DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY II|

Spring 2017
Katria Foster
Tue. Thr.
kfoster@siena.edu
1:30-3:30
Rm. 308C
Website: sienacollegephoto2.weebly.com
10-1 or by appointment

CREA 397
Instructor:

Office Hours held in Foy

Office hours: Tue: 9-10, Wed.

COURSE DESCRIPTION: An advanced studio course exploring traditional

photographic concerns in the digital format. Advanced techniques of
camera, Photoshop and lighting equipment will be addressed. Students will
be exposed to the work of past and contemporary artists from diverse
backgrounds who examine race, gender and identity. By participating in the
discourse surrounding this work, students will explore the substantive
contributions these individuals are making to the state of knowledge in the
visual arts. Students will also explore how their own experiences shape their
perspectives. A DSLR camera is required.
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
- To continue developing an understanding of the camera and
Photoshop
- Developing a strong working practice
- Engage in the medium with knowledge of past and present practices
- To define your own perspective in a body of work and to understand
the perspectives that both artist and viewer bring to the work
GRADING:
Final Grade will be calculated as follows:
A
93-100
A90-92
B+
87-89
B
83-86
B80-82
C+
77-79

CD+
D
DF

C
73-76
70-72
67-69
63-66
60-62
59 and below

In general, grades indicate the following:

0 - 59 The student has failed to demonstrate any significant effort
toward the completion of the assignment, and/or has grossly
ignored the assignment requirements. The student has failed to
exhibit engagement in the class.
60 - 69
The student has demonstrated little effort toward the
completion of the assignment and failed to meet the assignment
requirements. The student is indifferent toward participation in
the class and exhibits no noticeable growth.

70 - 79
The student has completed the assignment according to
the requirements, but has failed to apply the concepts taught in
class. The work exhibits many weaknesses. The student neither
distinguishes him/herself in class, nor makes him/herself
objectionable. Little growth is exhibited.
80 - 89
The student has completed the assignment according the
requirements and has demonstrated a knowledge of the
concepts taught in this class. The work exhibits few
weaknesses. Student work shows marks of improvement, and
the student is engaged and participates in the class and is
motivated.
90 - 100 The student has completed the assignment according to the
requirements, has demonstrated knowledge of the concepts
taught in this class, and has exhibited a creative solution to the
problems of the assignment. The student exhibits marked
growth, actively participates in class discussions, is a leader in
the class, and is continually engaged in the course content.
ATTENDANCE:
Attendance is mandatory. It is very important that students attend all
classes. There are certain assignments for which points cannot be made up.
I do realize that circumstances may arise that are out of your control,
causing you to miss class. You may miss two classes with no questions asked
I however would not recommend missing any classes if you dont need to.
Every class you miss after the second absence will result in loss of
participation points. Along with being in class, it is also important that you
come to class on time and stay for the duration of the class. If you are late or
leave before the end of class, this will be recorded as a tardy. Every three
tardies will be counted as an absence. Perfect attendance will earn you 6
additional points.
If, for some reason, you have an emergency necessitating a stretch of
absences, notify me in a timely manner so we can determine an appropriate
plan for completion of the course work, or arrange for you to drop the class.
CLASS PARTICIPATION:
Students will receive points for being in class and being active participants.
Points will be awarded to students who are actively participating in
discussions, actively listen to instruction and are actively working during
work time. Each day, students will have the opportunity to earn 3
participation pointsat the end of the term this will account for about 9% of
your grade. To earn all 3 points students need to be actively engaged in
discussions, giving their full attention during instruction and actively
working during work time. Students who earn 2 points have been passive
participants in discussions, or are not fully engaged in work time. To receive
1 point students are in class but do not ask questions, do not work when
given the time, or do not engage during times of instruction. Students who

receive 0 points will have either not been in class, have chosen to use their
phones in class, or have chosen to disengage completely.
PROJECT DISCRIPTIONS:
Website: Students will use effective communication to visually communicate
their photographic work and ideas completed over the course of the
semester. The purpose of the website is to allow students to see final work
presented in a professional manner, to view other students work and foster
dialog about each others work. Students will also look at other professional
artists websites to understand trends within contemporary art.
Tools of the Trade: Students will begin the semester by completing a series
of mini projects focusing on furthering students knowledge of tools used
in photography. Students will make informed judgements within
photographic projects. They will gather information based on other artists
working who use specific photographic tools and demonstrate their own
competence in these techniques. We will explore light equipment, further
tools to unitize in Photoshop, and look at a variety of lenses.
Journaling and Reflection: This is an important part of any artists practice.
Students will be asked to effectively communicate their ideas and present
them in a clear and concise format. Students will be asked to read specific
readings or comment on class presentations or discussion. Through these
experiences students will be asked to consider the perspectives that differ
from their own. They will look at a variety of perspectives, both American
and global, within the arts community. Students will reflect on these
readings or discussions and continue their own research. Students through
this experience will develop empathy and awareness of diverse
backgrounds. This will be presented via student websites or further class
discussions.
Installation: In this project students will work both individually and as a
group to create a large scale installation. In terms of a technical skill
development students will learn how to create a multiple exposure
photographs. Students will demonstrate an ability to integrate this
knowledge to inform the completed project. Students will need to effectively
communicate their ideas to one another while at the same time listening
with empathy to ideas of their peers.
Self-defined Projects: Students will complete two self-defined projects. The
projects will begin with a presentation in which students will effectively
communicate technical and conceptual goals for the for the project.
Students will also be asked to reflect on how their perspective informs the
work they wish to make. Students will then construct a photographic series
based on the presentation and knowledge they have acquired from their
research. Their project should effectively communicate their ideas for a
large audience to understand. We will conclude each project with further
self and peer reflection in critique. Analyzing effective communication of
projects, technical competence, and look with sensitivity at perspectives of
student artists, researched artists and audience.

The first of these two projects will center around the idea of identity. The
second students will choose a subject of their choice to photograph and
present as a series of cohesive images. In the first project students will
explore a variety of artists who examine their own identity in art. Identity
may be seen in this work through gender, race, socio-economic status, etc.
For both projects students will be asked to draw connections between their
work and the work of traditional and contemporary photographs. This will
be done through prior research and reflections following the completion of
the photographic series.
LATE ASSIGNMENTS:
Assignments may be turned in 1 class period late for 10% reduction in your
project grade and 2 class periods late for a 20% reduction in your grade and
so on until no points remain. No assignments will be accepted after the last
day of class.
EXTRA CREDIT:
I normally do not give extra credit; although if a particularly amazing art
focused event comes to town I may give an extra incentive for going.
ACADEMIC POLICIES:
It is each students responsibility to make themselves aware of the colleges
academic policies
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY POLICY:
PLAGIARISM AND ORIGINALITY
Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated. Students who commit such acts
expose themselves to punishments as severe as dishonorable dismissal from
the College. From the Siena College Catalog: Academic dishonesty can
take different forms, including, but not limited to: cheating [dishonesty in a
test situation], plagiarism [dishonesty in the presentation of written
materials], and computer abuse. In any situation in which a student is
unsure of what constitutes academic dishonesty, it is the students
responsibility to raise the question with his or her instructor.
Plagiarism is taking anothers work or idea and claiming it as your own.
Students in an art class will be graded on their creative solutions to all
assignments. Any work you turn in must have been done by you and done
during the semester in which you are enrolled in my class. No photographs
can be turned in that were taken outside of this semester (e.g. last summers
vacation) or that were not taken with for the specific assignment.
Students suspected of violating Sienas Academic Integrity Policy will be
referred to the Academic Integrity Committee for final determination
CONTENT AND EXPRESSION WITHIN ART:
We will be exploring art throughout history, art from a variety of cultures
and contemporary art. Art can be challenging. You will find that you dont
like all the art we view in class and you my even find that certain pieces of

art make you uncomfortablethis is a normal response. As adults in a

college class I expect that we can all treat each other with respect. My hope
is that instead of dwelling on the initial shock that some art provokes in the
viewer, we will work through this in an academic critique to understand the
artists perspective and reason for making the art.
HARASSMENT:
Siena College is committed to maintaining a community environment that
fosters respect for the dignity and worth of each individual. It is critical that
respect encompass diversity and differences of opinion. Any form of
discrimination or harassment (verbal, physical, sexual, etc.) has no place in
my classroom.
ACCOMODATIONS POLICY:
Siena College is deeply committed to ensuring that students with
documented disabilities are provided with the resources and supports
necessary to effectively address their individual educational needs. Students
with disabilities in need of accommodations pertaining to courses must first
register with the Director/Office of Accessibility at 518-783-4239. To register
a student must complete a data sheet, release form, and provide current,
comprehensive documentation of her/his disability as defined by Section 504
of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of
1990 (ADA). Upon receipt of written notification from the Director of the
accommodation/s that a student needs for a particular course, the faculty
member will work in collaboration with the student (and the Director of the
Office of Accessibility, as needed) to address this request to the fullest extent
possible. As part of this process, a student requesting course
accommodations must meet with each course instructor no later than the
first week of class.
CELL PHONES:
Turn off your phones before entering the classroom. If you are talking on
your phone or texting in class you are removing your focus from class and
will be considered absent for the day.