Photo 110

Introduction to Photography

Syllabus

Welcome to Photo 110: An Introduction to Photography. This is a semester length non-lab photography course designed to introduce photography as a means of personal expression and as a technical skill. Students will complete assignments with slide film or a digital camera. This class meets on the West Valley campus on Thursday evenings at 6:30 in the ILC classroom in the Library annex (across the hall from the TV Studio) beginning on January 31, 2008.

Instructor - Steve Peltz, campus phone number: 741-2065

Units - 2 (no prerequisites)

Catalog description: A non-lab photography course designed to acquaint the student with the maximum use of a camera for both personal and professional needs. Topics covered will include the theories and use of cameras, basic exposure, composition, filters, color, artificial lighting, copying, and presentation techniques.

Credit/no credit option: The course may be taken for credit/no credit by simply declaring your desire to do so in writing by the second week of instruction.

Text: The Digital Photography Book by Scott Kelby

Access one of the following web sites for helpful reference information:

• Online primer on the aperture
• Online primer on shutter speeds
• Click here to access the online exposure simulator
• Photo Secrets: Basic guide to beginning, intermediate, and advanced photography
• Knowledgehound on Photography
• Nikon Net Learning Center
• Canon Digital Learning Center
• Buying a Digital Camera - Pocket-sized versus features etc.

Materials required:

• 18% neutral test gray card
• If using a film camera, approximately 5 rolls of 24 exposure color transparency film
• If using a film camera, two slide protection sheets, each holding 20 slides.
• If using a digital camera, the ability to burn CDs of your images to bring to class or or bring images on a portable flash drive.

Course Objective: The student will be able to use an adjustable 35mm camera or digital camera for normal picture taking situations as well as accompanying lenses and flash; set their camera exposure according to neutral gray card specifications and produce a transparency or other photographic image that reflects equivalent 18% exposure. This course will not include darkroom or other equivalent lab work.

Course Content:

• Camera types and usage

• Aperture and shutter speed control

• Use of the 18% neutral test gray card

• Changing the ISO number and characteristics

• Lenses and accessories

• Composition

• Filters and Color theory

• Electronic Flash

Instructional format: Demonstrations, lectures, slide presentations, and/or photo critiques each week plus outside photographic assignments.

Grades: Grades will be based on a composite of tests scores, photo assignments, and attendance. The midterm and final exams will be graded using a standard class curve. Outside assignments will be graded on their ability to meet given objectives and exposure accuracy.

Office Hours: Noon - 1 PM Fridays, Distance Learning Office in the ILC (located across the hall from the television studio). Because I am on campus every day during the week, I am often in my office at many other unscheduled times. You are encouraged to contact me for any reason concerning the course. I will do my best to make the course adaptable to your special circumstances.

Instructor:  Steve Peltz received his Baccalaureate Degree in Photography and Fine Arts from San Jose State University. His Masters Degree in Instructional Technology was also obtained from San Jose State University. His teaching credential was acquired from the University of California, Berkeley. He has taught photography for twenty-eight years in numerous college and adult education programs and has been employed at West Valley College since 1972.

Withdrawal: You should keep up with the work assignments regularly so you will not find yourself behind. However, if you find that for unforeseen circumstances you have to drop the course, remember that withdrawal is not an automatic process. It is the student's sole responsibility. Contact the Admissions and Records office for a DROP slip. Please read the DROP procedures carefully in the Schedule of Classes booklet to avoid unnecessary grade penalties.

Need Help? - If you have questions about this assignment or any other aspects of the course, please feel free to contact the instructor:

Assignments:All assignments will be posted on the ANGEL learning management system:

• http://wvmccd.angellearning.com

To log in to ANGEL, your username consists of all seven digits of your student ID numbe.r

• Your student ID number is generated by the computer at the college after you apply for admission for the first time and is included with all of the paperwork you may have received from the college. You should also be able to get your college student ID number using the My Web Services link available on the West Valley College home page:

http://www.westvalley.edu/

Your password is your six digit birth date.

• So if you were born on December 14, 1980, your password would be 121480
• Single digits must have a 0 in front of them
• So if you were born on May 9, 1977, your password would be 050977

Also remember that you need to use Firefox as your browser if you are on a Macintosh computer.

You may use Internet Explorer or Firefox on a Windows PC computer.

To download Firefox for free, visit the following URL:

http://www.mozilla.com/

• Point Lobos Field Trip

See Point Lobos web site for directions: http://pt-lobos.parks.state.ca.us/

Quizzes: To access the quizzes using the ANGEL learning management system, click the link below:

• http://wvmccd.angellearning.com