Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

This is a 3-credit class that meets for 2 lecture and 2 lec/lab hours each week. The course will provide a hands-on experience that approaches digital photography from an artistic, historic, and craft-oriented perspective. All aspects of digital photography will be considered, from exposure of images in the camera to the presentation of the finished image. Special attention will be paid to self-expression, based on an understanding of aesthetic principles and graphic design. Historical approaches and contemporary issues concerning the art of photography will be discussed. Students’ abilities will be developed through regular photographic assignments and critical evaluations.

Students will endeavor to do the following:

Continue to understand, interpret and enjoy photography from past to present within a local as well as global context. Ask sophisticated, meaningful questions, identify ideas and issues, and develop increasingly articulate language to use when participating in critical dialogue about photography with others. Find and develop creative ways to solve artistic and conceptual problems with an increased understanding of the medium using a variety of photographic strategies. Create personal photographic artwork, which demonstrate a greater level of understanding of photographic ideas and the processes, materials, and techniques associated with making digital photographs. Navigate challenges & opportunities of working in a community photographic studio.Integrate the understanding that any photographic image is created and interpreted through the lensof both the artist and the viewer’s own personal, social and cultural filters in an increasinglysophisticated way.

• Understand advanced digital capture formats• Use alternative methods and strategies of digital imaging• Determine post capture evaluation and adjustments• Comprehend color management• Recognize more complex and extended outcome strategies• Utilize medium and large format printing, archival printing and materials• Apply various avenues and methods for presentation, display and installation of images both physical and virtual.• Manage the photographic image as a means of expression and communication• Hone research and critical inquiry skills applied to photography locally and globally• Practice skills of assessment and knowledge base of materials and methods• Partake in assigned readings, research, field trips, slide presentations and class interaction and discussion• Employ reading assignments, field trips, slide presentations

• Evaluate levels of involvement and participation in class activities, critiques and discussions• Quantitatively assess skills and knowledge by means of quiz, midterm, test, etc.• Assign reports written or oral reflecting personal interest and research related to the photographic medium• Peer critiques• Assess final portfolio presentation (technical skill, conceptual development and aesthetic judgment)

• Self-Expression: the digital image as an interpretive medium• Digital capture: understanding of the variety of methods of digital capture as new technologies are developed and explored, as from camera to scanner, film to pinhole• Digital darkroom: knowledge of relevant and contemporary digital imaging software for image editing and processing, data management and presentation• Output strategies: - Competence in the variety of methods for outputting the image physically or virtually - medium and large-format printing - use of professional printers - publish/exhibit work online - employ knowledge of archival issues and after-print methods of optimizing, presenting, and maintaining the print itself• Presentation: - knowledge of appropriate preparation and methods of image output - preparing images for print, web or other methods - understand contemporary exhibition and presentation options and techniques• Historical: understanding the digital image as an historical object• Community: collaborative projects, Service Learning, or individual projects incorporating social and community practices and engagement