MiraCosta College
Digital Photography - Art 251 --Spring 2010
Instructor: Peggy A. JonesHow to be successful in this course.
ABOUT THIS CLASS
Photography is our primary visual language (in my opinion). In this course we will study and practice the language of photography. This includes both technical skills and developing your "eye"- your personal aesthetics. This course uses digital cameras, personal computers and image editing software such as Adobe Photoshop with Camera Raw, to create and edit digital photographs. It is recommended to have completed a course or possess a basic knowledge of Adobe Photoshop.
Projects and Exercises: Links to the exercises and projects are found in the
right hand column.
Computers and Software:
This course meets in a classroom with Macintosh computers and uses the professional standard imaging application, Adobe Photoshop CS4. There will be emphasis on Camera RAW. The Mac version of Photoshop is functionally identical to the Windows version. MiraCosta offers students the opportunity to work in open computer labs (HUB / Library), as well.
If you are interested in working on your photographs at home; Photoshop versions CS2, CS3, CS4, as well as Adobe Lightroom, all include the Camera Raw component. If you do not own Adobe Photoshop and wish to, MiraCosta offers a discount to purchase this software through the Foundation for Community Colleges web site. You will find "Photoshop CS4 Extended" for about $ 180.00. Please Note: Adobe Photoshop CS4 is the current version available for sale.
Cameras:
Today, digital cameras have become very affordable. While most students who enroll in this course own a digital camera, it is desirable to have access to a camera that can be manually adjusted in terms of focus, aperture and shutter speed. Working with a manually adjustable, digital camera is helpful for understanding and exploring the potential of photography. The photo department owns a few Digital SLR cameras that may be used during class time for projects and exercises.
Storage Media/ Materials:
It is convenient to have access to a "flash" drive for transporting digital files. At the time of this writing, a 2gb drive can be purchased for about $15. The course will also use space on one of MiraCosta servers through the Blackboard web application. For printing your photographs you may pay to print at school or choose to use a service bureau or online printing service. Some of you may have an ink jet printer at home. Many of the photographs you create will be viewed electronically to keep costs down. You may also be required to turn in larger projects in electronic form on a CDR or DVD. The final project will be a book produced and printed online.
Costs for this Class:
In addition to the required text book, expect to at least $25. for printing your photographs.
This course is required for the Digital Photography Certificate, and recommended for the Digital Publishing Certificate.
Advisory:
• Digital Imaging - Photoshop ART 247 / MAT 110
and
• Beginning Photography - ART 207