PGY 2401C - Photography I

St. Petersburg College, Cl earwater Campus CR 136

Spring 2018, M/W 1:20 - 4 PM
Bethany Souza, souza.bethany@spcollege.edu
office hours: M/W by appointment

COURSE DESCRIPTION
PGY2401C is a beginning photography course which presents the fundamentals of black and
white darkroom photography. The course includes the study of photographic composition,
camera operation, film processing, print enlargement, and presentation. Emphasis will be
placed on photography’s use as a fine art and a medium of personal expression.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES
At the completion of this course students will:
• Identify the visual elements and principles of design
• Describe the parts of a single lens reflex camera
• Demonstrate the ability to properly expose black and white film using a manual
exposure 35 mm camera
• Demonstrate the ability to properly handle and process black and white film
• Demonstrate the ability to print professional quality darkroom prints with proper density
and contrast
• Identify important movements and works of art from the history of photography
• Analyze works of art using proper vocabulary (both in writing and group
critiques)

COURSE CONTENT/PHILOSOPHY
Although this is an introductory course, it is about more than just taking pictures; it is about
learning to see photography as a fine art form and to create visually compelling imagery with a
unique point of view. Please be aware that this course can be VERY time consuming. Most of
your “homework” will need to be done in the lab, so if you will need to manage your time
effectively in order to be successful.

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EQUIPMENT & MATERIALS
Materials for this class are expensive. You should expect to spend a minimum of $200 on
supplies (not including a camera). You may need to spend more spending on your personal
level of proficiency.

• Camera: 35mm with full manual controls (shutter, aperture, ISO setting, focusing controls,
working light meter)*

• Photographic paper: Resin Coated, Variable Contrast, 8” X 10”, 200 – 250 sheets estimated.
Recommended: Arista EDU (pearl or semi-matte surface), Ilford Multigrade (pearl
surface). Do not open photographic paper until you are in the darkroom!

• Black and white film: ISO100-400, 15 rolls estimated. Recommended: Kodak Tri-X (400),
Arista EDU Ultra (100-400), Ilford HP5 400, Ilford FP4 125. Do not buy color film or any
black and white film marked “C41 process”

• Negative sleeves

• Print preservers (for contact sheets and prints)

• 3 ring binder (for organizing negatives and prints)

• TOWEL (for drying wet hands)

• Apron and latex gloves (optional)

• Canned Air (optional)

* The department has some cameras available for checkout. They are available on a first come,
first served basis and it isn’t guaranteed that one will always be available when you need it, nor
can it be guaranteed that you will get the same brand/model every time. If you are relying on
check out cameras, work early and plan ahead. It is your responsibility to have assignments
done on time. You will not get an extension because you waited until the last minute and
there were no cameras available and/or because you had technical difficulties with an
unfamiliar camera.

A lot of class materials and supplies (filters, grain focusers, etc) are provided by the
department and shared with your classmates. Students are responsible for shared
equipment – if shared materials are lost or disappear, students will need to purchase
their own for the remainder of the semester and/or replace the item(s) which were lost or
damaged.

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WHERE TO BUY SUPPLIES:
Local suppliers for analog photographic materials are limited. The bookstore usually has a small
supply of photographic film and paper, so you may wish to check with them first.

• Sams Golden Triangle (Tampa) - 813-876-5211

• Pasco Camera Exchange (New Port Richey) – 727-844-0904

• B&H Photo - http://www.bhphotovideo.com

• Freestyle - http://www.freestylephoto.biz

TEXTBOOK:
London & Stone, A Short Course in Photography-Film and Darkroom.
The bookstore should have the newest edition (9th), earlier editions are acceptable
as long as they are not the “digital” edition.

GRADING
Visual Assignments (75% of final grade, 5 assignments - 15% each)
Unit Quizzes (15% of final grade)
Participation (10% of final grade)

Extra Credit Project (worth a possible 5% extra credit added to final grade)

In addition, you are required to attend a mandatory lab cleanup at the end of the semester. If
you fail to attend the required cleanup, your final grade will be reduced by 5 percentage points.

• A’s (90-100%) are reserved for truly outstanding work that displays exceptional effort and
full mastery of the objectives of the assignment

• B’s (80-89%) are for above average work

• C’s (70-79%) are for work that fulfills the basic objectives of the assignment with the
minimum amount of effort

• D’s (60-69%) are for work that does not fully complete the objectives of the assignment
and/or displays a lack of appropriate effort

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• F’s (below 60%) are for incomplete assignments, assignments turned in past the acceptable
deadline (see late work policy below) and assignments that display a complete lack of
effort and/or fulfillment of assignment objectives

Grades are not negotiable. If your final grade for the semester is close to the cutoff the next
letter grade (within a point), I may consider rounding it up (based on attendance and
participation) only if you have completed all the class projects AND the extra credit assignment.

LATE WORK
Late work will be marked down one letter grade for each class period that it is late. You are still
responsible for attending critiques even if your work is not complete. Failure to attend and
participate in critiques will negatively affect your class participation grade. Late work is accepted
up to two weeks after the project deadline.

ATTENDENCE
The college-wide attendance policy is included in the Syllabus Addendum
http://www.spcollege.edu/central/asa/addendum.htm. The policy notes that each instructor is to
exercise professional judgment and define “active participation” in class (and therefore
“attendance”), and publish that definition in each syllabus.

For this class an “absence” is defined as any of the following:

• Missing the entire class period

• Leaving class more than 30 minutes early

• Arriving to class more than 30 minutes late

• Not working on materials relevant to the class during the class period

• Lack of proper preparation for class

Upon the third absence:

a.) Before the academic calendar withdrawal date (listed in the current SPC college catalog)
student may be dropped from the course.
b.) After the academic calendar withdrawal date (listed in the current SPC college catalog)
student will not be dropped from class, but instead may receive a failing grade of “F.”

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An “excused absence” is defined as an absence that is beyond the student’s control (illness, car
accident, etc). Any excused absence must include written documentation for student to be able
to make up any graded items (participation activities, assignments, quizzes, etc). You are
responsible for any material you miss when you are absent, even if the absence is excused.
Demonstrations and lecture materials will not be repeated.

LAB AND FACILITY HOURS:

Although some of the work required in this course will be completed during class time, additional
lab hours and homework time will be necessary to complete class assignments depending on
individual proficiency, previous experience, and the availability of enlargers during class and
outside time. Lab hours will be posted to inform you when the room will be open for student use.
The darkroom is for use by photography students for work on class assignments only. No
personal use is permitted. The care and proper use of the equipment and materials is the
responsibility of each student. Food and beverages are prohibited in the photography lab.

Fall 2017 Lab Hours:

Monday-Thursday: 9:00 a.m. – 10:00* p.m.
Friday: 9:00 a.m. – 9:00* p.m.
Saturday: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00* p.m.

*White lights go on one hour before facility closes to allow for finishing and clean up time. This
means that you must stop working in the darkrooms and film processing sinks at this time. You
must be ready to leave the lab (prints washed and everything cleaned up and put away) at
closing time.

FINE PRINT
CLASSROOM CONDUCT:
Classroom behavior that interferes with either (a) the instructor’s ability to conduct the class or
(b) the ability of students to benefit from the instruction is not acceptable. Examples may include
routinely entering class late or departing early; use of beepers, cellular telephones, or other
electronic devices; repeatedly talking in class without being recognized; talking while others are
speaking; or arguing in a way that is perceived as “crossing the civility line.” In the event of a
situation where a student legitimately needs to carry a beeper/cellular telephone to class, prior
notice and approval of the instructor is required.

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DOCUMENTED DISABILITY INFORMATION:
If you wish to receive special accommodations as a student with a documented disability,
please make an appointment with the Learning Specialist on this campus. If you have a
documented hearing loss, please contact the Program for the Deaf at 791-2628 (V/TDD). If you
will need assistance during an emergency classroom evacuation, it is imperative that you speak
with your campus Learning Specialist immediately about arrangements for your safety.
Clearwater: 791-2710, Health Education Center: 341-3721, St.Petersburg/Gibbs: 341-4316,
Tarpon Springs: 712-5789.

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY:
All assignments, written or visual, are to be of the student’s own creation. The copying of
material without permission and crediting its author is plagiarism and considered grounds for
failure or dismissal from the course.

COURSE/TEACHER EVALUATION:
Students have the opportunity to evaluate this course and its instructor through the online
Student Survey of Instruction (SSI) in Angel. Be aware to the particular dates for access to the
survey.

DISCLAIMER:
This syllabus and associated schedule is a guide and may be amended as the course
progresses. We will discuss any changes as a group.