Description:

This course provides an introduction to advanced techniques, tools, procedures and concepts of studio and commercial photography. Students will use professional camera and studio equipment, including studio electronic flash and hand-held light/flash meters. This course also includes an introduction to professional medium format (2 1/4) and large format (4"x5") equipment and advanced camera techniques for total image control. Students will use studio lighting for various portraiture styles and for small-product, table-top photography. Applications of digital photography as they apply to studio photographic processes will be introduced. Students will apply the above to make images for a series of advanced studio assignments. 6 hrs. lecture, lab/wk.

Supplies: Refer to the instructor's course syllabus for details about any supplies that may be required.

Textbook(s): For information see - http://bookstore.jccc.net

Course Fees: NONE

Course Objectives:

Upon successful completion of this course the student should be able to:

1. Define terms in the vocabulary of advanced studio and commercial photography.
2. Use the view camera. Produce photographs illustrating applications of the unique view camera adjustments -- the “movements” -- to control perspective correction and focal plane positioning. Describe and explain the uses, advantages, and disadvantages of view cameras.
3. Use a professional medium format camera. Identify types -- twin-lens, SLR, special purpose. Describe and explain the uses, advantages, and disadvantages of medium format cameras.
4. Use studio artificial lighting equipment. Set up and operate lighting equipment -- stands, photofloods, quartz-halogen, electronic flash, diffusers, scrims, gobos, and gels.
5. Produce professional quality studio portraits. Set up lighting to produce a variety of standard portrait lighting schemes -- i.e., broad, narrow, butterfly, Rembrandt.
6. Produce professional quality studio product illustration. Demonstrate the use of artificial lighting to solve the problems and enhance the qualities inherent in a variety of subjects -- transparent, reflective, translucent, textured, flat and three-dimensional.
7. Use large format transparency film. Select appropriate film emulsions and corrective filtration for a variety of lighting conditions.
8. Operate digital imaging equipment and software. Scan negatives, prints, and transparencies. Apply intermediate-level controls and modifications to prepare an image file for reproduction by a service bureau. “Save” to disk or removable media. Review the “Digital Module” from Fundamentals of Photography.
9. Apply time management skills to accomplish the above and to meet project deadlines; a) Prioritize tasks, estimate time required; b) Determine the order and scheduling of activities.
10. Identify important information needed to solve a problem, generate alternative solutions and select the best or most appropriate solution.
11. Demonstrate safe use of tools and equipment, comply with health and safety rules.

Content Outline & Competencies:

I. Vocabulary. Define terms in the vocabulary of advanced studio and
commercial photography.
   A. Names of view camera parts, terms and adjustments, such as:
      1. Zero position.
      2. Rail, Front and Rear Standard.
      3. Ground glass.
      4. Bellows
      5. Shift, Rise and Fall (drop).
      6. Tilt and swing.
      7. Scheimpflug.
      8. Bellows Extension Factor.
   B. Lighting equipment and terms, such as:
      1. Lighting ratio.
      2. Main (key), fill, back/hair, background and detail lights.
      3. Diffuser/scrim, Soft-box.
      4. Gobos and flags.
      5. Tungsten, quartz-halogen, and strobe (electronic flash). 
      6. Inverse-Square Law.
      7. Specular.
      8. Cookie.

II. View Camera
   A. Compare and contrast to “standard” cameras.  Identify types. 
Describe and explain the uses, advantages, and disadvantages of large
format cameras.
   B. Produce photographs illustrating applications of the unique view
camera adjustments.
      1. Apply the Scheimpflug principle to alter the position of the
focal plane to render a receding subject plane perfectly focused at
maximum -- wide open -- lens aperture.
      2. Apply the Scheimpflug principle to alter the position of the
wedge-shaped area of focus to render in total focus a subject that
includes areas that deviate from the plane of focus.
      3. Alter the shape of the subject (perspective “correction”)
using the back tilt or swing to neutralize the apparent convergence of
parallel lines so the lines appear parallel in the print.
      4. Make a photograph that is a 1:1 copy of a subject that is
physically flat so the image is exactly the same size as the subject area
that was photographed.
      5. Use Reciprocity Failure exposure corrections for long-time
exposures.  Produce properly exposed images at times exceeding 1 second.
   C. Identify and analyze problems and subjects for which the view camera
is particularly suited.
   D. Use large format Polaroid film for problem solving and image
previewing.
   E. Handle, process, and print sheet film.  Use a service bureau to
process 4x5 transparencies.

III. Medium Format Camera
   A. Identify types -- twin-lens, SLR, special purpose.  Describe and
explain the uses, advantages and disadvantages of medium format cameras.
   B. Identify and analyze problems and subjects for which medium format
cameras are particularly suited.
   C. Use medium format Polaroid camera back and film and for problem
solving and image previewing.
   D. Handle, process and print 120-size roll film. Use a service bureau
to process 120 transparencies.

IV. Studio Lighting
   A. Explain the major characteristics of light. Compare and contrast
natural and artificial light.  Define lighting terminology.
   B. Set up and operate lighting equipment -- stands, photofloods,
quartz-halogen, electronic flash, diffusers, scrims, gobos and gels.
   C. Portraiture.
      1. Calculate and control various lighting ratios.
      2. Set up lighting to produce a variety of standard portrait
lighting schemes, i.e., broad, narrow, butterfly, Rembrandt. Use
appropriate lighting ratios.
      3. Distinguish face and body types to select appropriate lighting
and posing techniques.
      4. Produce at least three portraits that demonstrate the integration
of the above. 
   D. Product illustration.
      1. Analyze a variety of subject qualities and determine appropriate
lighting.
      2. Produce photographs demonstrating the use of artificial lighting
to solve the problems and enhance the qualities inherent in a variety of
subjects.
      3. Demonstrate the integration of the above by setting up, lighting
and photographing at least two different “product shots.”

V. Large Format Transparency Film
   A. Describe basic color theory of light -- additive and subtractive. 
Define color-temperature and color-balance.  Identify various white-light
sources and their location on the Kelvin scale.
   B. Select appropriate film emulsions and corrective filtration for a
variety of lighting conditions.
   C. Produce color transparencies.

VI. “On-Location” Lighting
   A. Explain the techniques for using portable supplemental flash,
reflectors, and scrims.
   B. Photograph on-location using some of the demonstrated techniques.
 
VII. Digital Imaging.  Operate equipment and software.
   A. Scan negatives, prints, and transparencies (including 4x5).
   B. Apply image controls and modifications.
   C. “Save” to disk or removable media.

VIII. Problem Solving
   A. Apply time management skills to accomplish the above and to meet
project deadlines.  Prioritize tasks, estimate time required.  Determine
the order and scheduling of activities.
   B. Identify important information needed to solve a problem, generate
alternative solutions and select the best or most appropriate solution.

IX. Safety  
   A. Demonstrate safe use of tools and equipment.
   B. Comply with health and safety rules.

Methods of Evaluation of Competencies:

Evaluation of student mastery of course competencies will be accomplished using the following methods:

Tests: 2 to 5 quizzes and a final exam which stress factual knowledge
(terminology, methods, classifications) and fundamental principles and
theories. (10% - 25%)

Assignments: Production of photographic prints satisfying the requirements
of a series of assignments designed to develop specific skills,
competencies and points of view and to stimulate the students’ creative
capacities for problem solving, visual communication and collaboration. 
(50% - 80%)

Final Project or Portfolio: Production of a final portfolio of images
which demonstrates the students’ integration of the course content. (10%
- 25%)

Caveats: NONE

Disabilities:

If you are a student with a disability, and if you will be requesting accommodations, it is your responsibility to contact Access Services. Access Services will recommend any appropriate accommodations to your professor and his/her director. The professor and director will identify for you which accommodations will be arranged.

JCCC provides a range of services to allow persons with disabilities to participate in educational programs and activities. If you desire support services, contact the office of Access Services for Students With Disabilities (913) 469-8500, ext. 3521 or TDD (913) 469-3885. The Access Services office is located in the Success Center on the second floor of the Student Center.