Utah Valley University
Art Department
Art 2710 - Fall 2011
Photo III - Editorial & Documentary Photo
Instructor: Michael Slade
E-mail: sladephoto@yahoo.com
Phone: 801-703-6919
Course Objectives:
•Identify characteristics and qualities of documentary and/or editorial photography
•Learn techniques and approaches to expressive story telling from the masters in the field
•Find subject matter that is important to you as a photographer and tell the story
•Learn importance of sequencing and image selection to convey a story
•Find ways to get your stories published and into the public awareness
Teaching Approach:
This is a shooting class. You will be expected to photograph and photograph often. You will also be expected to bring in work when it is due and participate in critiques. You will also be expected to take direction and to implement the suggestions given by myself and others. You will also be expected to think for yourself and come up with your own photographic subject matter. Please expect to get your feelings hurt. It is part of growing up.
My Expectations of You:
There will be weekly assignments giving you hands on experience in developing a photographic story. This will aid in preparing for your final. The final will consist of a project of your choosing that you will spend about half the semester on. So you will need to pick a subject that you access to and can have this access more than once. You will also want to pick a subject that has many different levels of interest that can keep your interest as you continue to work on it.
Disabilities:
Academic accommodations are granted for all students who have qualified documented disabilities. Services are coordinated with the student and instructor by the Accessibility Services Department (BU 145). If you prefer, you may also come see me and we can accommodate your need directly.
Help:
I have no office on campus and I do not keep any office hours. If you need to get a hold of me either e-mail (preferred) or call (less-preferred). Editorial and Documentary photography is where I got my start and is where I choose to spend my photographic energy. Take advantage of what I can share with you. I am here to help you grow and there are no secrets with me. Please ask any questions you may have of me and I will strive to help you in any way I can.
Grading:
Assignments are expected to be done on time and ready for critique and to be handed in at the BEGINNING of class. If an assignment is handed in late, even on the same day that it is due, you will be docked one full letter grade. You are able to re-do any assignment at any point of the term. In other words, it is better to hand in something...ANYTHING...than to turn in nothing at all.
You will be graded on the technical competence you show in your images as well as the finer aesthetic qualities that can make or break your work. We will talk about a very specific set of criteria you will be expected to know at this point. We will also add to the list as the class progresses and you learn and are empowered with the various skills of editorial and documentary story-telling.
You will have several different assignments during the course of the term, some will be longer than others. These will make up the bulk of your grade...60% of it. The remaining 40% of your grade will be determined by your final project. You will have a SIGNIFICANT amount of time to work on it, punctuated by deadlines along the way. The photographer who waits until the last minute to shoot a long-term documentary project is only kidding themselves and is establishing a poor work-ethic for success later in life.
The majority of your assignments will be self-driven and you will be expected to come up with your own story ideas. We will talk about ways that you can come up with things to photograph but I am not your mother and will not hold your hand and tell you what to do.
Technology:
This is a class where I want you to experiment and play a little. I will not choose for you to shoot digital or to shoot film. I WILL expect you to mix it up a little and shoot AT LEAST one assignment in either digital OR film. Believe it or not your shooting WILL change based on the equipment you use. It would be good for you to know what you can do with the various choices you have.
Lightroom – I know that many of you do not have any formal Lightroom training. This puts you at a disadvantage to your Photo I peers. We will take several class periods and learn Lightroom. It shouldn't take much, but it is something that I want you to get a handle on. It IS the industry standard and you should start using it.
Blog – you will each have your own blog and this is how you will turn in your assignments to me. There may be prints to turn in as well, but for a record that we can all access you need to know how to get your work onto the blog: both digital and film.
The blog will also be the way that I communicate assignment details, deadlines and give additional lecture material for you to look at. Make it a habit of looking at the blog DAILY. I will expect you to read any links and watch any videos that are put there. Some will be light-hearted but most will be material that you should become familiar with. Bookmark the blog on your computer. Any instruction that I give to an individual is superseded by the information that is placed on the blog.
