Color Photography Syllabus

CLASS SCHEDULE 

SANTA ANA COLLEGE - Performing + Fine Arts Division

//COLOR PHOTOGRAPHIC EXPRESSION // PHOT-294-62934 // Spring 2019

Classroom: Building A, Cesar Chavez Building, Room A-219

Wednesdays, 4:55 PM – 7:00 PM + 7:10 PM – 10:20 PM

Instructor: Jacqueline Schlossman

Email: Schlossman_Jacqueline@sac.edu // Office: Room A-219-2

Office Hours: Tuesdays + Thursdays, 4:30 PM – 7:00 PM

Textbook: Hirsch, Robert, Exploring Color Photography: From Film to Pixels, 6th Edition

– https://zlibraryextra.com $17.99 ISBN: 978-0415730921

Catalog Course Description

Introduction to the theory and practice of color in Fine Art Photography. Printing color

photographs as a fine art medium. Course includes lectures, interpretive (field)

assignments, laboratory work, research of well-known photographers using color in fine

art photography and critiques. Camera required. (3 Units)

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WHAT IS COLOR PHOTOGRAPHY and why should we study its theory and practice in

detail? In this class we will explore the inherent characteristics of color photography and

learn to use our digital cameras and relevant post production tools to build impactful

color images. By crafting creative photographic projects, and learning to make intelligent

artistic choices we will study the essential technical aspects of controlling color with the

camera, computer and printer. We will work in Adobe Lightroom and practice detailed

image correction and adjustments that will help us achieve the desired inkjet print. We

will learn the language of color photography and discuss the history of the artform

enabling us to have a professional, critical dialog with our own work.

Course Topics + Student Learning Outcomes

-History of Color Photography (From Invention to Contemporary Practice)

-Color Theory Basics (Scientific/Psychological)

-Color Film vs. Color Digital (Differences + Similarities)

-Creating Color Photographs with Meaning +Thinking in Color vs. Black and White

-Using the Digital Camera Manual Settings to Create Effective Color Photographs

-Using Digital Camera White Balance + Custom Adjustments

-Working with Color Temperature/Kelvin Scale + Understanding Color Cast

-Long Exposures, Night Photography, High ISO, Flash + Filters/Reciprocity Failure

-Color Correction in Post Production with Adobe Lightroom

-Noise Reduction + Other Adobe Lightroom Fine Editing Tools

-Fine Digital Color Printing + Achieving Optimal Results from Camera to Computer to

Print

Main Course Projects:

-Golden Hour Landscape Photo Series

-Environmental Portrait Series Using a Pre-Determined Specific Color Palette

-Night Photography Photo Series with Tripod/Long Exposures

-Indoor Photography Photo Series Investigating Color Temperature + Color Cast

-Photographer Research Presentation

-Final Portfolio: Studying a Specific Color Photographer + Selecting Essential

Style/Color/Subject Matter Elements to Explore in Detail

Supplies

-Digital Single Lens Reflex Camera with Zoom Lens or Similar Digital Camera with Manual

Functions + RAW File Capability

-Appropriate Memory Card for Your Camera with at least 16GB of space

-Card Reader for Your Memory Card if Necessary (USB)

-External USB or Thunderbolt Hard Drive* Compatible with MAC with 500 GB of space

*I recommend that you also purchase a backup drive.

-Folder for Class Handouts

-Sketchbook or Notepad for Lecture Notes and Brainstorming

-Materials Fee: $15.00

CLASS POLICIES + REQUIREMENTS*

Communication

Email is the official means of communication for this course. Please check your SAC email

account regularly and ensure that you are receiving all important class and campus email.

If you are having any problems in the course, please let me know immediately. We

will be moving through a lot of material quickly and falling behind will make the class

difficult for you. I am here to help, but you need to communicate with me.

Attendance

Attendance and punctuality are mandatory. Class begins promptly. Attendance in all

classes is non-negotiable. Remember that this class has both a lecture and a lab

component; you are expected to attend both in their entirety. Missing more than 3

classes may result in possible failure. Late arrival to three classes will be recorded as an

absence. Please sign the attendance sign in sheet every time you attend class. Arrive to

class prepared and ready to work. If you are absent, please consult with one of your

colleagues to catch up on any missed information. You are still responsible for turning in

your assignments on time.

Late Work

Please take note that I only accept late work turned in one week after the due date.

Late projects will lose one full letter grade. If you are absent, you are still responsible

for turning your work in on time. You will need to submit your project to me via Canvas or

Dropbox/Google Drive link by the due date/time in order to receive full credit.

Participation + Behavior

Participation is 10% of your grade. You must participate by attending class on time, being

ready to work, asking questions, contributing to discussions, staying alert during lectures

and following along with class exercises. You must participate in the critique in order to

receive full credit for each project. This means having your project ready for the critique

and showing the work publicly in class. This also means providing respectful feedback to

your peers during the appropriate times and sharing your ideas when asked. Finally,

completing your reading and any assigned research is a part of your Participation grade.

NO PHONE/IPAD/TABLET USAGE WHATSOEVER IN CLASS. NO COMPUTER USE THAT

IS NOT RELEVANT TO THIS CLASS. You may use headphones at appropriate moments

during lab time, but not during any other time. Please turn off your phone or mobile

device as soon as you reach class.

Critiques

Critiques are a major component of the class. A critique is a public discussion of a

student’s work. This is an opportunity to develop a manner of verbally evaluating your

work and the work of your colleagues with careful, respectful feedback. Consider the

critique an oral examination, as you will be graded on attendance, preparation and

participation. Please do not share what we discuss during critiques with students outside

of the class.

Grading

The final grade is based upon the preparation, completion and presentation of the

Assignments. You will also be graded on your active participation in class. I expect you to

work very diligently outside of this course to complete the assignments intelligently and

creatively. I will ask you to do some research outside of class and present some of your

findings during appropriate class times. Please take this seriously, as it is also part of your

“homework”. It is your responsibility to schedule your time in an intelligent manner. This

means that you need to come to class with the relevant parts of your projects completed

for lab time. Please “back-up” your work and come prepared for lab time and

critiques. Coming to class unprepared will impact your grade.

FINAL GRADES:

Official Assignments: 75%

Quizzes/Project Research + Discussion Questions: 5%

Photographer Presentation 10%

Class Participation: 10%

The following statements and policies are from the Santa Ana College Catalog.

Class Enrollment

It is the student’s responsibility to officially withdraw from a course. However, because of

enrollment demand a student may be dropped by the instructor when not appearing at

the first class meeting. A student may be dropped for excessive absences when the total

hours of absences exceed 10% of the total, scheduled hours of the class.

DSP+S Statement

Your success in this course is important to me. Santa Ana College and I are committed to

providing reasonable accommodations for all individuals with disabilities. If you have a

disability that may have some impact on your ability to do well in this course, I encourage

you to speak with me as soon as possible. Also, please contact Disabled Student

Programs & Services so that we can all collaborate on your classroom accommodations in

a timely manner. DSP&S is located in U-103, and their phone number is 714-564-6264.

The DSP&S office requires documentation of your disability in order to receive reasonable

accommodations. If you do not have documentation, they will work with you to acquire it.

I look forward to supporting you to meet your learning goals.

Academic Honesty

Students at Santa Ana College are expected to be honest and forthright in their academic

endeavors. To falsify the results of one's research, to steal the words or ideas of another,

or to cheat on an examination, corrupts the essential process by which knowledge is

advanced. Academic dishonesty is seen as an intentional act of fraud, in which a student

seeks to claim credit for the work or efforts of another without authorization or uses

unauthorized materials or fabricated information in any academic exercise. As institutions,

we also consider academic dishonesty to include forgery of academic documents,

intentionally impeding or damaging the academic work of others, assisting other students

in acts of dishonesty or coercing students into acts of dishonesty.

*This syllabus is subject to change at instructor’s discretion.