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ART 245 Documentary Photography

This course is an introduction to documentary photography, incorporating history, theory and practice. Students will study the history and theory of documentary photo as well as execute a
series of projects designed to exhibit understanding of ideas. Particular att​ention will be paid to how images have influenced, and continue to influence, our perception of the world.
Adobe Photoshop will be used to edit, color correct and alter photos.

Picture

syllabus & outline

basic photoshop tutorials

6 basic photo editing steps



Mac Lab schedule--studio assistant
​
Student open use.


week 1--intro

January 25

Introduction to class

Discussion of Assignment 1

​Brief History and Introduction to Documentary Photo




​
​

links week 1 --
​
click on the blue text 

​Instructions for taking notes--use this for all readings.

Read and note for next class: take notes and write a short annotation for each. Identify the photographers and their particular contribution.
​

​Early Documentary--MET Museum

Making Sense of Documentary Photo-- student presentations
​

​For assignment Read:

Photography & Everyday Life in America

The New Documentary Photo

Engaged Observers--history--p. 2-11



Picture
ken van sickle, Chet Baker

Watch video on Ken Van Sickle

week 2--history

february 1

History of Documentary Photography

Create contact Sheets

Artists for this week:
Matthew Brady--Eva
Jacob Riis--Lauren
Lewis Hine--Eva
Robert Capa--Amanda
Alfred Eisenstaedt--Stephanie
Henri Cartier-Bresson--Amanda
Margaret Bourke-White
Dorothea Lange--Stephanie
Walker Evans
​James van der Zee--Lauren

extra credit for museum visit


What is your grade? Points to percentages.

links week 2

Read and note for next class: take notes and write a short annotation for each. Identify the photographers and their particular contribution
​
​
Photojournalism history 1


​Studio Project for Next Class:
​Read this information on composition. Use what you learn in your own photos.

Last week you all had your photos and we made contact sheets. Unfortunately, we didn't have time to critique them. For that reason, please take an additional 30-40 photos for this week. We will created contact sheets in S122 where the computers have the version of Bridge we need. 

​Bring photos from last week and this week. That means you should have close to 80 or 90 images. I mean it. Take a lot. 

​
Picture
Sequence. Tom Sachs.

week 3--everyday life

february 8

Lecture-- documentary history continue

Review on use of light--

​Original Assignment 1

Series assignment 2

Artists for this week:
Alfred Stieglitz--Amanda
​Paul Strand--Eva
Garry Winogrand--Amanda
Bob Adelman
Malcolm Browne
Leonard Freed
​Ken Van Sickle--Eva
Gordon Parks
Carrie Mae Weems--Kira
Diane Arbus--Lauren
Richard Avedon
Irving Penn--Lauren
John Heartfield--Kira


​

links week 3

Read and note for next class: take notes and write a short annotation for each. Identify the photographers and their particular contribution

​
Documentary Photography in an Open Society


Kodak and the Rise of Amateur Photography


Look at images posted next week for examples of series.
​
Portrait: Gordon Parks
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Examples for series:

week 4--series

february 15

Formal Issues in Photography

Assignment--Portraits and People

Grade sheet Portraits and People



Picture
Picture
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Bookstore, Paul Dymond

links week 4

Read for next class: take notes and write a short annotation making sure to capture the main points. Identify the photographers and their particular contribution

Read for photo assignment: 
Tips for Photographing People

​People and Portraits--National Geographic

Create a Legacy--

​Read and note for next class:
​Bending the Frame--
​page 61-78

Choose 2 photographers and/or projects from the chapter reading to research and present in class. 
​
​
Picture
Richard Avedon, Marian Anderson
Picture
Helen Levitt, New York City

week 5--people

February 22

​Assignment--people


After reviewing your contact sheet, shoot more photographs making sure you are looking at one of the artists on the assignment sheet.
We will do new contact sheets next class and print images.
​
Lecture-- Bending the Frame reading

Artists for this week:
James Shabazz
Roy DeCarava
Brent Lewis
Barbara Davidson
Ami Viatale
​Sally Mann
​Robert Frank
Helen Levitt
​William Klein
​Mary Ellen Mark

Color Correct in Photoshop

Grade Sheet for Series

Grade Sheet for People



links week 5

Read for PHOTO assignment--
​
​Here is a list of all the photo readings to date. Please be sure you have sent whatever readings you want graded before March 6 for credit. NO back assignments will be accepted after March 7.
Photo readings and notations to date

Read and note for next class:
​Chapter 2--Bending the Frame --all pages-- then, choose two artists/photographers identified 40-44 and be prepared to discuss with class. 

Read this for information about how to take pictures.

Some Possible Mistakes for taking pictures of people:
1. take too few pictures.
2. not enough variety.
3. no evidence of taking your time.
4. no evidence of consideration of:
     Light
     Composition
     Arrangement of subject
     Camera Angle
     Background
5. taking random and mindless pictures.

​Remember, this is an assignment. ​
Picture
Sally Mann (above)
James Shabazz (below)
Picture

week 6--people

february 29

​Lecture-- Bending the Frame Ch. 2
Lecture Part 1
​Lecture Part 2

Using the photos shot the past two weeks, prepare contact sheets and final photos for grading.
​
​Assignment--people
Some Possible Mistakes for taking pictures of people:
1. take too few pictures.
2. not enough variety.
3. no evidence of taking your time.
4. no evidence of consideration of:
     Light
     Composition
     Arrangement of subject
     Camera Angle
     Background
5. taking random and mindless pictures.

​Remember, this is an assignment. 

Grade Sheet for People
​
Artists for this week:
Jamel Shabazz
Roy DeCarava
Brent Lewis
Barbara Davidson
Ami Viatale
​Robert Frank
​William Klein




links week 6

Read and note for next class:
Bending the Frame--chapter 3 p. 47-60

Notes on photographers 

Watch the video below for Street Photography and read the link on portraits.
make notes.
read for portraits
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Next Photo Assignment:
​Assignment: Meaningful Places
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Lee Friedlander--above
​Joel Meyerwitz--below
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week 7--specific sites

March 7

Studio Day--Make sure to have taken at least 30-40 photos with variety in location, time of day and/or angles. We will spend the class catching up and printing.

​Quiz on photographers
​

Assignment: Meaningful Places

Deadline for make-up of notations for readings to date. 

Photographers for this assignment:
Peter Steinhauer
Simon Roberts
Thomas Heinser
Vivian Maier
Joel Meyerowitz
William Eggleston
Sally Mann
Ansel Adams
Lee Friedlander
George Tice


links week 7

Read and note for March 21:
​Bending the Frame--chapter 4

We will discuss this chapter on March 21


​Places Journal Website

​


Instructions for Photo Grading:
1. Fill out self-evaluation sheet for assignment.
2. At least two different contact sheets indicating variety and number of photos taken.
3. original photos (unedited and uncropped)
4. Final edited and cropped photos
5. Statement of Intent--based on assignment sheet. What were you trying to do with regards to problem presented, artists given, formal issues addressed (light, composition, etc.)

Upload all to google folder.
Label folder for grading if there are other images in the folder.
Picture

march 14--Spring Break

use the time off to take really meaningful and unique pictures for "Places."

Some Possible Mistakes for taking pictures of people:
1. take too few pictures.
2. not enough variety.
3. no evidence of taking your time.
4. no evidence of consideration of:
     Light
     Composition
     Arrangement of subject
     Camera Angle
     Background
5. taking random and mindless pictures.

What is your grade? 
​Points to percentages.

More photographers for Places:
​Sally Mann
Robert Frank-- places mostly
​Ed Ruscha


​Robert Frank
Picture
Picture
Sally Mann-- read her ideas about land.

Ed Ruscha
Picture

week 8--specific sites

March 21

Assignment: Meaningful Places_print

More photographers for Places:
​Sally Mann
Robert Frank-- places mostly
​Ed Ruscha

Lecture on Chapter 4-Bending The Frame

Introduction to Next Assignment.
​
​Social Realities
​
​

​

links week 8

Read and note for next class:
No readings for next week. Use the time to catch up on Photo projects.



Instructions for Photo Grading:
1. Fill out self-evaluation sheet for assignment.
2. At least two different contact sheets indicating variety and number of photos taken.
3. original photos (unedited and uncropped)
4. Final edited and cropped photos
5. Statement of Intent--based on assignment sheet. What were you trying to do with regards to problem presented, artists given, formal issues addressed (light, composition, etc.)

Upload all to google folder.
Label folder for grading if there are other images in the folder.






Picture
Steve Mccurray, India at the Rubin Museum, NYC

This Exhibition is closing on April 4. Go to the city to see the show and receive extra credit.
​​

week 9--social 

March 28

Assignment: Social Realities

​Open Studio Time
​
Photographers for this project:
Jonathan Torgovnik
Eugene Richards
Marcus Bleasdale
Tom Stoddart
Ed Kashi
Gary Winogrand
Catherine Opie
Brent Stirton
Stephen Dupont
Walter Astrada
Nan Goldin

and those below---


links week 9

Read and note for next class:
​
Chapter 5 in Bending the Frame.

Review and choose one project to discuss. 
​click on this link for the projects.







Picture
Update from Kids with Cameras-- Avijit, of Born in Brothels, graduates from NYU Tisch School of the Arts.

week 10--social

April 4

Assignment: Social Realities

Lecture

​
Additional photographers for this project:

Steve Mccurray
Vic Muniz
​Ashley Hunt--Degrees of Visibility
​Zana Briski--photo kids
                ---Reverence
​
You can also use photographers discussed in this context from our book.
​
Gideon Mendel
Joseph Rodriguez
Robert Knoth and Antoinetted de Jong
Ed Kashi and Julie Winokur
Lauri Waselchk
Linn Underhill
Sebastian Junger
Marcelo Brodsky
Gilles Peress
Kunda Dixit
Susan Meiselas


​
​
​

links week 10

Read and note for next class:
​

Read and review the images on this site. Make notes on 4 of the images and include your response.
​A Year in Photojournalism.


Facing Change: Documenting America
​


​Instructions for Photo Grading:
1. Fill out self-evaluation sheet for assignment.
2. At least two different contact sheets indicating variety and number of photos taken.
3. original photos (unedited and uncropped)
4. Final edited and cropped photos
5. Statement of Intent--based on assignment sheet. What were you trying to do with regards to problem presented, artists given, formal issues addressed (light, composition, etc.)

Upload all to google folder.
Label folder for grading if there are other images in the folder.


Picture

week 11--social

April 11
Photo Assignment: Social Realities
Students take the time to watch the PhotoSensitive video posted to the right. Also search the website for other social project by this group.

Scroll through the images to the left for ideas and push yourself to come up with a relevant social issue you can document.

Open Studio Time 

"Take time to get to know your subjects... to do your best work. Then let's use the pictures to change the world."
Peter Robertson, PhotoSensitive cofounder.


​

​Introduction to: Abandoned and Renewed

​Watch--
TED Talk by Edward Burtynsky

links week 11

Watch and note:
these videos on 
PhotoSensitive-- photos to illustrate social problems. 
​ ​and_
Manufactured Landscapes--Edward Burtynsky

Grade Sheet Social Realities
Picture

week 12--everyday lives

April 18

Photo Assignment: Abandoned and Renewed

Films and Lecture-- environments

​
Pre-critique review of all work to date. Be prepared to revise based on evaluation.
​

links week 12

Read and note for next class:
Read and note:

this article on Detriot's Abandoned Buildings. 

Chapter 6 in Bending the Frame.
Picture

week 13--everyday lives

April 25

Lecture Chapter 6--Bending the Frame

Open Studio Date
​
​Photo Assignment:
Abandoned and Renewed



What is your grade? 
​Points to percentages.

​

Instructions for week 13

Prepare for Final Critique next week. 

Please have your final images for ever assignment together in folder so we can upload them into a final portfolio.

Self-Evaluation Sheets for all Assignments
200 feet from where you Sleep
People
Places
Social Realities
Abandoned and Renewed


Picture

week 14--final critique

Please have your final images for ever assignment together in folder so we can upload them into a final portfolio.

The first hour and a half we will finish Abandoned and Renewed and prepare the portfolios. The last half, each student will present the photos from the semester. 

Be prepared to discuss your photographers as well as ideas.

Prepare for final critique

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