GSCS Digital Photography Syllabi, Spring Session 2008
School of Continuing Studies, Rice University Andrew Adams This is an integrated syllabus covering all three digital photography courses taught during the spring of 2009 by Andrew Adams at Rice University's Glasscock School of continuing studies. I have integrated the syllabi to allow students to examine the curricula in each class and thereby ensure they have chosen the correct class. Class Descriptions An Introduction to Digital Photography An easy-to-follow introduction to all aspects of digital photography, this class will help you gain confidence in the use of your digital camera. We will cover how best to use the features of your camera to get good pictures, how to transfer your pictures to your computer and organize them, how to improve your pictures using both free and commercial photo enhancement tools, and how to print and share your images with your friends and family. As part of a new, three-course curriculum in digital photography, this class is aimed at a first or second camera owner or recent camera buyer who wants to take better pictures without being intimidated by the technology involved. Armed with confidence about how to use your camera, how to plan for and take better pictures, and how to work with your pictures on your computer, this course will help you start to get the most out of digital photography. Intermediate Digital Photography Are you ready to take the next step in digital photography? Are you wondering what is so great about manual mode? Are some of your pictures not as good as you would like them to be, especially in tough photographic situations? Do you want to know how to better use Photoshop to make your good images great, and to salvage images that didn't come out as well? Then this course is for you. We will take an in-depth look at the exposure triangle -apertures, shutter speeds, and ISO settings, and learn how to put this knowledge to use to capture good images. Then we will move on to mixed light work -- using your camera’s flash to maximum advantage. Will discuss photo aesthetics, and how to use the rules of composition to visualize and realize excellent photos. The course will also cover many computer-related topics, like photo editing in Photoshop, making books and DVD slideshows, scanning in your older images, and creating great black and white photos. As part of the new, three course curriculum in digital photography, we will have time to cover these topics and more in the depth that they deserve and to provide answers to the many questions that will come up along the way. Advanced Digital Photography Designed for those who want to feel confident taking excellent pictures in almost any situation, advanced digital photography will help you overcome mechanical, mental, and technological impediments to your photography. Learn techniques for thinking about the aesthetics of your photography and proper camera settings before you take a single picture, so that you can realize your vision. This course will review the exposure triangle and mixed light photography recipes covered in the intermediate digital photography class, and move on to comprehensively handle the following topics: shooting in raw and managing a raw workflow nailing the exposure, and knowing that you've done so by using the histogram
panoramas and high dynamic range images using Adobe Photoshop Lightroom to manage your postprocessing color management -- the art and science of getting what you see on the screen to come out of your printer a comprehensive look at retouching in Adobe Photoshop Photoshop automation and other techniques for efficiency and results
Instructor Bio: Andrew Adams is both a professional photographer and a professional photography educator, with 10 years of professional photography experience, and 15 semesters of teaching at Rice University's Glasscock School of Continuing Studies. He also teaches at the Texas Institute of Photography and at KIPP Houston High School, provides private tutorials and trip preparation, and organizes photographic expeditions. Mr. Adams is author of the textbook “E-Business Technologies.” He holds an MBA from Rice University and has served as an adjunct professor in the Jones Graduate School of Management. Contact Information: Email: Andrew@texasip.net Websites: www.texasinstituteofphotography.com, www.truecolorstudios.com Andrew’s Cellphone: 713 412 4659 Instant Messaging (not email): AOL: acadamsaim ICQ: 14601354 MSN: acadamsaim@hotmail.com Yahoo: acadamsaim2003@yahoo.com Materials Course Packet & Weekly handouts (paper & electronic) Suggested - but not required - Textbook: “Photography,” London, Upton, et al.
Homework Various exercises will be announced at the end of each class session, which will involve using your camera, getting pictures printed, getting pictures online, etc. These are mor e or less voluntary (since there’s no grade given), but we feel they will enhance your classroom experience and help you get the most out of your camera.
Course Guide
Class 1 Beginner How cameras work, important terms, choosing and buying cameras and accessories, transfer demonstration, Intermediate Review, especially of the exposure triangle and photo transfer using Picasa. Planning your lens collection. Advanced Review, especially of manual modes, mixed light photography, and Photoshop layers. Exposure and histograms and how to judge correct exposure. Creating high dynamic range images and panoramas Overflow from previous class, if necessary. Color management: the art and science of matching what you see on the screen to what you get out of your printer Complete raw workflow -shooting, conversion, printing, managing raw images. Advanced photo editing: adjustment layers, blending modes, quick masks, collaging, filters.
2
What do those buttons do taking pictures, scene modes, exercising control over how your camera works
3
Transfer and organization (Picasa), backing up your photos and using external hard drives to store your images
4
5
Picasa II: Email, ordering prints, sharing your photos on the Internet, basic photo editing in Picasa and enhancement, introduction to the exposure triangle The exposure triangle: Apertures, Shutter Speeds, ISO Settings, and how to use this knowledge to your advantage Taking better pictures: composition, timing, tips for various situations, especially portraits, sports, and travel photography. Evaluating photo aesthetics Introduction to photo editing in Adobe Photoshop: levels, saturation, sharpening, and cropping. Summation and, time permitting, class suggested topics.
Using the manual modes of your camera to get good pictures in nearly any situation. Using accessories like filters and tripods to your best advantage. Night photography techniques, with hands-on experience outdoors okay, I've done my homework, I've been to the zoo, I've taken a lot of pictures, and some of them don't look as I wanted them to look. Why? More on the exposure triangle, manual modes, and learning how to take pictures in various situations Shooting in raw: why and how. Color correction. Intermediate photo editing in Photoshop: selections, layers, background replacement, selective colorization, and the clone tool Fun things to do with your photos: making books, making DVD slideshows, scanning in printed images, restoration of faded or damaged scanned images You and your flash: adding artificial light with discretion and skill. Mixing natural and artificial light, and using multiple flash setups. Macro photography -taking pictures of very small things The digital black and white -creating black-and-white images in your camera and on your computer. Preparing your images for print -- getting the best prints possible, especially at 8 x 10 and beyond. Summation and, time permitting, class suggested topics.
6
7
Post processing and asset management using advanced tools like Adobe Photoshop Lightroom -- techniques for managing large photography collections Thinking about photography: photography aesthetics as it relates to portrait work, travel photography, and everyday photography. Practical techniques to realize your aesthetic vision. Overflow from previous class, if necessary. Comprehensive photo retouching. Photoshop automation with actions and scripting. Free and commercial actions to help make the best of your images. Resources to continue your photographic education. Catch-up time for any session that might have run long. Summation and, time permitting, class suggested topics.
Sun 15-Feb
Mon 16-Feb 6:45 – 9:15 PM Intermediate Class 1 of 7
22-Feb
23-Feb
Tue 17-Feb 1:30 – 4:00 PM: Introductory Class 1 of 7 6:45 – 9:15PM: Introductory Class 1 of 7 24-Feb
Wed 18-Feb 6:45 – 9:15 PM Intermediate Class 1 of 7
Thu 19-Feb
Saturday 21-Feb
1-Mar
2-Mar 6:45 – 9:15 PM Intermediate Class 2 of 7
8-Mar Zoo Trip 1
9-Mar 6:45 – 9:15 PM Intermediate Class 3 of 7 16-Mar 23-Mar 6:45 – 9:15 PM Intermediate Class 4 of 7 30-Mar 6:45 – 9:15 PM Intermediate Class 5 of 7
15-Mar 22-Mar
3-Mar 1:30 – 4:00 PM: Introductory Class 2 of 7 6:45 – 9:15PM: Introductory Class 2 of 7 10-Mar 1:30 – 4:00 PM: Introductory Class 3 of 7 6:45 – 9:15PM: Introductory Class3 of 7 17-Mar 24-Mar 1:30 – 4:00 PM: Introductory Class 4 of 7 6:45 – 9:15PM: Introductory Class 4 of 7 31-Mar 1:30 – 4:00 PM: Introductory Class 5 of 7 6:45 – 9:15PM: Introductory Class 5 of 7 7-Apr 14-Apr 1:30 – 4:00 PM: Introductory Class 6 of 7 6:45 – 9:15PM: Introductory Class 6 of 7 21-Apr 1:30 – 4:00 PM: Introductory Class 7 of 7 6:45 – 9:15PM: Introductory Class 7 of 7
25-Feb 6:45 – 9:15 PM Intermediate Class 2 of 7 4-Mar 6:45 – 9:15 PM Intermediate Class 3 of 7
26-Feb 6:45 – 9:15 PM Advanced Class 1 of 7 5-Mar 6:45 – 9:15 PM Advanced Class 2 of 7
28-Feb One-Day Digital Photography 7-Mar
11-Mar 6:45 – 9:15 PM Intermediate Class 4 of 7 18-Mar 25-Mar 6:45 – 9:15 PM Intermediate Class 5 of 7 1-Apr 6:45 – 9:15 PM Intermediate Class 6 of 7
12-Mar 6:45 – 9:15 PM Advanced Class 3 of 7 19-Mar 26-Mar 6:45 – 9:15 PM Advanced Class 4 of 7 2-Apr 6:45 – 9:15 PM Advanced Class 5 of 7
14-Mar
21-Mar 28-Mar
29-Mar
4-Apr
5-Apr 12-Apr
6-Apr 13-Apr 6:45 – 9:15 PM Intermediate Class 6 of 7
8-Apr 15-Apr 6:45 – 9:15 PM Intermediate Class 7 of 7
9-Apr 16-Apr 6:45 – 9:15 PM Advanced Class 6 of 7
11-Apr 18-Apr
19-Apr Zoo Trip 2
20-Apr 6:45 – 9:15 PM Intermediate Class 7 of 7
22-Apr
23-Apr 6:45 – 9:15 PM Advanced Class 7 of 7
25-Apr