Course Syllabus

Summer 2024 | ART-1310-VR01 - Digital Photography I

In Person Class

Standard courses meet in person at CCV centers, typically once each week for the duration of the semester.

Faculty

Leigh Rooney
View Faculty Credentials
View Faculty Statement
Hiring Coordinator for this course: Collin Lee

General Education Requirements

VSCS Arts & Aesthetics

Note

Many degree programs have specific general education recommendations. In order to avoid taking unnecessary classes, please consult with additional resources like your program evaluation, your academic program catalog year page, and your academic advisor.

Courses may only be used to meet one General Education Requirement.

Course Description

Students will explore the mechanical and electronic aspects of digital photography as well as the basic tools of image manipulation. The course also includes the study of design, composition, and aesthetics of digital images. Basic computer skills are required.

Essential Objectives

1. Identify and describe the basic functions and components of a digital camera.
2. Review the differences and similarities between digital and traditional photography.
3. Explain mechanical and electronic aspects of digital photography.
4. Discuss and give examples of principles of composition, design, lighting, and aesthetics in photographic images.
5. Describe and demonstrate the use of various tools of electronic image manipulation, such as selection tools, dodge-and-burn tools, brightness and contrast controls, filters, paint tools, cloning tools, sharpen and blur tools, and the smudge tool.
6. Create, transfer, and store digital images while demonstrating an understanding of the relationship between file size and image quality.
7. Examine, discuss, and critique artwork, including references to diverse art historical, social, and cultural contexts.
8. Critically examine socio-cultural biases and influences represented in major and minor trends in photography.
9. Investigate the messages and meanings of photographic expressions as a vehicle to positively impact social change and explore aesthetic traditions.
10. Design and complete individual projects.
11. Create a portfolio of digital images and display finished works in a professional manner.

Required Technology

More information on general computer and internet recommendations is available on the CCV IT Support page. https://support.ccv.edu/general/computer-recommendations/

Please see CCV's Digital Equity Statement (pg. 45) to learn more about CCV's commitment to supporting all students access the technology they need to successfully finish their courses.

Required Textbooks and Resources

*** This is a no cost textbook or resource class. ***

This course only uses free Open Educational Resources (OER) and/or library materials. For details, see the Canvas Site for this class.

Methods

Teaching Methods

• Weekly modules containing technical information and demonstrations of skills in text and video formats.
• Creative assignments and projects designed to practice digital photography and image editing skills.
• In-person and online group discussions and critiques.
• In-person and online research discussion and presentation.

Weekly Modules:

• This course is organized in weekly modules. You will find the module link in the course navigation menu on the left.
• There are due dates for assignments in each module. However, if you navigate this course only by looking at assignments or items with a due date, you will be lost.
• For best results, navigate this course through the modules and pay attention to each item in each module.
• Assignments are due weekly, typically on Tuesdays and Sundays at 11:59 pm.
• I recommend reading through the weekly module each Monday. The week date range is posted on the heading of each module so you know when to start on the work for that module.
• I typically grade assignments and give feedback on Mondays and Thursdays.
• I’m available for student meeting hours outside of class Mondays and Thursdays.

Examples of recurring weekly activities:

In-Person Class:

• Tuesdays 1:00 pm - 4:30 pm.
• Arriving prepared to class means reading/watching everything in the module and having photo assignment started or completed.

Photo Assignment:

• Due Tuesdays at 11:59 pm.
• Practice digital photography techniques and capture photos early in the week so that you are prepared to complete the larger weekly project.

Edit Project:

• Due Sundays at 11:59 pm.
• Edit the photos taken in the beginning of the week using skills learned in the module.
• This is a longer project and worth more points that the photo assignment.

Discussion:

• Due Sundays at 11:59pm.
• Post edit project images to the discussion.

Evaluation Criteria

I use a points system for grading.
Points:	Assessments:
30	Introduction assignments
120	8 photo assignments (15 point each)
240	8 edit projects (30 points each)
50	Career research assignments
100	Final assignments
120	12 weeks of attendance (10 points each)
660	Totals points possible for course

Grading Criteria

CCV Letter Grades as outlined in the Evaluation System Policy are assigned according to the following chart:

	High	Low
A+	100	98
A	Less than 98	93
A-	Less than 93	90
B+	Less than 90	88
B	Less than 88	83
B-	Less than 83	80
C+	Less than 80	78
C	Less than 78	73
C-	Less than 73	70
D+	Less than 70	68
D	Less than 68	63
D-	Less than 63	60
F	Less than 60
P	100	60
NP	Less than 60	0

Weekly Schedule

Attendance Policy

Regular attendance and participation in classes are essential for success in and are completion requirements for courses at CCV. A student's failure to meet attendance requirements as specified in course descriptions will normally result in a non-satisfactory grade.

• In general, missing more than 20% of a course due to absences, lateness or early departures may jeopardize a student's ability to earn a satisfactory final grade.
• Attending an on-ground or synchronous course means a student appeared in the live classroom for at least a meaningful portion of a given class meeting. Attending an online course means a student posted a discussion forum response, completed a quiz or attempted some other academically required activity. Simply viewing a course item or module does not count as attendance.
• Meeting the minimum attendance requirement for a course does not mean a student has satisfied the academic requirements for participation, which require students to go above and beyond simply attending a portion of the class. Faculty members will individually determine what constitutes participation in each course they teach and explain in their course descriptions how participation factors into a student's final grade.

Participation Expectations

Required Materials

• Camera or smartphone with a camera:
• You do not need an expensive camera for this class. You can use any phone camera or digital camera that you already have.
• Ability to travel to campus outside of class time or computer and reliable internet access.
• If you arrive to class prepared with photographs on your camera or smartphone, you may be able to complete your projects during class time. In order to complete work outside of class, you'll need to travel to campus or have a computer and internet at home.
• See the "Technology and Internet Access" section on CCV's resource page for some helpful options: ccv.edu/resources.
• Adobe Photoshop:
• Students can use Adobe Photoshop on the classroom computers for free. You do not need to purchase the software. Adobe account instructions: support.ccv.edu/account/adobe-account.
• File backup system:
• I recommend having your files in two places. One place can be your computer's hard drive and another can be a cloud backup such as GoogleDrive, OneDrive, iCloud, Dropbox, etc. External hard drives are another great option to backup your work.
• There is no textbook for this course. All the materials for this course are in the Canvas modules.

Participation & Course Format

This course is a mixture of in-person and online learning. You are expected to attend class each week and check the online Canvas course regularly. All assignments and grades will be posted in Canvas.

You are expected to be an engaged and respectful member of our in-person and online classroom community. Students that display disrespectful behavior such as posting inappropriate comments, links, or any other materials will not receive credit for that assignment and risk failing the entire course. Disrespectful includes but is not limited to racist, homophobic, transphobic, xenophobic, and sexist comments.

Flipped Classroom:

A flipped classroom means that rather than having lectures and demonstrations during in-person class time, we actively work on projects or hold critiques and discussions. Lectures and demonstrations will be provided in text and video form in each week's Canvas module. During our class time, I will assist you with applying the demonstrated skills to your projects. If you need to complete work outside of class, you have access to all the learning materials needed.

Missing & Late Work Policy

Grading Policy

Detailed grading rubrics (“criteria”) will be provided with each assignment in Canvas with a breakdown of points available. Assignments will typically be graded within two weeks of their due date. If you submit work and do not get all of the points, you can revise to improve your grade. Please don’t hesitate to email me for feedback and suggestions for improvement. Grading of revisions may take longer than two weeks.

Late work policy:

Artists and designers are often required to meet deadlines and my goal is to help you develop good habits while in school. Even if you do not plan to pursue a career in the arts, meeting deadlines is a valuable skill for your future courses and careers.

Therefore, late work will automatically lower your grade 10%.

Each rubric will have an item for work submitted “BY THE DUE DATE”. The point(s) in this rubric item will equal 10% of the grade. You get the points if you submit your work on time and don’t get the points if your work is late. You can still get a good grade if you submit late work!

How to submit late work and revisions:

• Submit the work to Canvas as usual (that’s it!)
• If your grade is not updated within two weeks, feel free to email me to remind me to change your grade.

Communicate as soon as possible if you are struggling with an assignment. It is always better to submit something than nothing. Let me know if you are falling behind via email and we can create a plan together. I will post a final deadline for late work and revisions on Canvas and will not grade any work submitted after the posted date and time.

Excused Absence Policy

Communication is most important. If you have an emergency or need to miss class, email me when you are safely able to do so. If you communicate with me, it is possible to be granted an excused absence. One of my goals is to prepare you for your future career. Treat this course as a job and show up on time and ready to work. I do not need to see doctor’s notes or photos of flat tires! You are adults and I trust your word.

Accessibility Services for Students with Disabilities:

1. Provide disability documentation to the Accessibility Coordinator at your academic center. https://ccv.edu/discover-resources/students-with-disabilities/
2. Request an appointment to meet with accessibility coordinator to discuss your request and create an accommodation plan.
3. Once created, students will share the accommodation plan with faculty. Please note, faculty cannot make disability accommodations outside of this process.

Academic Integrity