Syllabus

ARTX230 Analog Photography—Syllabus

Fall Quarter 2019, Kalamazoo College

Richard Koenig, Professor

Meeting Time: Tuesday & Thursday 12:30 to 3:30 PM

Meeting Place: Rooms 122 and 103 of the Light Fine Arts Building

Class Homepage: http://people.kzoo.edu/~rkoenig/educator/photo/ph_ana.html

Office Hours: Wednesday 1:30 to 3:30 PM (or by appointment)

Office Location: Light Fine Arts Building Room 203, Phone: 337.7003

Security (emergency only, for safety issues): 337.7321

Darkroom Phone: 337.7399

E-Mail: rkoenig@kzoo.edu

Course Description and Goals

The objective of this studio art course is to provide the student working knowledge of, and experience with, the fundamental creative tools used in fine art photographic practice—using traditional (analog/chemical) processing and printing techniques.

In addition to producing silver-based photographs, participants learn to analyze and discuss their work in critiques. When regarding the images produced in this course, discussion will be centered on technical, formal, and conceptual characteristics. We will also discuss subject matter and content—and the difference between the two. In this critical “reading” of images, like that of a text, we will explore the basics of visual literacy.

To inspire and contextualize, we will view historical examples from the Daguerreotype to contemporary practice—with an emphasis on analog practitioners. Through this study, as well as the production of a small body of work, each student should finish this course with an introductory understanding of traditional (analog) photographic practice.

Evaluation

Merely completing the requirements for an assignment will not necessarily ensure a good evaluation. I look at technical, formal, and conceptual aspects of your work (mentioned above) but also the level of exploration and risk taking. Below is a breakdown of how your final grade will be determined:

10% Assignment One—Primitive, Non-Camera, and Technical Works

15% Assignment Two—Quality of Light, Formal Concerns, and Subject Matter

10% Technical Quiz

10% First-Half Participation

15% Assignment Three—Issues of Content and Concept (people as subject matter)

10% Historical Quiz

20% Open Project

10% Second-Half Participation

Participation

This is very different than attendance—it is in addition to it, if you like. Good participation means one actively and candidly contributes to the conversation during critiques, while also being supportive of your peers. It means one arrives to the classroom on time, is prepared, and shows by means of facial expression and body language that one is following what is going on. It means, quite simply, that one contributes to a positive class atmosphere. Along those lines, one important note about critiques: we criticize the work, not the person making the work. Please turn off phones, do not email, Facebook, text, or twitter during structured class time.

Attendance

Attendance is mandatory. It is crucial that you miss as few of the meetings as possible as the instruction builds upon itself. After two unexcused absences your grade can be lowered at my discretion. This penalty is applied to your course grade after it is determined using the above formula. One must have documentation to obtain an excused absence. Also, two late arrivals will be counted as one absence. If you do miss a class, get notes from another student.

Technical and Historical Exams

There will be two small exams during the course of the term—one on technical issues and a second on historical facts. These each will be worth ten percent of your final grade.

Text/Readings

There is no required textbook for this class—I will provide handouts when needed.

Disability

Any student with a disability who needs an accommodation or other assistance in this course should make an appointment to speak with me.

Lab Fee and Costs

You will be charged $25 for a lab fee in this class—this pays for chemicals for the darkroom. In addition, you will probably have to spend around $120 for film and photo paper.

Lecture and Lab Time

Our usual meeting place will be Fine Arts 122 (FABLAB). There we often begin each class period with a PowerPoint lecture so please come on time each day. After that, there will be time for a variety of demonstrations or open lab time—for these we will move to Fine Arts 103, which houses our studio, developing area, and darkroom. Our critiques also will take place in Room 103.

Assignments—In General

Each assignment will require that you shoot a minimum of three 24-exposure rolls of film (four or five rolls would increase your chances for success). You will then produce, on average, eight 8” x 10” prints. Turn in contact sheets with all assignments. As a default, your prints should contain a full-range of tones. Avoid cropping—make full frame prints so I can see how you frame things in the viewfinder.

Assignments—In Particular

Assignment One—Primitive, Non-Camera, and Technical Works (10%)

Primitive—Using one of my small pinhole cameras, make a paper negative (and positive) that has fairly good contrast and sharpness

Photogram—Create a meaningful non-camera image that is personal and has rich variation in the modulation of light and shadow

Technical: Motion/Depth of Field—This assignment is to show that you have a grasp of the basic controls of your camera (shutter and aperture) and the effects they provide (time-effects and focus) when used in combination. Give me four (FULL RANGE) prints, one example of each of the following effects: shallow depth-of-field, great depth-of-field, blurred action, frozen action. Hand in your contact sheets as well with this assignment.

Assignment Two—Quality of Light and Formal Concerns (15%)

Whole/Fragment/Abstract—Using anything but people as subject matter (persons or bodies may be used in the following assignment), I want you search out images that explore light and composition.

To get you started, I’d like you to think about the idea of continuum from whole, to fragment, to abstract. You might try moving in on your subjects here—this will fragment, or even abstract, what you are shooting. Concurrently, please pay attention to the quality of light. Do not, however, shoot light sources themselves, but observe how light defines the physical world (reveal/conceal). Turn in six prints and a contact sheet for each roll of film.

Turn in Midterm Portfolio at this stage…

Assignment One, Assignment Two, Technical Quiz, and half Participation

Assignment Three—Issues of Content and Concept (15%)

The Directorial Mode: Environmental, Theatrical, or Abstract Portraiture—I want you to give me eight images here where people are used as your primary subject matter.

Pay attention to expression and gesture when shooting for this assignment. How does the subject regard the photographer (and therefore the viewer of the print)? How does clothing and any objects (or the environment as a whole) relate to the person being photographed? Look at your subject’s hands, as they say a lot. Do not forget the possibility of the self-portrait as you may be your own best subject available. Turn in eight prints and a contact sheet for each roll of film shot.

Assignment Four—Open Project (20%)

Beyond the single frame—Work on a project made up of eight to twelve images. You might explore the idea of “series” (like the cards of a deck) or “sequence” (related to the deck, but in a specific order). In any case, you want to try to create a sense of unity with this assignment, with the eight to twelve parts coming together to form a whole. Also turn in a contact sheet for each roll of film shot.

Turn in Second Half Portfolio at this stage…

Assignment Three, Open Project, Historical Quiz, and 2^nd half Participation

Equipment

A single lens reflex film camera is necessary for this course. It should have the choice of manual control of exposure (aperture and shutter speed). I have a number of cameras for loan, but if you have access to a manual film camera of your own, it would be best to use that. Tripods can be checked-out from curricular support on the first floor of the library.

Supplies (Available in the Bookstore)