Special Problems
Staged, Fabricated & Directed Studio Photography
Art 40790

Click here to download the syllabus as a PDF

Professor: Dick Lane                                                   Office: 013N Moudy (Photo Lab)
Email: r.lane@tcu.edu                                                 Phone: (817) 257-7670
Office Hours: By Appointment

Statement of Purpose & Policy

This is an Advanced class in photography. You must have permission of the instructor to enroll in this course. In this class you will have the opportunity to extend your skill set in studio lighting, conceptualizing content and producing images for creative artistic purposes. You must be self motivated if you expect to do well in this course.

The main objectives of this course are as follows:
(1) To understand the basic concepts and motivations for Staging, Fabricating & Directing images in the Photographic studio setting.
(2) To extend your current knowledge base in studio lighting.
(3) To extend your skills in conceptualizing content.
(4) To produce an outstanding Advanced Student level Final Portfolio.

To accomplish these goals there will be some or all of the following included in this course: demonstrations, lectures, readings, discussions, papers, and critiques to instruct you in technical, conceptual and aesthetic matters. You are also encouraged to seek aid during the supervised lab period for any problems encountered concerning photography.

Important Policies

Grades -
During the course of the semester your progress will be ascertained by various projects, tests and assignments. You will receive a grade each time you turn in a portfolio so that you may assess your progress.. You will also receive grades for class participation and exams. The final portfolio is only “portfolio” grade that will be used in calculating your final grade. The final portfolio will contain 10 of your best works from the projects and outside work. As the semester proceeds, we will identify, through discussions and critiques of projects the criteria used to evaluate your photographs.

Evaluation for your Final Grade will be based on the following:
(1) Evidence growth in your photographic skills and ability to conceptualize your ideas in the “photographic studio setting”.
(2) Your ability to control the materials and processes of photographic print production.
(3) Your attendance and participation at all scheduled class functions.

Additionally:
To receive a “C” in this course, you must produce well-printed, well-crafted photographs that show you’ve learned how to use your camera and how to present photographs.

To receive a “B” in this course, you must do all of the requirements for a “C” plus you must produce photographs that are inspired a lot of the time.

To receive an “A” in this course, you must do all of the above plus you must produce excellent, inspired photographs most of the time.

The Final Portfolio will count 60% of your Final Grade. Participation (attendance in class and participation in critiques) will count 20%. The Mid Term Exam will count 10%. The Slide presentation will count 10%.

Expectations
My expectations are that you will shoot a lot of images per project. To continue to add to and grow in your photographic knowledge, it is essential to shoot a lot of pictures. I WILL look at your computer from time to time to confirm that you are doing the minimum amount of work required. I also expect you to strive for excellence in your study and practice of Art Photography.

YOUR expectations for yourself should be set high. If your are expectations are low you will probably meet them but you may not learn very much. If your expectations are high you may not meet them but I am certain that you will learn a more than you thought. You may not use any photographs that you have shot prior to the first day of class in this course. You are expected to do work that is entirely yours and entirely new for this course.

Attendance:
The university attendance policy states that regular and punctual class attendance is essential and that no assigned work is excused because of absence, no matter what the cause. Records of class attendance are kept by faculty. Missed demonstrations will not be repeated. Not having work for ...and / or... Failing to attend critiques will lower the final grade.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: A student missing 6 classes or more will automatically be given an F for the class for failure to progress academically regardless of previous grades the student might have received.

Readings:
We will not have an official text book for this class. If however, you find that a book is helpful to your studies I highly recommend the following text: Photography by London, Stone and Upton. 9th edition. You can probably find a used copy online. If you’d like a more in depth book on Photoshop....I recommend: Adobe Photoshop CS4 Studio Techniques by Ben Willmore and Dan Ablan. I would also encourage you to seek out appropriate magazines and articles regarding course material and to share it with the class.

Due Dates:
Unless otherwise stated, all Projects are due at the beginning of the class period during which it was scheduled to be turned in. This is very important so that we may proceed with class instead of having to wait on someone to complete a project, which they have already had ample time to finish. A word to the wise would be that deadlines are a reality for all of us. Budget your time carefully and you will have no trouble completing the assignments in this class.

Additional Important Information:
Due to the constraints of mass-education I give out the information which I feel will do the most good for the greatest number of you. However, I am aware that some of you may have special interests which are not being addressed by the normal classroom information. If this is so, then you must make me aware of these interests. I can't read your mind, so I must rely upon you to come in and talk to me. This is part of what I get paid for and certainly must be part of your reason for taking a class as opposed to learning photography out of a book - take advantage of this opportunity.

Objectionable Material:
For sound pedagogical reasons, there will be times in this course when it will be necessary to use course materials that some students may find objectionable. This could include classroom discussions and from time to time the showing of slides containing images of the unclothed human form.

Statement on Disability Services at TCU:
Texas Christian University complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 regarding students with disabilities. Eligible students seeking accommodations should contact the Coordinator for Students with Disabilities in the Center for Academic Services located in Sadler Hall, 11. Accommodations are not retroactive, therefore, students should contact the Coordinator as soon as possible in the term for which they are seeking accommodations. Further information can be obtained from the Center for Academic Services, TCU Box 297710, Fort Worth, TX 76129, or at (817) 257-7486.
**Academic Misconduct (Sec. 3.4 from the Student Handbook) – Any act that violates the academic integrity of the institution is considered academic misconduct. The procedures used to resolve suspected acts of academic misconduct are available in the offices of Academic Deans and the Office of Campus Life. Specific examples include, but are not limited to:
• Cheating: Copying from another student’s test paper, laboratory report, other report, or computer files and listings; Using, during any academic exercise, material and/or devices not authorized by the person in charge of the test; Collaborating with or seeking aid from another student during a test or laboratory without permission; Knowingly using, buying, selling, stealing, transporting, or soliciting in its entirety or in part, the contents of a test or other assignment unauthorized for release; Substituting for another student or permitting another student to substitute for oneself;
• Plagiarism: The appropriation, theft, purchase or obtaining by any means another’s work, and the unacknowledged submission or incorporation of that work as one’s own offered for credit. Appropriation includes the quoting or paraphrasing of another’s work without giving credit therefore.
• Collusion: The unauthorized collaboration with another in preparing work offered for credit.

Netiquette: Communication Courtesy Code:
All members of the class are expected to follow rules of common courtesy in all email messages, threaded discussions and chats. If I deem any of them to be inappropriate or offensive, I will forward the message to the Chair of the department and the online administrators and appropriate action will be taken, not excluding expulsion from the course.

TCU Campus Resources for Students:
Many resources exist on the TCU campus that may be helpful to students: Mary Couts Burnet Library (257-7117); Center for Academic Services (257-7486, Sadler Hall. 11); the William L. Adams Writing Center (257-7221, Rickel Bldg. 244); Student Development Services (257-7855, Student Center Rm. 220); and University Ministries (257-7830, Student Center Rm. 111).

Email Notification:
Only the official TCU student email address will be used for all course notification. It is your responsibility to check your TCU email on a regular basis.