My prof in Fotogra recently sent me and my classmates an email containing a copy of her course syllabus. Hardcore as it seems, I should expect that something like this would happen and it did. As I read the syllabus carefully, it says there about the different things the class is expected to do for the remaining weeks of our 14-week term.

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
FOTOGRA introduces the concepts and the body of knowledge that forms the foundation for the professional practice of photography. This course lays the groundwork for a study and/or career in the field of photography and in the field of multi-media arts, wherein lessons learned in the classroom can be utilized. This introductory course is designed for students who have little or no knowledge of photography, but are willing to learn its concepts and theoretical foundations. These concepts are integrated with the other major subjects of the course.
Over the centuries from the time of its invention, Photography has served many purposes. From creating and capturing landscapes and portraits of people in the 19th century, to documenting and reporting every life, wars and other historical events, to being a potent tool of social reform; Photography has been widely used in fashion and advertising business. At the turn of the 21st century, with the advent of electronic media, the demand for photographic images for website development has widely increased.
Currently, there is a greater need for art students who wish to embark on future careers in multi-media art to learn how to crate photographic images. It is for this purpose that this course is offered as a basic requirement to higher courses in the study of and training in multi-media arts.
The course will focus mainly on the technical aspect of photography, which specifically includes control of exposure and depth of field, along with creative aspect of exploration into composition, stylistic approach, and the use of artificial and natural light, with the Single Lens Reflex (SLR) manual camera as the primary tool then later gradually into digital camera. Students are given research assignments and Lectures as foundational theories prior to actual indoor and outdoor photo shoots.
 

COURSE OBJECTIVES/VALUES:

 
At the end of the course, the students should be able to understand the basic principles of photography. They are also expected to produce film-based photographs showing proficiency in the proper and creative recording of images, the application of depth-of-field and the use of on-camera and studio lighting systems. And such knowledge should raise the level of the students’ sensitivity towards the environment, and propel them to see beyond the obvious and must relate this experience to the viewer of their photographic work.

COURSE CONTENT AND SCHEDULE:

Week 1   
1.    Orientation of course based on the Course Syllabus, Facilities and equipment orientation.
2.    Lecture: INTRODUCTION
a.    History of Photography,
b.    Usage of Photography,
c.    Types of Camera,
d.    The SLR Camera System (Parts & Functions),
e.    Film (Formats, ISO, Types),
f.    Parallax error
3.    Assignment:    
    Bring 1 roll 24 exp. Color negative  ISO 100 film (any brand)
 
Week 2
1.    Lecture: EXPOSURE AND METERING SYSTEM PROPERLY-EXPOSED PHOTOGRAPHS
a.    The SLR metering system,
b.    Incident and reflective Type of metering.
c.    The over-exposed photograph, the under-exposed photograph, the properly exposed photograph
d.    Bracketing your shots,
e.    The hand-held light meter and 18% gray card.
2.    Sunny 16 Rule.
3.    Demo: Film Loading
4.    Photo Shoot: The Properly-Exposed Photographs, Location: Within SDA bldg. only
5.    Mission: To properly expose the 12-exposure ISO 100 film
6.    Assignment:    
    Bring 1 roll 24-exposure ISO 100 color film
    Submit Contact Print of Week 2 shoot
 
 Week 3 
    Submission: Contact Print of Week 2 shoots
1.    Lecture: APERTURE – DEEP DEPTH OF FIELD
a.    The Aperture settings (Students to memorize sequence),
b.    The Aperture Priority settings – Depth of Field (DOF) control
c.    The application of photos with DEEP Depth of Field DOF
d.    Factor affecting DOF.
e.    The use of tripod.
f.    Types of lenses. Different aesthetic use of lenses.
2.    Photo Shoot: The Deep DOF Photograph, Location: Within SDA bldg. only
3.    Mission:  To properly expose the 24-exposure ISO 100 film showing deep DOF
4.    Assignment:    
    Bring 1 roll 24-exposure ISO 100 color film
    Submit Contact Print of Week 3 shoot
 
Week 4
    Submission: Contact Print of Week 3 shoots
1.    Lecture: APERTURE – SHALLOW DEPTH OF FIELD
a.    The Aperture settings (Students to memorize sequence)
b.    The Aperture Priority settings – Depth of Field control
c.    The shallow DOF aperture settings, The use of tripod
d.    The application of photos with shallow DOF
2.    Photo Shoot: The Shallow DOF Photograph, Location: Within SDA bldg. only
3.    Mission: To properly expose the 12-exposure ISO 100 film showing shallow DOF
4.    Assignment:    
    Bring 1 roll 24-exposure ISO 100 color film
    Submit Contact Print of Week 4 shoot
 
Week 5
    Submission: Contact Print of Week 4 shoots
1.    Lecture: SHUTTER SPEED – FREEZE-ACTION
a.    The Shutter priority settings (Students to memorize sequence)
b.    The Shutter Priority settings (Fast shutter)
c.    The Freeze-Action shutter settings, The use of Tripod,
d.    The application of freeze-action photos
2.    Photo Shoot: The Freeze-Action Photograph, Location: Within SDA bldg. only
3.    Mission: To properly expose the 12-exposure ISO 100 film showing the freeze-action photographs
4.    Assignment:
    Bring 1 roll 24-exposure ISO 100 color film
    Submit Contact Print of Week 5 shoot
 
Week 6
    Submission: Contact Print of Week 5 shoots
1.    Lecture: SHUTTER SPEED – MOTION BLUR
a.    The Shutter priority settings (Students to memorize sequence)
b.    The Shutter Priority settings (Slow shutter)
c.    The blurred-action (slow motion) shutter settings, The use of tripod
d.    The application  of blurred-action photos 
2.    Photo Shoot: The Blurred-Action Photograph (Motion blur), Location: Within SDA bldg. only
3.    Mission: To properly expose the 12-exposure ISO100 film showing the motion—blurred photograph
4.    Assignment:    
    Submit all Contact Prints from Weeks 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 shoots
    Review and prepare for a writtern and practical Midterms exam
 
Week 7   
1.    MIDTERM EXAM (Written and Practical Exam)
2.    FINAL SUBMISSION of Contact Prints from Weeks 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 shoots
3.    Conceptualization of Theme for FINAL PORTFOLIO PROJECT (Approval of concept theme required)
4.    Assignment:
    Bring 1 roll 24-exposure ISO 100 color film
    Submit final concept of Theme for FINALS PORTFOLIO PROJECT
 
Week 8
    Submission of final concept of Theme for FINALS PORTFOLIO PROJECT
1.    Lecture:BASIC COMPOSITION
a.    Applying basic composition knowledge and arrangement of all photographic elements inside the frame.
 
Week 9
1.    Lecture: BASIC LIGHTING
1.    Differences of available light & studio lighting
2.    Passive & active control of lighting
3.    Characteristics of light  including the quality & size of light sources
2.    Assignment:
    Bring 1 roll 24-exposure ISO 100 color film
    Bring 1 item with props or a collection of items for a STILL- LIFE set-up
    Submit Contact Print of Week 9   
 
Week 10
    Submission of Contact Print of Week 9
1.    Lecture: AVAILABLE LIGHT for PORTRAIT and STILL-LIFE
2.    Photo shoot: Product / Still-life using available light. Location: Within SDA bldg. only
3.    Mission: To study the effect of available light at different angles and sizes on a STILL-LIFE setting
4.    Assignment:
    Bring 1 roll 24-exposure ISO 100 color film
    Submit Contact Print of Week 10 shoot
 
Week  11
    Submission: Contact Print of week 10 shoot
1.    Lecture: ONE (1) LIGHT Studio SET- UP for HUMAN and STILL-LIFE
2.    Photo shoot: Medium shot portrait using 1 Light set-up (Red Head) Location: Studio SDA
3.    Mission: To study the effects of 1 Light set-up at different angles and sizes on a HUMAN Subject using a  controlled lighting set-up.
4.    Assignment:
    Bring 1 roll 24-exposure ISO 100 color film
    Submit Contact Print of Week 11 shoot
 
Week 12
    Submission: Contact Print of week 12 shoot
1.    Lecture: Introduction to ONE (1) LIGHT Studio SET-UP for PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY
2.    Photo shoot: 1 Light set-up (Red Head or Visatec Flash)  Location: Studio SDA
3.    Mission: To introduced the various style of portrait photography.
4.    Assigment:    
    Submit Contact Print of Week 12 shoot
    Preparation of PORTFOLIO (five (5) photos with 8R size prints)
 
Week 13   
    Final Submission of completed Contact Prints from week 9, 10, 11 and 12 shoots
    Final Submission of CD Soft-copies of annotated Portfolio works
    Final Submission of PORTFOLIO (properly mounted and annotated)
 Week 14
Final Grading. Archiving of works. Preparation / selection of student photographs for the exhibition:
The Best of Fotogra, 3rd term 2006-2007 (as part of Photography trimestral exhibition)

REQUIREMENTS:
 
The course outline was arranged in a manner that students are taught first the rudimentary functions of the different parts of a manual camera, that he or she will become proficient in using the tool. Allowing for a more detailed discussion on the two main controls of a camera, the aperture and shutter control, the students will be able to acquire the knowledge of the effects of both to the finished photographs.
The requirements for the presentation of photo projects is such, that the students should be able to discuss or present it to their peers knowing all the intricacies on how they where able to accomplish it. Fotogra being part of the Multi-media course, the creation of a good portfolio, representing the students’ best work is required.
The latter part of the course covers the aesthetic part of photography. After being adept in using the camera, the students are taught on how to use it creatively, being multi-media students, they would be able to apply what they have learned in other courses as well.
 

GOOD LUCK SA MGA KUMUKUHA NITO! (Searching for his old Natsca notes)