Course Outline of Record

Item	Value
Eff Term	Fall 2026
Curriculum Committee Approval Date	02/11/2026
Top Code	101200 - Applied Photography (CTE)
Units	3 Total Units
Hours	54 Total Hours (Lecture Hours 54)
Total Outside of Class Hours	108
Total Student Learning Hours	162
Course Credit Status	Credit: Degree Applicable (D)
Material Fee	No
Basic Skills	Not Basic Skills (N)
Repeatable	No
Open Entry/Open Exit	No
Grading Policy	Standard Letter (S),  Pass/No Pass (B)

Course Description

This course explores the art of travel, landscape, and nature photography through the lens of a smartphone. Students will learn to capture landscapes, cityscapes, and cultural portraiture while working with limited gear on the road. The course expands into cinematic videography, storytelling ethics, and the creation of responsible, respectful travel content. Students will also develop a professional toolkit for collaborating with tourism boards, hotels, and brands, including monetization strategies through reels, YouTube Shorts, and affiliate marketing. Transfer Credit: CSU.

Course Level Student Learning Outcome(s)

1. Capture landscapes, cityscapes, and cultural portraiture using only a smartphone.
2. Apply cinematic videography techniques for short-form travel storytelling.
3. Demonstrate cultural sensitivity and ethical storytelling in travel media.
4. Present a portfolio and campaign proposal for potential travel-industry partnerships.

Course Objectives

• Explores the art of travel, landscape, and nature photography through the lens of a smartphone. Students will learn to capture landscapes, cityscapes, and cultural portraiture while working with limited gear on the road. The course expands into cinematic videography, storytelling ethics, and the creation of responsible, respectful travel content. Students will also develop a professional toolkit for collaborating with tourism boards, hotels, and brands, including monetization strategies through reels, YouTube Shorts, and affiliate marketing.

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Lecture Content

Unit 1: Smartphone Travel Photography Techniques
Week 1 – Introduction to Travel Photography with Smartphones

• Course overview, expectations, goals.
• Smartphone limitations vs. advantages.
•  “First impressions” local travel shoot.

Week 2 – Landscapes & Nature Photography

• Wide-angle, panoramic, and vertical orientation strategies.
• Capturing natural light: golden hour, blue hour.
• Landscape assignment.

Week 3 – Cityscapes & Architecture

• Urban compositions: symmetry, lines, reflections.
• Night photography with smartphones.
• Cityscape photo walk.

Week 4 – Cultural Portraiture

• Approaching people respectfully.
• Environmental portraiture: storytelling through context.
• Portrait in cultural setting.

Week 5 – Traveling Light: Gear & Workflow

• Essential smartphone accessories: tripods, gimbals, lenses.
• File storage and backup strategies while traveling.
• Shoot using only travel-ready setup.

Unit 2: Cinematic Mobile Videography for Travel
Week 6 – Cinematic Movement & Transitions

• Panning, tracking, and gimbal-free movement.
• 30-sec cinematic travel sequence.

Week 7 – Drone Alternatives & Aerial Perspectives

• Creative ways to simulate aerial shots with smartphones.
• Lab: “Drone-style” video assignment.

Week 8 – Short-Form Storytelling: Reels & YouTube Shorts

• Pacing, music sync, voiceovers.
• Lab: Travel reel creation.

Week 9 – Midterm Project: Photo + Video Storytelling Portfolio

• Students submit 5 edited travel images + 1 short video.
• Group critique and feedback.

Unit 3: Cultural Sensitivity & Storytelling Ethics
Week 10 – Visual Representation & Ethics

• Avoiding stereotypes, respecting privacy.
• Case studies of responsible travel photography.
• Lab: Ethical representation assignment.

Week 11 – Responsible Tourism & Sustainability

• Leave-no-trace principles in visual media.
• Highlighting conservation through storytelling.
• Lab: Nature-focused travel project.

Week 12 – Narrative Cohesion in Travel Media

• Sequencing images/videos to tell a journey.
• Lab: Storyboard for a 2-minute travel short.

Unit 4: Travel Influencer Toolkit
Week 13 – Collaborating with Tourism Boards & Hotels

• Pitching campaigns, building media kits.
• Lab: Draft a pitch proposal.

Week 14 – Monetization Strategies

• Affiliate links, sponsored posts, reels monetization, YouTube Shorts.
• Lab: Mock collaboration assignment.

Week 15 – Final Project Workshop

• One-on-one guidance on campaign portfolios.
• Refinement of storytelling sequence + influencer strategy.

Week 16 – Final Portfolio & Campaign Presentation

• Students present a professional portfolio (10–12 travel photos + 2–3 reels) with influencer collaboration strategy.
• Group critique and wrap-up discussion.

Method(s) of Instruction

• Lecture (02)
• DE Live Online Lecture (02S)
• DE Online Lecture (02X)

Instructional Techniques

Instructional methods will include: lecture, demonstrations, class discussions, video demonstrations and student presentations.

Reading Assignments

Students will read approximately 1 hour per week from periodicals or instructor-provided material.

Writing Assignments

Students will complete approximately 1 hour per week of written research on lighting and storytelling ideas for their projects.

Out-of-class Assignments

Students will complete out-of-class assignments approximately 4 hours per week, researching, designing and producing a photograph for their project.

Study Non-Contact Hours Recommended

108

Methods of Student Evaluation

• Projects (Individual/Group)
• Problem Solving Exercises
• Skills Demonstration

Demonstration of Critical Thinking

Critical thinking will be engaged in the process of producing, and photographing locations for their project demonstrating considerations and decision making in regards to landscape and nature photography trends,  lighting, composition and permits.

Required Writing, Problem Solving, Skills Demonstration

Students will produce a project mood board or file folder containing concept statements, design research, and collected reference material.

Resources Subscreen

• Other: . . ().

Eligible Discipline(s)

• Photography: Master’s degree in photography, fine arts, or art OR bachelor’s degree in any of the above AND master’s degree in art history or humanities OR the equivalent. Master's degree required.
• Photographic technology/commercial photography: Any bachelor’s degree and two years of professional experience, or any associate degree and six years of professional experience.