Overview
Aims
Enhancing observational and communication skills;
Ability to discern fine details, explicit messages, and subliminal cues;
Fostering critical reading, visual-creative analytical skills, and discipline-specific critical text analysis.
Mastering key photographic terminology, image analysis, movements, genres, and trends.
Course contents
-
The relationship between photography and cinematography. Similarities and differences. From Plato and the camera obscura to key milestones in the history of photography and cinema.
-
Technical fundamentals of photography. Light. Parameters of exposure control. The exposure triangle.
-
The photographic lens. Types of lenses. Lens characteristics: focal length, aperture, chromatic aberrations. Lens selection. Focusing and depth of field.
-
Exposure. Tools for measuring and controlling photographic exposure. Ansel Adams' Zone System. Achieving correct exposure control.
-
Color and the seven color contrasts. Color temperature. Color schemes.
-
Image composition. Composition rules in photography. The expressiveness of the photographic image.
-
Lighting setups in photography. Types of light.
-
The functions of photography: from applied photography, documentary photography vs. photojournalism, to fine art photography.
-
Photographic genres and their practical applications.
-
Photographic filters and special effects in photography. Photo editing techniques in post-production.
-
Methods for analyzing a photographic image. The reading–critical–philosophical triangle of the image across various contexts.
Learning outcomes
The student/graduate describes audiovisual projects using discipline-specific concepts and techniques;TC.1. Gathering information, selecting photographic methods, and adapting theory into practice; TC.2. Developing visual literacy and an aesthetic/philosophical understanding of the image; TC.3. Discerning image meanings and details; applying visual annotation and essay terminology;TC.4. Communicating effectively using specialized photography and mass media terminology;TC.5. Acquiring an independent workflow and interacting with industry professionals.
Assessment
"Written Examination: Composing an analytical essay on photography from an exam prompt (based on concepts/examples discussed in class), addressing photographic genres, representative photographers, or cinematographers covered in the course.