Photography is a multifaceted semester-long course designed to help students understand photography as fine art, a tool for documentation, and a form of visual communication and self-expression. Students will have the opportunity to explore both digital and traditional methods, using SLR cameras in personal and creative ways. The course will include digital photography and editing, as well as an introduction to black-and-white film photography, processing, and printing. Students may also experiment with contemporary approaches such as cinemagraphs, stop-motion animation, or short films. By the end of the semester, each student will create a photography portfolio as their final exam.
Assignments are designed to challenge students to use visual language effectively, emphasizing creativity, problem-solving, and higher-order thinking. Students will produce journalistic-style images as well as photographs that communicate ideas, thoughts, and emotions. Technical knowledge in this class is cumulative, varied, and engaging, ensuring that as students progress, they become more fluent in analyzing visual imagery and understanding the power of photography as a cultural and artistic language.