Course Outline of Record

Item	Value
Eff Term	Fall 2026
Curriculum Committee Approval Date	12/03/2025
Top Code	101200 - Applied Photography (CTE)
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) 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)

Course Description

A course designed to address topics and skills associated with photographing in the professional Action Sports industry, for the purpose of illustrating a concept or an idea as it relates to publishing, advertising, web and social media. PREREQUISITE: PHOT A180. Transfer Credit: CSU.

Course Level Student Learning Outcome(s)

1. Demonstrate proper use of equipment and lighting, when capturing motion for use in advertising.
2. Identify current and past industry trends as they relate to action sports.

Course Objectives

• 1. Explain the history and past application of action sports photography.
• 2. Identify and explain contemporary trends in action sports and how it relates to photography.
• 3. Demonstrate proper techniques when capturing motion.
• 4. Select appropriate equipment for given assignment, and demonstrate it?s proper use.
• 5. Apply effective lighting techniques.
• 6. Explain safety techniques and practices.
• 7. Discuss industry trends as a whole.
• Identity and explain the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in sports action photography.

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Lecture Content

1. Class Objectives and Policies

A. The History and Application of Action Sports Photography

B. Action or Sports-Action photography; what s the difference?

C. Contemporary Trends in Action-Sport Photography

D. Explore what makes a good sports image

2. Equipment

A. Camera Bodies - full frame vs. high speed

B. Lenses - Fisheye to Telephoto

C. Tripods/Monopods

D. Ball Head

E. Fluid Head vs. Friction Head

F. Wireless Trigger Systems

G. Hardwiring vs. Wireless with remotes

3. Meters

A. Spot vs. Incident vs. Reflective

B. Waterproof Meters

4. Safety And The Action Sports Industry

A. Safety between photographer and subject

B. Best Practices

5. The Art of Capturing Motion

A. Telling a story through images

B. Sequencing of images

C. Discuss backgrounds and foregrounds

D. View and discuss professional photos and settings

6. The Decisive Moment

A. Understanding the sport

B. Knowing your subject and their style

C. Pre-Plan, preparing for predictable action

D. Identifying the peak of action

7. Composing Action Images

A. Depth of Field

B. Head on action

C. Horizontal Action

D. Vertical Motion

E. View and discuss professional photos and settings

8. Capturing Action Sequences

A. Camera Settings

B. Camera Position

C. Techniques and strategies

9. Shooting Action in Studio

A. Bi-tube strobe heads

B. Studio demonstration with an athlete

C. Freezing Motion with Flash

D. Rear Curtain Sync

10. Shooting for Commercial Work

A. Knowing what leading questions to ask

B. Showing up prepared

C. Highlighting a client's product

D. View and discuss professional photos and settings

11. Lighting Your Subject On-Location

A. High speed sync

B. Reflectors and scrims

C. Using multiple Speedlights

D. Modifiers to shape light

E. Modifiers to spray and increase light

12. Motion - Slowing things down

A. Panning and settings for a successful panning shot

B. View and discuss professional photos and settings

13. Creating Your Personal Style

A. What makes you, you

B. What makes you desirable to a client

C. Find your voice and learn to apply it to different genres

14. Editing Workflow for Sports Action 

A. Explore artificial intelligence (AI) applications in sports photography

B. Generative imaging, intelligent editing, automated tagging, and ethical image synthesis. Through hands-on projects using accessible AI tools (e.g., Adobe Firefly, DALL·E, Midjourney, and Lightroom’s AI masking features),

15. Shooting Underwater

A. Focusing underwater

B. Factors for best conditions

C. View and discuss professional photos and settings

16. Waterhousing Etiquette

A. Multiple housings are necessary

B. Traveling with waterhousings

C. Different brands of housings to accomplish different tasks

D. Magnification

E. Pencil trick

F. View and discuss professional photos and settings

17. Career Paths In Sports Action Photography

A. Trends

B. Employers and Publications

C. Business Practices

D. Image pricing

Lab Content

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

1. Lab orientation and equipment review

2. Equipment Hands-On Demonstration

a. Camera Bodies

b. Lenses

c. Tripods

d. Speedlights

e. Meters

3. Safety Demonstration Outdoor, set up test scenarios for practice

4. Organize and Edit Images with instructor supervision

5. Individual consultation and planning of assignment projects 

6. Capturing Action Composition Action Sequences Set Up Practice Situations Supervised Practice 

7. Demonstration of Lighting Equipment Sports Action lighting methodologies Wireless Triggering methodologies Hands on photo session

8. Individual consultation of progress of assignments and projects

9. Underwater Housings Hands-on demonstration

10. Edit and Retouch Images with instructor supervision

11. Prepare a job estimate and contract

12. Prepare a marketing plan with instructor supervision

Method(s) of Instruction

• Lecture (02)
• Lab (04)

Instructional Techniques

A. Demonstration of various approaches to Sports Action photography. Problem solving through lecture, critiques and practice sessions. B. Instructor and peer feedback through critique of student work. C. Digital presentations to illustrate concepts and means. D. Introduction to professional level work and discussions of challenges. E. On location class photo sessions. F. Discussion and demonstration of Sports Action photographic methodologies.

Reading Assignments

Student will spend 1 hour reading from selected handouts provided by the instructor.

Writing Assignments

Writing assignments 2 hours per week will include: Responses to reading assignments and creating written project proposals.

Out-of-class Assignments

Student will complete class photography and assignments designed to reinforce concepts introduced in lecture. Students will work independently in studio and outside of class to meet assignment requirements. Student will utilize the digital lab to complete exercises that use problem solving situations related to assignment work.

Study Non-Contact Hours Recommended

54

Methods of Student Evaluation

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

Demonstration of Critical Thinking

Students will demonstrate critical thinking skills in the production of photographic assignments. Students will visually communicate conceptual and aesthetic ideas developed through the course.

Required Writing, Problem Solving, Skills Demonstration

Students will demonstrate problem solving and skills with the production of a portfolio of photographic imagery for class projects. These projects require that skills are applied appropriately to solve various challenges that arise. Students will participate in group and individual critiques. Additionally, students will be asked to write project proposals.

Resources Subscreen

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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.