PHOTOGRAPHY / DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY

The photography department is based on the making and understanding of photo-based images. Students work in virtually all modes of photography with the goal of pursuing a career as a freelance or commercial photographer/artist, or for admission to graduate school. The digital revolution has caused a significant change in the field of photography. The Department's goal is to introduce both traditional and digital classes in unison. Students are encouraged to become fluent in all aspects of photographic technologies. Students take classes in beginning / intermediate / advanced photography, creative and alternative processes. They can take beginning and advanced color classes as well as studio/production and photo history. The digital classes include all levels of digital photography and digital printmaking.

The photography equipment is all new and includes three different darkrooms. The beginning darkroom has new Saunders 4x5 enlargers. A state of the art intermediate/advanced darkroom has cold light head Zone VI enlargers, and the color darkroom has a new 20" HOPE color processor for C-printing as well as individual color darkrooms. The department has a film processing room and a photo studio with professional lighting equipment. The digital equipment has all been upgraded to state of the art. The department is committed to instruct students with the best tools in the business. For scanning images, the department has both Scitex professional quality flatbed scanners, as well as Nikon film scanners. The department uses the most current versions of all the standard digital editing software.

Media Arts 100 Media Aesthetics

This required foundation course introduces students to the fundamentals of media arts and visual literacy – light, color, composition, perspective, time, motion, sound – and discusses how they are applied in the various forms of contemporary media. In a workshop environment, using media objects as texts, students also explore narrative, art history, philosophy of media, spectatorship, theories of perception and their own creativity. Three credits.

Media Arts 111 Photojournalism
(Same as Journalism 111)
Special Fee: $55.00
Prerequisite: Media Arts 115 or permission of the instructor
Offered on occasion

A production-based class exploring the use of traditional photography and electronic media imaging. Topics include the photo essay, the ethical use of images in media,photo documentary, and the human condition in photography. Students are required to complete weekly photographic and written narrative assignments as well as a final documentary project. (Students must have access to a 35mm camera with manual controls.) Three credits.

Media Arts 115 Introduction to Photography
(Same as Art 115)
Special Fee: $55.00
Offered every semester

An introduction to photography as an art medium. Basic principles and practices of black-and-white photography processing and printing are reviewed. Three credits. (Students must have access to a 35mm camera with manual controls.)

Media Arts 117 Intermediate Photography
(Same as Art 117)
Special Fee: $55.00
Prerequisite: Media Arts 115
Offered every semester

A production-based class in photographic printing, using fiber-based papers. Filters, print toning, lighting and medium-format imaging are discussed. Projects are thematically based and include an extensive final presentation. Three credits. (Students must have access to a 35mm camera with manual controls.)

Media Arts 118 Digital Photography I
(Same as Art 118)
Special Fee: $55.00
Prerequisite: Media Arts 115
Offered every semester

An introductory class using digital cameras and computers to record and print photographic imagery. The class focuses on photography as art medium using new approaches and techniques available. Course requirements include weekly assignments, midterm and final portfolio. All students are required to purchase a compact flash card. The department will supply digital cameras. Three credits.

Media Arts 119 Business of Media Arts
Special Fee: $55.00
Prerequisite: Completion of 64 credits
Offered every semester

A required course which discusses the applications of business skills for the media artist. Topics include professional development, media management principles, art and commerce, writing the business plan, and grant writing.. Media professionals are invited as guest lecturers. Three credits.

Media Arts 120 Alternative Photography
(Same as Art 120)
Special Fee: $55.00
Prerequisite: Media Arts 115 or equivalent; permission of instructor
Offered every Spring

Independent exploratory study and experimentation in advanced non-silver photographic techniques such as: cyanotype, VanDyke brown, kallitype and palladium. Three credits. (Student must have access to a 35mm camera with manual controls.)

Media Arts 121 Advanced Photography
(Same as Art 121)
Special Fee: $55.00
Prerequisites: Media Arts 115, 117
Offered every Fall

A focus on the development of professional-level mastery in the area of art or commercial photography. Emphasis is on review of other photographers’ work, special assignments, creative range and in-depth critiques. Students may work digitally or in the darkroom, in black and white or in color. Three credits.

Media Arts 122 Digital Photography II
(Same as Art 122)
Special Fee: $55.00
Prerequisite: Media Arts 118
Offered every Spring

A workshop-oriented intermediate level digital photography course. The focus is on advanced digital photographic camera skills and digital print output using alternative and archival media methods. Emphasis is on a digital portfolio and personal artistic statements. Students produce a portfolio of thematic presentation using both traditional film scanned images and digital media capture. Students are provided with a digital camera for the semester. Three credits.

Media Arts 123 Studio Photography
(Same as Art 116)
Special Fee: $55.00
Prerequisite: Media Arts 117
Offered every Spring

An in-depth study of black-and-white studio photography, using a variety of lighting techniques and setups. Students cover such topics as tungsten lights, reflected and direct lights, advanced metering, exposure, portraiture and different tabletop setups. Three credits. (Students must have a 35mm camera with manual controls.)

Media Arts 124 Computer Graphics I
(Same as Art 124)
Special Fee: $55.00
Offered every semester

An introductory level class in two dimensional computer graphics using Adobe Photoshop. Students learn and work with basic digital illustration and graphics, scanning of images, image editing, image manipulation, photo manipulation, typography and image composition. Three credits.

Media Arts 128.1 Introduction to Color Photography
(Same as Art 128.1)
Special Fee: $55.00
Prerequisite: Media Arts 115
Offered every Fall

An exploration of color theory, film and darkroom techniques in printing color photographs. Three credits. (Students must have a 35mm camera with manual controls.)

Media Arts 128.2 Advanced Color Photography
Special Fee: $55.00
Prerequisite: Media Arts 128.1
Offered every Spring

An in-depth study of color photography for the student interested in establishing a personal style and creating a cohesive body of work in color. Three credits. (Students must have a 35mm camera with manual controls.)

Media Arts 150 Writing for Visual Media
Special Fee: $40.00
Prerequisites: MA 100 and three credits from English 61-64 or permission of instructor.
Offered every semester

In a writing lab environment, students follow a tailored program of writing suited to their professional orientation. Still-image students explore writing for artists - manifestos , criticism, treatments and concept development. Three credits.

Media Arts 161 Digital Portfolio/Exhibition
Special Fee: $55.00
Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor
Offered on occasion

An advanced tutorial on portfolio/exhibition production and presentation in one or more of the following: computer graphics, Digital Design, 3-D computer animation, and interactive media design. Students work on specific projects independently or in concert with one or more other students. Finished portfolio, reel, interactive and exhibition projects are shown at the Department exhibit at the end of the semester. Three credits.

Media Arts 162 Photography Portfolio/Exhibition
Special Fee: $55.00
Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor
Offered on occasion

This is an advanced level photography class designed for photography students who plan to graduate in the spring. Students may work in any size, format or media, digital or traditional. Through the review of other photographer’s work, completion of class assignments, and participation in critiques, students will be required to plan and execute their final photography exhibition .Three credits.

Media Arts 164 Photography Studies
(Same as Art 108)
Prerequisite: Media Arts 100
Offered every semester

A survey of the development of photography from its origins to the present day with emphasis on the daguerreotype, tintype and other early techniques. The course also reviews the role of photojournalism from the Great Depression to the present. Discussions include the role of the color image and photography as an art medium. This is a Writing Intensive course, and is required for students following a concentration related to the still image. Three credits.

Media Arts 195, 196 Honors Study

Honors Study is designed to give outstanding students an opportunity to do independent work in their major under the guidance of a member of the faculty. There are no regular class meetings. To be eligible, students must have upper junior or senior status, a cumulative quality-point ratio of 3.00 and a 3.25 ratio in their major subject, and the permission of the Director of the Department and the Dean. A total of six credits of Honors Study is the maximum allowed. Three credits per semester.

Media Arts 197, 198 Independent Study
Prerequisites: Permission of student advisor, the Department Chair and the Dean

Courses designed to give students in their junior or senior year an opportunity to do independent work under the guidance of a member of the Media Arts faculty. There are no regular class meetings. Students may undertake either a production (video, screenplay, photography etc.) or a research paper. Three credits per course.

Media Arts 199 Media Arts Internship
Prerequisites: At least 64 credits and Permission of Faculty Advisor and Department Chair

During their senior year, Media Arts majors are strongly recommended to undertake one internship with a media organization. Consultation with Director of Professional Development and approval of the Department is required. Three credits. May be taken in subsequent semesters for credit.

Media Arts 200 Series
Offered every year - Subject matter determined by the expertise of a visiting artist-in-residence. Courses vary from semester to semester and may be repeated for credit. Three credits per course.