[syllabus]
"The illiterate of the future,” it has been said, “will not be the man who cannot read the alphabet, but the one who cannot take a photograph.” But must we not also count as illiterate the photographer who cannot read his own pictures?"

" ... much futile thought had been devoted to the question of whether photography is an art. The primary question—whether the very invention of photography had not transformed the entire nature of art—was not raised."

Walter Benjamin
Week 1
08.29 (TUE)
C
- Read the following two articles: "Shooting Gallery - The limitations of photojournalism and the ethics of artistic representation" and the works of Adam Broomberg & Oliver Chanarin
- Introduction to class. Discussion of the history and aesthetics of photography. What is a good photograph anyway? How is photography art?
- On photo equipment, film, and paper [notes]. Where to buy: [freestyle] [b&h photo][used: blue-moon/citizens@portland, e-bay, craigslist]
A
For Next class:
- If you have one, bring 35mm film and digitl camera and instruction manuals to next class if you have one. Make sure you get batteries if they are out.
- If you do not have instructions for your camera (or if you buy used cameras), find one online -- for example here [Free Instruction/User/Owner's Manuals].
S
See Shimpei Takeda's "Trace #9 Asaka Kuni-tsuko Shrine" in Pictures in the Aftermath
08.31 (THUR)
C
- Discuss readings
- Film and digital camera operations [handout]. Loading/unloading film [video], aperture, shutter speed . Focusing [video] using a split screen system.
- Class workshop: measuring light. Bring your camera if you have one.
R
For this class:
- Read "Introduction" of Soutter (WAP: Why Art Photography?) and Ch 1 "If this is Art" of Cotton (PACA: Photograph as Contemporary Art)
A
After class:
- Make sure you know how to change shutter speed and aperture
- Start shooting a roll of film (avoid night shots as they do not follow rule)
Week 2
09.05 (TUE)
C
- Split class into A & B

- Discuss article
- Photography and law. NPPA code of ethics for journalists
- Looking at how depth of field and shutter speeds are put to use [handout].
- Aesthetics and criteria of early art photography. Pictorialism and Modernism.
- How pictures work. Case study "Decisive moment"
- Assign [Digital Exercise 1: Decisive Moment] (Due 09/20, one day before class)... [Vivian Maier] [Garry Winogrand] [Henri Cartier-Bresson] [Robert Frank] ... misc: Harry Gruyaert
R
For this class:
- Read until page 8 of "Photography and time: decoding the decisive moment" by Rich Cutler
A
After class:
- Start working on [Digital Exercise 1]
- Finish shooting a roll of film
09.07 (THUR)
C
- Discuss readings [Elinor Carucci][Wolfgang Tillmans] + Assign darkroom project 1 (due 10/10)
- Massive Dev Chart
R
Read for this class
- Ch4 "Authenticity" of WAP by Soutter
- Ch5 "Intimate Life" of PACA by Cotton
L
- Group A: In class film development demo. Loading film.
A
After/outside of class:
- Group A Group B Work on [Digital Exercise 1]
- Group A: Develop film.
Week 3
09.12 (TUE)
C
- Demo: Downloading digital images to the computer using Image Capture. Posting to moodle
- Overview of darkroom printing. Photopaper, contact sheets, test strips, printing) [handout]
L
- Group B: In class film development demo. Loading film.
S
The art of the contact sheet
A
After/outside of class:
- Group A Group B: Work on [Digital Exercise 1]
- Group A Group B: Develop film
09.14 (THUR)
C
Group A come to class. Group B work outside of class.
L
- Group A: In class workshop. Printing in the darkroom. Making contact sheets. Must have processed film in plastic sleeve by class with at least several well exposed frames. Before printing, show instructor negative for approval.
A
After/outside of class:
- Group A: work on [Darkroom Exercise: exposure].
- Group A Group B: Work on [Digital Exercise 1]
Week 4
09.19 (TUE)
C
Group B come to class. Group A work outside of class.
L
- Group B: In class workshop. Printing in the darkroom. Making contact sheets. Must have processed film in plastic sleeve by class with at least several well exposed frames. Before printing, show instructor negative for approval.
A
After/outside of class:
- Group A Group B: Work on [Darkroom Exercise: exposure].
- Group A Group B: Submit [Digital Exercise 1] 5pm day before next class to moodle [here].
09.21 (THUR)
C
- Discuss readings
- Discuss [Digital Exercise 1] - your decisive moment photos
R
For this class:
- Read Ch1 "Hybrid Genres: Portraiture" of WAP by Soutter
- Read Ch2 "Once Upon a Time" of PACA by Cotton
- Look at [Digital Exercise 1] submissions before class
A
Outside/after class:
- Work on [Darkroom Exercise: exposure].
D
- Digital Exercise 1 (decisive moment) due 5pm, 1 day before class. Submit to moodle [here]
Week 5
09.26 (TUE)
C
- Pin up contact sheets and darkroom prints from [Darkroom Exercise: exposure] before class starts
- Advanced exposure: using the exposure meter as a starting point. Reciprocity failure and night photography. Looking at photographs through histograms. Contrast filters.
- Photopaper (RC vs fiber paper, VC)
- Burning/Dodging
D
- [Darkroom Exercise: exposure] due: Three Darkroom prints (barely dark, well exposed, light).
S
- Latoya Ruby Frazier A visual history of inequality in industrial America [Ted Talk], The Notion of Family, [slideshow@nytimes]
- Jeff Wall
09.28 (THUR)
C
- Group A come to class. Group B work out of class.
L
- Group A: In class workshop. Printing with contrast filters. Burning and dodging
A
During/outside/after class:
- Group A: Work on [Darkroom Exercise: contrast].
- Group A Group B: Work on [Darkroom Project 1: Photographs of People, Portraits, as Art].
Week 6
10.03 (TUE)
C
- Group B come to class. Group A work out of class.
L
- Group B: In class workshop. Printing with contrast filters. Burning and dodging
A
During/outside/after class:
- Group A Group B: Work on [Darkroom Exercise: contrast].
- Group A Group B: Work on [Darkroom Project 1: Photo of People, Portraits as Art].
10.05 (THUR)
C
- Studio work time
Week 7
10.10 (TUE)
C
- Darkroom Project 1 Critique (Group A)
D
- [Darkroom Project 1: Photographs of People, Portraits, as Art] due. Pin photographs before class starts. No working once critique starts.
- Darkroom exercise (contrast) due
10.12 (THUR)
C
- Critique Part 2 (Group B)
10/14 - 10/22 FALL BREAK
Week 8
10.24 (TUE)
C
- Discuss readings on "New Topographics" [my notes]
- View New Topographics [slides]
- Assign [Exercise. 2] New topographics Exercise + [Project 2] Picture of things (Landscape/Still Life)

- Color film [Notes], digital imaging/photoshop [Notes]
- Printing Instructions @DML, Scanning Instructions@DML
L
- Photoshop
R
Read for this class:
- "New Topographics" [PDF] p9-67 from "New Topographics" by Britt Salvesen
S
The Lumiere Brother's first film: tree moving!
10.26 (THUR)
C
- Discuss readings
- Digital darkroom (Correction) [Notes Notes]
- Shooting RAW [Notes]
- Printing?
L
- Photoshop
R
Read for this class:
- A True Picture of Black Skin by Teju Cole
- 'Racism' of early colour photography explored in art exhibition from The Guardian
A
Outside of class:
- Work on Exercise 2: "New topographics"
- Work on Project 2: Picture of things (Landscape/Still Life).
S
- New Black Portraitures@Rhizome
- An introduction to new black portraitures
Videos for readings:
- Color film was built for white people. Here's what it did to dark skin.
Photoshop:
- Adobe TV: Introducing Adjustment Layers
Week 9
10.31 (TUE)
C
- Discuss reading
- Layer masks and printing. Maybe retouching
L
- Photoshop
R
Read for this class:
- WAP Ch2 Objectivty and Seriousness
- PACA Ch3 Deadpan
A
Outside of class:
- Work on Exercise 2: "New topographics"
- Work on Project 2: Picture of Things. Landscape/Still Life.
11.02 (THUR)
C
- Strategies. Photo as Art
- Photoshop (retouching) [notes]
Week 10
11.07 (TUE)
C
- Discuss PACA Ch4 Something and Nothing [Uta Barth Interview][Wolfgang Tillmans from Contacts 3]
- Discuss New Topographics handins. Pin up print before class starts
R
Read by this class:
- PACA Ch4 Something and Nothing
D
- Exercise 2: New Topographics post due before class. Post to moodle and pin physical prints before class starts
S
Laura Letinsky [Hardly More Than Ever], [leftovers]
Fischli and Weiss
Gabriel Orozco's Breath on Piano
11.09 (THUR)
C
Studio work time
Week 11
11.14 (TUE)
C
Studio work time
11.16 (THUR)
C
- Critique. Group B shows first. Full class participates. Pin works up before class starts
D
- Project2: Picture of Things. Landscape/Still life: (Consider WAP Ch2 Objectivty and Seriousness, PACA Ch3 Deadpan, Ch4 Something and Nothing). At least 5 good prints. Hand in 5+3 total.
Week 12
11.21 (TUE)
C
Critique part 2. Group A shows.
D
Portfolio handin. The portfolio should contain:
- 3 prints: darkroom exercise 1 (exposure)
- 3 prints: darkroom exercise 2 (contrast)
- at least 5+3 prints: darkroom project #1 (Photos of People with a Story)

- 1 print: exercise 3 New Topographics (darkroom or digital)*
- at least 5+3 prints: Landscape/Still life (darkroom or digital)*
For the last four exercise/projects of the semester (two above which is part of the portfolio with the * and the two future assignments below) you may choose to do two in digital/inkjet and the other two in the darkroom.

FYI (future assignments)
- 1 print: exercise 4 Postmodern (darkroom or digital)*
- at least 5+3 prints: final project (darkroom or digital)*
11.23 (THUR)
C
NO CLASS. HAPPY THANKS GIVING.
Week 13
11.28 (TUE)
C
- Discuss postmodernism. Look at Sherrie Levine, Cindy Sherman
R
Read by this class:
- Photography and the Postmodern (p147 - 151) + Winning the Game when the Rules have Changed (p.152 - 163) by Abigail Solomon-Godeau from the Photography Reader, Liz Wells (Editor) [PDF]
- PACA Ch7 Revivied and Remade
Optional:
- WAP Ch3 Fictive Documents
S
- CCamera
- Lighting
11.30 (THUR)
C
- Individual meeting (11/30 TUE, 12/1 FRI, or 12/5 TUE). Discuss final project + portfolio. Specify time [here].
- Studio Work Time
Week 14
12.05 (TUE)
C
- Individual meeting. Discuss final project + portfolio. Specify time [here]
- Studio Work Time
D
- 12/9 (Fri) [Exercise 3]: Postmodernism: questioning the Truth in Photography (Sha-Shin) due. Post to moodle here.
- 12/12 (TUE) group A, 12/14 (THUR) group B@ 6:10pm: Final Project (open-ended). Final Critique during final exam week.
12/12(TUE) group A, 12/14 (THUR) group B, Final Critique during final exam week same time as class. 
   12/12 (TUE)  Group A: Jacob, Hannah, Bri, Mauricio, Maya, Jie, Caroline, Eric
   12/14 (THUR) Group B: Benji, Maggie, Emma, M, Jackson, Hade, Sierrra, Madeline
C Class............plans for class..subject to change
L Lab............darkroom/lab session
A Assignments......what you should be doing outside of class among other things.
R Readings.........finish reading by.
D Due.............yes, due date.
S Supplementary.....further reading/references/artists discussed in class