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COMM 335 Photojournalism in COMM 335 - Fall 2013 Photojournalism Benedictine University, Springfield, “We decide what is real and what is an illusion”

Class Objectives:

In today’s media landscape, an understanding of photography is crucial to most jobs. Copy editors, page designers, web designers and photographers have to create and evaluate images on a daily basis. The purpose of this class is to give you those skills.This class will stress many different skills. Learning the technical tools and software of a photographer will be covered at the start. We will focus on the creation of the highest quality still images. The class will focus on storytelling, since this is the primary purpose of professional photojournalism and many other specialized areas of photography. Anyone seeking employment in media must possess the ability to create and discern quality images and effective content. This class will stress actual production of photojournalistic material. Instructor Information:

Instructor: Gerald SchneiderOffice: lower level of Becker Library, extension 245 /Capital Area Career Center 2201 Toronto Road room 206 phone 529-5431 ext.162Email: jschneider@caccschool.org gschneider@ben.edu Office hours: 11:30 am - 3:00 pm M-F at the CACC office photography lab (217) 529-5431 ext 162 or by appointment MTW 8am-9amClass website: www.classes.

Required Material:

Text: Photojournalism6th Editionby Ken KobreISBN: 978-0-7506-8593-1

 

SLR or equivalent camera (digital preferred). The university does have a few cameras that can be checked out.USB Device with min. 2gb capacity, Proper Memory card.

 

Grades:

•Portrait photo - 100 points•Coverage photo - 200 points•Photo essay - 150 points•Shoot off - 50 points•Final - 85 points•Attendance - 15 points Photojournalist -50 points

 

Total: 500 points

 

 

Grading scale

500 - 450 A449 - 400 B399 - 350C349 - 300 D299 - 0 F

 

There is no rounding up of pointsAttendance policy:• Two or less classes missed - 15 points• Three classes missed - 7 points• Four or more classes missed - 0 points

 

I do not differentiate between excused and unexcused absences. Save your two “free” days for when you really need them.

There will be an attendance sheet for you to sign every day. The sheet is the arbiter on missed classes, so don’t forget to sign in.

 

 

Assignments

Benedictine Magazine - This will be a semester long project which will use photographs the class has created about our University.Cover design, articles about students and staff, sports, activities and school architecture will be the content to be published at the end of the semester. This will become a regular publication for the University with proper funding as generated by the class marketing activities. Most assignments will contribute to this final publication project. The students will learn from the actual production of a photojournalistic publication.

Portrait photo(s) - This is an image of a person that conveys something about that person. The photo should be done as an environmental portrait, not a canned one (like your senior photo). Proper lighting, composition, focus and exposure are part of the grade as well. An accurate cutline should also be included.This assignment will be one of our first in order to identify with each other and will be repeated for other University staff and students. You will also present your photo(s) to the class; it will count towards the grade.

Coverage photo(s) - This can be photos from a news event or a sporting event. Benedictine events are fine, as are any other venues (community activities, intramural sports, etc.) The key moment(s) should be presented as well as good lighting, composition, focus and exposure. An accurate cutline should also be included. You will have several of these assignments with multiple subjects or themes. You will also present your photo(s) to the class; it will count towards the grade.

Architecture - This project will capture the rich historical building on campus. You will also present your photo(s) to the class; it will count towards the grade.

Seasonal - This project will have a theme relative to a season or celebration. October, November and December are times when seasonal atmosphere can really effect the creative process. You will also present your photo(s) to the class; it will count towards the grade.

Photo essay - Each student will choose an event or person and record an in-depth photographic story. This assignment should contain quality images. It should be between ten and fifteen frames, effective lighting, composition, and editing (enhancement) are part of the grade as well. You will also present your photo essay to the class; it will count towards the grade.

Shoot today - Student will be assigned a topic at the start of class and then have the rest of the period to wander around campus to fulfill that assignment. The following class period, students will edit their shoot and present their images to the class. There will be several of these assignments when conditions allow. You will also present your photo(s) to the class; it will count towards the grade.

Photo Journalist research - This assignment each student will research a specific photojournalist and discuss his best photograph with the class

Quiz - Multiple choice, fill in the blank and short answer questions, which will cover the material from class as well as the material in the textbook. The quiz will be open book.

 

- Students need to have a decent camera; a SLR or equivalent. The university does have a few that can be checked out. Film cameras are OK, but processing costs are the student’s responsibility. All projects must be turned in as digital files, as well as all photos from a student’s shoot. Most film processors can burn you a CD with digital copies of your prints. You may also use the darkrooms at the Capital Area Career Center under the direction of lab assistants. See your instructor for details.

- All photos can be uploaded to the class Flickr site: www.flickr.com/groups/benedictinephotojournalism335/ (click to join the group) this is so we can learn from each other and get the experience of actually producing something. We will spend class time examining everyone’s projects. This website will be live to the world; anybody will be able to see your work. Being able to critique other photographers work and to benefit from others who critique your work is most critical. You must also have your original projects and photographs available for critique during class on your camera media card or USB device. The quality of your work and your participation during critiques is the most import part of this class.

About your instructor

Mr. Schneider has been a photographer for 35 years. He has served on the faculty at Southern Illinois University, University of Illinois, District 186 Springfield,Lincoln Land Community College, The Lincoln Institute, Lincoln Scholars, the Capital Area Career Center and the Springfield Art Association. He has administered a private photography business for 35 years. He has attended Southern Illinois University, University of Illinois, Illinois StateUniversity, Chicago State University, Royal Academy London, University ofNotre Dame . University Policies1. The search for truth and the dissemination of knowledge are the central missions of a university. Benedictine University pursues these missions in an environment guided by our Roman Catholic tradition and our Benedictine heritage. Integrity and honesty are therefore expected of all members of the University community, including students, faculty members, administration, and staff.Actions such as cheating, plagiarism, collusion, fabrication, forgery, falsification, destruction, multiple submission, solicitation, and misrepresentation, are violations of these expectations and constitute unacceptable behavior in the University community. The penalties for such actions can range from a private verbal warning, all the way to expulsion from the University. The University’s Academic Honesty Policy is available at http:/www.ben.edu/AHP and students are expected to read it.2. A student whose religious obligation conflicts with a course requirement may request an academic accommodation from the instructor.Students must make such requests in writing by theend of the first week of the class.

 

3. Benedictine University at Springfield strives to provide individuals with disabilities reasonable accommodations to participate in educational programs, activities and services. Students with a documented permanent or temporary disability requiring accommodations should contact Disability Services as early in the semester as possible. Disability Services works with students, faculty and other campus personnel in a cooperative and confidential effort to find appropriate solutions to each individual’s special needs.

To request an appointment or for further information please contact Disability Services at 217-525-1420 X 3306 or email springaccess@ben.edu. If you need help Email me jschneider@caccschool.org or gschneider@ben.edu Class Policies•All assignments must be turned in on the day they are due and at the beginning of class. Late work will not be accepted and there are no extra credit assignments. Assignments notturned in when they are due will result in a score of zero points for that assignment.

•Turn OFF all cell phones, beepers,.mp3 players, etc. If you are waiting for an emergency phone call, see me before class. Do not check messages during class time, but before class is fine.

•Please do not bring laptops/netbooks into class unless we are working with photoshop.Do not surf the Internet during class time. If you need to take notes on a computer, please clearit with me first.

 

•Respect your fellow students and teacher.Disruptions (such as talking with friends during class, doing homework during class, reading newspapers during class, etc.) will not be tolerated. • Do not be tardy to class. If you cannot make the start of class regularly, see me. There will be an attendance sheet for you to sign. Remember to sign in each class period.

•You are responsible for the material if you miss a class; either get the notes from a fellow student or see me during office hours. Do not email me something like: “Did I miss anything important?”

•Your campus email address will be the official way I contact you with course and/or academic performance information. Check your email often. “I didn’t get your email,” is not an excuse for missed work and/or information.

•Check D2L, the Twitter feed and the class website often. Your grades will be posted on D2L.

•Feedback on your projects will be during critique sessions.

Class schedule - COMM 335 MW 9:00 am - 10:15 am (3) (3105) room D 220

Week 1Aug. 26: Intro, class expectationsAug. 28: Camera basics / Photo gear/check out procedures/-Chapter 1

Week 2Sept. 2: Labor Day, no classSept. 4: 35mm SLR basics /Picture editing workshop/Chapter 2/research a photojournalist choose his best photograph and be prepared to discuss it at next class

Week 3Sept. 9: Quiz on camera operation and care/discuss photojournalistSept. 11: Project # 1 Shoot a portrait of someone in the class and write a brief biography about that student./-Chapter 3/research a photojournalist choose his best photograph and be prepared to discuss it at next class

Week 4Sept. 16: Basic composition and lighting - critique project 1/Chapter 4/discuss photojournalistSept. 18: Basic composition and lighting - Project # 2 Coverage of an event, activity, Benedictine staff or student story, Historical building on or off campus/research a photojournalist choose his best photograph and be prepared to discuss it at next class

Week 5Sept. 23: PhotoShop basics - critique project 2 /-Chapter 5/discuss photojournalistSept. 25: PhotoShop basics-Project # 3 Coverage of an event, activity, Benedictine staff or student story, Historical building on or off campus/research a photojournalist choose his best photograph and be prepared to discuss it at next class

Week 6Sept. 30: Portrait - Chapter 5/critique project #3/photoShop basics cont./-Chapter 6/discuss photojournalistOct. 2: In-class: Portraits / Photoshop / Project # 4 Coverage of an event, activity, Benedictine staff or student story, Historical building on or off campus/research a photojournalist choose his best photograph and be prepared to discuss it at next class

Week 7Oct. 7: Fall break, no class Oct. 9: Portrait photo due/critique project # 4/photoshop practice/-Chapter 7/research a photojournalist choose his best photograph and be prepared to discuss it at next class/discuss photojournalist

Week 8Oct. 14:Midsemester Break Oct. 16: Event coverage — Sports - Chapter 6 /Project # 5 Coverage of an event, activity, Benedictine staff or student story, Historical building on or off campus/photoShop practice/discuss photojournalistcritique project # 4/PhotoShop practice/-Chapter 8/research a photojournalist choose his best photograph and be prepared to discuss it at next class

Week 9 Oct. 21: Seasonal project #6 /Chapter 9/critique project # 5 /PhotoShop practice /research a photojournalist choose his best photograph and be prepared to discuss it at next class//discuss photojournalist Oct. 23: No class,

Week 10 Oct. 28: PhotoShop practice / Critique project # 6 /discuss photojournalist Oct. 30: Photo essay - Chapter 10/photoShop practice/research a photojournalist choose his best photograph and be prepared to discuss it at next class Week 11 Nov. 4: Shoot-today, project #7 / Chapter 11//discuss photojournalist Nov. 6: Shoot-today , photoshop project #7

Week 12 Nov. 11:Critique Project #7 / Chapter 12 Nov. 13: Final project presentation and discussion

Week 13 Nov. 18: Photo essay of seasonal activity/-Chapter 13 Nov. 20: In-class: write cut lines for photo essay

Week 14 Nov. 25: Photoshop lab/- Chapter 14 Nov. 27: Photoshop lab

 

Week 15 Dec. 2: Career Day Dec. 4: Open day (work on make up assignments) photoshop lab/-Chapter 15&16/Final Exam presentation Week 16 : Dec. 9 : Final Exam presentation Dec.11: Final Exam due

*Note: Changes to the schedule may occur during the semester, depending on access to labs and equipment.

Grading scale

500 - 450 A449 - 400 B399 - 350C349 - 300 D299 - 0 F•Portrait photo/pohtojournalist discussions - 100 points•Coverage photo - 250 points•Shoot off - 50 points•Final Exam - 85 points•Attendance - 15 points

 

Total: 500 points

Done