Instructor: Mackenzie Reynolds Spring 2017 Intro to Digital Photography

Email: MNReynolds@wisc.edu For Non Art Majors

Introduction
This is a beginner level photography course, where we explore the uses of your digital cameras,
scanners and printers. This is also an introductory course to Photoshop in which we will learn
how to creatively enhance our digital images.

In this class you will learn:

To use your digital camera.
Technical quality, composition, and presentation of a photograph.
An introduction to the history of digital photography.
How to edit images in photoshop and develop a productive post-production workflow.
How to format your images for fine art printing.

Required Text:
Digital Photography A Basic Manual by Henry Horenstien

Recommended Text:
**Digital Photography- A Workbook by Kim Mosley (Keyed to: Digital Photography: A Basic
Manual, Henry Horenstien)**

Grades
Your grade will be based on the following requirements:

Blog/Class Participation 10%

Photo Sharing Platform (Tumblr, Blog and or Instagram 1 photo a week I will be checking them
Sunday Evenings)
Reading and participating in text discussion

Written Assignment 20%

Midterm
Artist Presentation
Partners Critique

Critique 40%
Assignments Listed
New photographs must be used for every assignment.

Final Project 30%

Create a body of of work utilizing the skills you have learned this semester
10 Printed Images
Artist Statement
Digital Files
Presentation Packaging
Instructor: Mackenzie Reynolds Spring 2017 Intro to Digital Photography
Email: MNReynolds@wisc.edu For Non Art Majors

Materials:
Notebook
Pen
Digital Camera
SD or CF card depending on your camera
A card reader or cable that connects the camera to the computer
Flash drive 32 gb or higher or hard Drive
A flash drive or or CD case for final Project
Photo Sharing Platform ( Instagram, Tumblr, or Blog)

Schedule
Week One
1/17 Introduction
Handout & review Class Syllabus
Discussion of assignments
Discussion of photo sharing (Blog, Instagram, tumblr)
Bring in digital camera for Thursday & an image

1/19 Review of Cameras & Manuals

Discussion of digital imaging formats
Formating drives
iphoneography (apps)

Week Two
1/24 The History of Digital Photography lecture
Introduction to Photoshop
-workspace
-interface & navigation
Due Thursday
Reading: Forward-Chapter 1
-Assignment 1 ( People Places & Thing ) (3-5)

1/26 Discussion: Forward- Chapter 1

Working on Assignment 1
Basic Image Editing
-importing photos
-saving/formatting images
-resizing straightening and cropping
Due Tuesday:
Chapters 2 -4
Instructor: Mackenzie Reynolds Spring 2017 Intro to Digital Photography
Email: MNReynolds@wisc.edu For Non Art Majors

Week Three
1/31 Review Chapters 2-4
Photography Style & Compositions
Discussion of Aperture & Shutter Speed
Photoshop Adjustments (Curves, Brightness & Contrast, Levels)
-Assignment 2 (Motion Assignment) (3-5)

2/2 Image Retouching

Resolutions
Saving for Web
Work in class
Due Tuesday
Chapter 5-6

Week Four
2/7 Review 5-6
**Digital Critique on Assignments 1 & 2
Due Thursday
Bring in Items to scan

2/9 Introduction to Scanning

Scanography
-Assignment 3 ( Scanner) (3-5)
Due Tuesday
Chapter 7 & 8

Week Five
2/14 Review Chapter 7& 8
Printing
-Assignment 4 (Landscape) (3-5)

2/16 Making Selections

Transform Tool
Lens correction & Automation
Intro to Filters
Work on Assignment 4 in class
Instructor: Mackenzie Reynolds Spring 2017 Intro to Digital Photography
Email: MNReynolds@wisc.edu For Non Art Majors

Week Six
2/21 **Critique of Assignment 3 & 4
Lecture on constructive criticism

2/23 Digital Composites & Fine Art

Utilizing Layers and Modes
Discuss copy rights and images on the web
-Assignment 5 ( Digital Composite) (1-3)

Week 7
2/28 Photoshop & Text
In Class Work Time

3/2 **Critique of Assignment 5

Discussion of Artist Lecture
-Assignment 6

Week 8
3/7 Documentary Photography
Artist Lecture Research

3/9 Artist Lecture 1

**Share Assignment 6

Week 9
3/14 Artist Lecture 2
Share Assignment 6

3/16 Midterm Exam & one on one meetings

Week 10
3/21SPRING RECESS
3/23SPRING RECESS
Instructor: Mackenzie Reynolds Spring 2017 Intro to Digital Photography
Email: MNReynolds@wisc.edu For Non Art Majors

Week 11
3/28 Work Flow
Culling Images and Batch Editing
Introduction to Lightroom
Work on Documentary Photography Assignment (10-20 images)

3/30 In class work time

Week 12
4/4 Printed Critique Assignment 7 (4x6 or 5x7 5-6 images)

4/6 Discussions of Final Project

Week 13
4/11 Guest Lecture on Lighting

4/13 How to write an artist statement

Creating a cohesive body of work

Week 14
4/18 In Class Final Project Work & Artist statement
(I will be working on on one with you throughout class time)

4/20 Final Project Midway in-progress review

Paired with Partners for Artist Statements/and written critiques of work and blog

Week 15
4/25 In class work
Review of critiques.

4/27 Packaging Presentation

Week 17
5/2 Work on Final Project

5/4 Final Critique

Instructor: Mackenzie Reynolds Spring 2017 Intro to Digital Photography
Email: MNReynolds@wisc.edu For Non Art Majors

ATTENDANCE
Attendance and punctuality are MANDATORY. Absences, tardiness and leaving early will
negatively affect your grade. Each instance of coming late or leaving early will be considered a
half absence. If you are absent for three classes your grade will be reduced by half a letter grade.
For each absence after the original three absences your grade will be lowered one step. For
example, AB, will go to B, B will go to BC, C will go to D, D to F.

Late Work
Work turned in late will be reduced by one letter grade. Work will not be accepted after the first
week. Only in extreme circumstances will this policy be changed.

This syllabus may be amended at any time. You will be notified of all changes.

I wish to assure that all students are fully included in this course. Please let me know within the
first three weeks of class if you need any special accommodations in carrying out assignments, in
participating in classroom instruction, or other aspects of the course. Please make an
appointment to discuss these issues with me it is difficult to maintain confidentiality when
talking before and after class. The McBurney Disability Resource Center (263-2741) provides
resources for students with disabilities. You will need to provide documentation of disability to
them in order to receive official university services and accommodations. The McBurney Center
guidelines note that accommodations should not significantly alter the nature of a course. Please
note that due to the unique, participatory nature of a studio lab course, accommodation cannot
include extensions of the stated attendance/absence policy. I will try to maintain confidentiality
of the information you share with me. If you have a conflict between an assignment requirement
and a religious observance please notify me of the specific dates within the first two weeks of the
semester, and I will make arrangements with you for an alternative way to meet the
requirements.

If at anytime you have any questions please don't hesitate to ask. If you feel like you are
falling behind or don't understand the curriculum we can set up an appointment in which
we can work together. You can also email me anytime at mnreynolds@wisc.edu.
Instructor: Mackenzie Reynolds Spring 2017 Intro to Digital Photography
Email: MNReynolds@wisc.edu For Non Art Majors

Assignment Break Down

Assignment 1: Document a Person, Place & Thing.
5 images =A
4 images= B
3 images =C

Assignment 2: Photograph someone or something using different shutter speeds.

5 images =A
4 images =B
3 images =C

Assignment 3: Create Portraits using a Scanner (Be creative!)

5 images = A
4 images =B
3 images =C

Assignment 4: Take 2-3 images of a landscape. We will be stitching them together.

5 images =A
4 images =B
3 images =C

Assignment 5: Create a Digital Composite by combining multiple figures/images/text/textures

Minimum of 3 layers.
3 images =A
2 images= B
1 images= C

Assignment 6: After choosing your artist create work inspired by their style/genre.
3 image = A
2 images = B
1 Images = C

Assignment 7 Take a series of photographs to document an event or tell a story.

(Mandatory 5 Printed images for critique)
20 images A
15 images B
10 images C

Final Project
Create a body of of work utilizing the skills you have learned this semester
10 Printed Images 30%
Digital Files from the semester on Flash Drive or CD 30%
Artist Statement 25%
Presentation Packaging 15%