photo and also black and white

 

No class February 25^th : Spring break

 

Class 7: March 4th

Meeting point university, later: Musei Capitolini (Piazza del Campidoglio, 1)

Introduction into portraiture of statues, with natural light in the museum. Then doing portraits of each other outside or inside the museum. Discussing the different purposes of a portrait

Homework: Portraits of your friends choosing a good light inside our outside, background etc. Portrait does not mean that you only do the face you can also shoot other parts of the body: for example the hands or something else

 

Class 8: March 11th

Meeting point university: later Piazza Vittorio

Introduction into Street Photography: Shooting in the market and than also in the small streets and Viale Trastevere

Homework: looking for some good street photography shots around where you live. Daily life in Rome

 

Class 9: March 18th

Meeting point: Cemitero acattolico (Via Caio Cestio, 6)

Intense light and shadow black /white and color, looking to express emotion in your Photography

Homework : Looking for places and situations which might have an emotion impact. That does not mean to be dramatic, it can also be a very simple situation: for example children deeply involved in their play

 

Class 10: March 26th

Meeting point University, later: Centro storico, Portico Ottavia

Photographing objects and surfaces, texture, shapes and pattern. Looking for the right light. Where are the limits of your camera?

Homework: Start to work on your final project: For the final you have to work on serials. That means you find similar situations but in different context again and again. Many photographer work with that. The interesting thing are the little differences you find in everysituation. Than of course the light might be different, the time of the day etc.

 

Class 11: April 1st

Meeting point: Piazza Navona

Working on reflection and shadows. Working on what you see directly and indirectly. Leaving space for imagination in a photo.

Homework: working on final

 

Class 12: April 8^th

Meeting point University

Digital Portfolio due with the best images of the semester

Homework: Preparing your presentation and give it the final touch

 

Class 13: April 15^th

Meeting point University

Project presentation and hanging of the exhibition

Homework: Preparing your final evaluation

 

Class 14: April 22th

Meeting point University

Final evaluation: digital portfolio critique