Course Title: Photography

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term1 2008

Course Code: VART5760

Course Title: Photography

School: 340T Art

Campus: City Campus

Program: C5048 - Diploma of Arts (Visual Arts)

Course Contact : Kellyann Geurts

Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 4472

Course Contact Email:kellyann.geurts@rmit.edu.au


Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Nominal Hours: 48

Regardless of the mode of delivery, represent a guide to the relative teaching time and student effort required to successfully achieve a particular competency/module. This may include not only scheduled classes or workplace visits but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities.

Pre-requisites and Co-requisites

OHTH5322C Follow health, safety and security procedures

Course Description

This course provides participants with a theoretical and practical introduction to photography. The course serves as a foundation for:
• exploration of possible approaches to photography
• advanced skills in the application of photographic and imaging practices.

Students will extend the basic knowledge gained about camera and printing methods by the production of digital prints. More emphasis is placed on the development of the student’s ideas and concepts, and how these may be applied to the photography process.


National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

VBS643 Photography


Learning Outcomes


1. Implement the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) policies and procedures appropriate to a range of photographic and imaging processes and practices
2. Explain the basic technical considerations associated with camera operation and image formation
3. Explain the uses of a range of photographic materials and techniques used in the production of photographic images
4. Produce images using appropriate photographic processes and procedures
5. Produce photographic images as representations of objects, situations, and concepts
6. Discuss the representational nature of photography on various levels: as cultural and personal expression, as technology, as documentation, and as design


Details of Learning Activities

TUTORIALS : Student’s folio work will be discussed and they will be guided through individual and group tutorials. Students are required to participate in tutorials as they are a valuable part of the development of artistic practice.
WORKSHOPS : Workshops will be conducted throughout the semester and will cover use of all equipment in the Digital Lab.
EXCURSIONS : Excursions will be conducted to Prism Digital Bureau for final fine printing of projects.

Students will be guided through their folio development both practically through the use of equipment and also conceptually with the development of  ideas.

They will be required to develop a thematic project using research which will result in prints made in the Digital Studio and also in photo labs outside of RMIT. 

All students will be required to complete 2 Projects and compile a Photo Journal.

During the semester they will be introduced to different styles and approaches to photography through the work of a selection of artists working with photography.

It is essential that students start to learn how to incorporate theory and research into the development of their folio.


Teaching Schedule


Week 1  - 11 – 15 Feb : ORIENTATION WEEK


Week 2 - Mon 18 Feb / Tues 19 Feb : INTRODUCTION: PHOTOGRAPHY AS ART

Week 3 - Mon 25 Feb / Tues 26 Feb : PROJECT 1 : Genres of Photography

Week 4 - Mon 3 Mar / Tues 4 Mar : PROJECT 1 / Digital imaging workshop

Week 5 - Mon 10 Mar (Public Holiday) / Tues 11 Mar : PROJECT 1 / Digital imaging workshop

Week 6 - Mon 17 Mar / Tues 18 Mar : PROJECT 1 / Digital imaging workshop


20 – 26 March :  MID-SEMESTER BREAK


Week 7 - Mon 31 Mar / Tues 1 Apr : EXCURSION : PRISM Digital Imaging Lab

Week 8 - Mon 7 Apr  / Tues 8 Apr : PROJECT 1 PRESENTATION & group tutorial

Week 9 - Mon 14 Apr / Tues 15 Apr : PROJECT 2 : Photographic Self Portrait

Week 10 - Mon 21Apr / Tues 22 Apr : PROJECT 2 / Digital imaging workshop

Week 11 - Mon 28 Apr / Tues 29 Apr : PROJECT 2 / Digital imaging workshop

Week 12 - Mon 5 May / Tues 6 May : PROJECT 2 / Digital imaging workshop

Week 13 - Mon 12 May / Tues 13 May : PROJECT 2 / Digital imaging workshop

Week 14 - Mon 19 May / Tues 20 May : PROJECT 2 / Digital imaging workshop

Week 15 - Mon 26 May / Tues 27 May : PROJECT 2 PRESENTATION & group tutorial

Week 16 - Mon 2 Jun / Tues 3 Jun : FOLIO WORK & individual tutorials

Week 17 - Mon 9 Jun / Tues 10 Jun : ASSESSMENT

Week 18 - FOLIO ENRICHMENT WEEK




Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts

Cotton, Charlotte. The Photograph As Contemporary Art, Thames and Hudson, 2004.


References

Bright, S. (2005). Art Photography Now. New York, Aperture.

Campany, D. e. (2003). Art and Photography. London, Phaidon.

Clarke, G. (1997). The Photograph. New York, Oxford University Press.

Cotton, C. (2004). The Photograph as Contemporary Art. London, Thames & Hudson.

La Grange, A. (2005). Basic Critical Theory for Photographers. Oxford, Elsevier/Focal Press.

Lambert, M. J., E (ed.) (1998). Veronica’s Revenge: Contemporary Perspectives on Photography. Zurich, Scalo.

Langford, M. (2000). Basic Photography, Oxford Focal Press.

Szarkowski, J. (1989). Photography Until Now. New York, Museum of Modern Art.

Wells, L. (2004). Photography: A Critical Introduction. New York, Routledge.


Other Resources

National Gallery of Victoria www.ngv.gov.au

Centre for Contemporary Photography www.ccp.org.au

Australian Centre for Photography, Sydney www.acp.com.au

Stills Gallery, Sydney www.stillsgallery.com.au

Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery, Sydney www.roslynoxley9.com.au



Overview of Assessment

Folio presentation marked by a panel, with written response.


Assessment Tasks

Folio prints need to be resolved works that are backed up by research and support prints and shows your progression through ideas.  This should be evidenced in your Photo Journal.

The final assessment for the Photography folio will include work from:

Project 1: Genres of Photography

Project 2 : Photographic Self - Portrait

Photo Journal


Assessment Matrix

Not Applicable

Course Overview: Access Course Overview