Course Outline of Record

Item	Value
Eff Term	Fall 2026
Curriculum Committee Approval Date	12/03/2025
Top Code	101100 - Cinematography
Units	3 Total Units
Hours	108 Total Hours (Lecture Hours 27; Lab Hours 81)
Total Outside of Class Hours	54
Total Student Learning Hours	162
Arranged Hours	ARRANGED (TBA) LAB CONTENT (45 Hours) The lab content will be covered in a combination of scheduled and TBA lab hours:
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

Through making photographs, this class explores the development of ideas, and an individual point of view. Discussion of aesthetics and current trends in photography. Students may work with analog or digital media. Fulfills "100" level elective course requirement for Photography Certificate of Achievement. PREREQUISITE: PHOT A120, PHOT A120H, PHOT A123, or PHOT A125. Transfer Credit: CSU.

Course Level Student Learning Outcome(s)

1. Utilize a range of photographic techniques to create photographs that communicate their own unique interests and ideas.
2. Improve ability to articulate the thoughts and ideas behind their work.

Course Objectives

• 1. Develop camera skills to be able to create expressive imagery.
• 2. Use darkroom and/or digital skills to express image concepts.
• 3. Implement chemical and/or digital darkroom safety procedures.
• 4. Develop the ability to recognize and be able to distinguish different genres and historical trends in bodies of photographic work.
• 5. Critically evaluate photographic imagery in terms of historical perspective, aesthetics, social context, and intention.
• 6. Create photographs in response to and in conversation with current and historical photographic practice.
• 7. Discuss and verbally defend critical evaluations of images in a critique.
• 8. Develop presentation skills to be able to present imagery to an audience in a way that enhances the concept of the work.
• 9. Produce a portfolio of expressive imagery demonstrating an understanding of visual communication.

---

Lecture Content

A. What is creative photography?

1. How do we express ourselves visually?

2. Conventions and myths

3. Making photographic imagery which is uniquely ours

4. Symbols and metaphors

5. Genres and historical perspective

B. Reality and the photographic image

1. What is illusion?

2. The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

3. How do we see?

4. The expression of fantasy and reality

C. Relating to people with the camera

1. What is a portrait?

2. Involvement vs. intrusion

3. Using the camera to get closer to people

4. The camera as a weapon

D. Relating to oneself with the camera

1. Self-discovery vs. self-deception

2. Environments as extensions of self

3. The photograph as mirror

E. The photographic image as object

1. How we see photographs

2. Photographic criticism

3. The conceptual approach

4. The universal response

F. Presentation

1. The meaning of the medium

2. Chemical vs. digital darkroom

3. Venues; walls, the net, and three-dimensional space

4. Developing a portfolio

Lab Content

LABORATORY CONTENT (36 Hours)
ARRANGED (TBA) LAB CONTENT (45 Hours)
The following content will be covered in a combination of scheduled and TBA lab hours:

A. Fiber base printing

B. Digital Printing

C. Types of analog printing paper.

D. Types of digital printing paper.

E. Medium format cameras

F. Print scale, large vs small

G. Mounting, framing and presentation

Method(s) of Instruction

• Lecture (02)
• Lab (04)

Instructional Techniques

1.   Demonstration of various approaches to problem solving through lecture and critiques 2.   Discussion of photographic principles and aesthetic concepts 3.   Instructor and peer feedback through and critique of student work 4.   Slide lectures to illustrate concepts and means 5.   Use of film and or video presentations relating to historical and contemporary ideas 6.   Interactive computer lectures to illustrate use of the computer as a creative tool 7.   Field trips may be made to illustrate shooting concepts

Reading Assignments

Students will spend approximately 1 hour per week reading assigned texts.

Writing Assignments

Students will spend approximately 1 hour per week writing responses to reading assignments and reporting on their library research.

Out-of-class Assignments

Students will spend 2 hours per week shooting pictures for assignments.

Study Non-Contact Hours Recommended

54

Methods of Student Evaluation

• Essay Examinations
• Projects (Individual/Group)
• Oral Presentations
• Skills Demonstration

Demonstration of Critical Thinking

1.    Written exams2.    Critiques of photo prints and their presentation3.    Oral defense of conceptual reasoning of visual ideas4.    Final portfolio of photographic prints

Required Writing, Problem Solving, Skills Demonstration

Students will demonstrate critical thinking skills with the production of photographic imagery which will communicate visually using conceptual and aesthetic ideas developed through the course. These ideas must be supported verbally during critiques. Additionally, students may be asked to write a critical essay on a photographic exhibition.

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.