PHOT 22: PHOTOJOURNALISM
Foothill College Course Outline of Record
| Heading | Value |
|---|---|
| Effective Term: | Summer 2021 |
| Units: | 4 |
| Hours: | 3 lecture, 3 laboratory per week (72 total per quarter) |
| Advisory: | PHOT 72 or equivalent; this course is included in the Photography-Professional Practices family of activity courses; not open to students with credit in PHOT 63. |
| Degree & Credit Status: | Degree-Applicable Credit Course |
| Foothill GE: | Non-GE |
| Transferable: | CSU/UC |
| Grade Type: | Letter Grade (Request for Pass/No Pass) |
| Repeatability: | Not Repeatable |
Student Learning Outcomes
- A successful student will create photographs using knowledge of photographic capture techniques and effective editing skills.
- A successful student will identify proper and improper photojournalist behaviors and ethics.
Description
Course Objectives
The student will be able to:
A. Demonstrate the ability to photograph in various circumstances, develop and print negatives, produce digital files suitable for printing, transmission and archival purposes, and produce photographs of acceptable quality for reproduction.
B. Make human interest and feature photos, as well as routine interview and environmental portraits.
C. Photograph subject matter which is news worthy.
D. Photograph people in candid situations, such as in action photographs.
E. Distinguish between a photo essay and picture story.
F. Gather information on assignment adequate to provide data for picture captions and story line.
G. Work with photo editors in evaluating contact sheets and planning picture layouts.
H. Complete photographic assignments that meet strict deadline requirements.
I. Demonstrate sensitivity to issues involving cultural differences in the acquisition and dissemination of journalistic photography.
Course Content
A. History of photojournalism.
1. Nineteenth century processes: steel line engraving, Woodburytype, gravure.
2. The halftone process.
3. Harper's Review, Life magazine, New York Times, National Enquirer, others.
4. Electronic image capture and transmittal.
B. Major figures in photojournalism.
1. Eugene Smith, Robert Capa, Margaret Bourke-White, Gilles Peress, Sebastiao Salgado, Dirck Halstead, Susan Meiselas, William Albert Allard, Eugene Richards, Mary Ellen Mark, others.
2. How photographers from diverse cultures and backgrounds have contributed to the rich heritage of photojournalism.
C. Principles of photojournalism.
1. The nature of the documentary photograph.
2. Ethics of photojournalistic photography.
3. Photojournalism and the law.
4. Ramifications of digital image manipulation and copyright issues.
D. Survey of photojournalism assignments.
1. News photos.
2. Human interest pictures and feature photographs.
3. The picture story and the photo essay.
E. Technical aspects of photojournalism.
1. Data gathering to accompany photographs.
2. Photographic techniques for flash and available light photography.
3. Print quality necessary for offset and laser reproduction.
4. The digital camera.
F. Production aspects of photojournalism.
1. Presenting photographs for publication to a newspaper or magazine.
2. Picture editing, sequencing and layout.
3. Working with photo editors.
4. Field trips to newspaper offices and other sites as appropriate.
Lab Content
A. Use of computer workstation and Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom and/or Photo Mechanic imaging software.
B. Use of print kiosks and professional color laboratory services.
C. Field trips to newsroom or to shadow a photojournalist.
D. Interview a professional in the field.
E. Use of basic sound and video techniques to produce short clips.
Special Facilities and/or Equipment
B. Laboratory equipped for printing black and white negatives and workstation access for preparation of digital files.
C. Photographic equipment and chemicals necessary for printing.
D. Access to computer hardware and software, basic video and sound equipment for demonstrations and use.
E. When taught via Foothill Global Access, on-going access to computer with email and image management software, e.g., Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Light Room, Photo Mechanic software; digital camera and associated hardware; email address.
Method(s) of Evaluation
A. The student's progress will be evaluated by a portfolio resulting from completion of assignments.
B. Laboratory assignments will also be evaluated on the basis of picture interest, quality of presentation, technical quality and adherence to deadlines.
C. A written paper.
Method(s) of Instruction
A. Lecture presentations on the techniques and history of photojournalism, documentary photography and concerned photography.
B. Classroom discussion and electronic discussions/chat, as appropriate, demonstrating skill critique and comparison of different photographic images and techniques.
C. Field trips to visit photographic, artistic and technical locations.
D. Demonstrations on how to work with various photographic equipment, including editing and sound software on the computer.
Representative Text(s) and Other Materials
Kobre, Kenneth. Photojournalism: The Professionals' Approach. 7th ed. New York: Focal, 2016.
Types and/or Examples of Required Reading, Writing, and Outside of Class Assignments
A. Compose titles and captions to accompany photographs.
B. Short text reports to accompany picture/video/sound story.
C. A written paper that discusses the life and work of a photojournalist.
D. Maintain a blog that documents reflections on picture story progress.