104213 - PHOTOGRAPHIC PROJECTS

Subject type: Mandatory

Coordinator: Rafael Suarez Gómez

Trimester: First term

Credits: 4

Both the teaching of the subject and the supporting material will be given in Catalan. S'acceptaran preguntes formulades en qualsevol dels tres idiomes indistintament (català, castellà i anglès) i es respondran en el mateix idioma que s'han formulat, de cara a facilitar la comprensió de l'alumnat. 

The subject of Photographic Projects has a double objective:

On the one hand, to consolidate the background achieved once the two previous subjects ofLighting i Photographic Equipment & Techniques  of first year (#), completing them in parallel, with the introduction and use of new techniques and specific equipment introduced throughout the development of the practices.

Secondly, to introduce the dimension of composition and visual narrative techniques in order to ensure coherence between aesthetics, content and meaning, thus deepening the photographic resource as a form of visual expression.

These two components will serve as a substrate of knowledge, in order to develop the most experimental and creative part of the subject, which consists of the development of two personal photographic projects, using a specific methodology for each of them.

(#): In order to register for the subject, it is strongly recommended to register and pass the two indicated first-year subjects.  

At the end of the course the student must be able to:

-RA1: Identify the concepts of audiovisual language. 

-RA2: Analyze the illumination of any image. Be aware of the lighting of any image medium from painting, photography and moving image. 

-RA3: Use correctly the basic principles of lighting and the basic lighting scheme. 

-RA4: Be able to illuminate and create environments with a reduced set of three spotlights, and on the set of the University. 

-RA5: Explain and solve the technical needs of fundamental photographic situations. 

-RA6: Use indoor and outdoor lighting techniques to determine and control expressive, formal and technical quality.

-RA7: Define and acquire digital photographic images, selecting and configuring their content to achieve certain expressive values. 

-RA8: Apply basic photo retouching techniques. 

-RA9: Encourage the study and analysis of the audiovisual as a narrative language with the intention that the student develops their ability and style when developing a project to assess others.

and in a complementary way:

-RAC1: Deepen in the state of the photographic art, like base to elaborate future personal photographic projects.

-RAC2: Deepen the knowledge of the camera itself trying to make the most of the different modes and options available.

-RAC3: Solve complex situations of light, portraiture and other specific situations.

-RAC4: Acquire the basics of photographic composition and its exceptions.

-RAC5: Acquire a dynamic in the photographic selection with respect to a set of concrete and objectifiable criteria.

-RAC6: Encourage the photographic critical spirit, elaborating constructive critiques and defending them.

The subject consists of four hours per week distributed as follows: 2 of Theory and 2 of Practice.

The work in the theory classroom will be based on classes where the teacher will explain the theory concepts, accompanied by a very extensive collection of photographs. Individual and collective experimentation through exercises is also proposed. At the same time, the presentation and monitoring of project 1 will take place during the first half of the course.

The activities of a practical nature, as well as the presentation and follow-up of project 2, will take place in the laboratory, on the set and/or in pre-defined or agreed-upon locations.

In the scheduled sessions, the necessary tools will be given to be able to solve these activities, although the students are expected to complete them outside of formal laboratory hours, these being those previously conceived within the framework of the hours of autonomous learning.

It will be necessary to carry out the overall practice as well as the two photographic projects of the subject with one reflex or mirrorless camera (Full Frame, APS-C or micro 4/3) and in RAW. Likewise, students are encouraged to use their own camera, if it meets the specifications indicated in order to promote greater autonomy both in making and in learning.

1. AUTHOR PHOTOGRAPHY

1.1 Main photographers of the XNUMXth century: A fast review.

1.2 Photographic review.

2 PHOTOGRAPHIC GENRES

2.1 Photographic and pictorial currents. Influences.

2.2 Description of the different photographic disciplines. Formal and technical characteristics.

3. COMPOSITION

3.1 Leit-Motive.

3.2 Photographic Language.

3.3 Position and Angle of the camera.

3.4 Framing: H / V, Rule of Thirds, Reframing. Rotation.

3.5 Depth and Scale.

3.6 The Decisive Moment

3.7 The Light.

3.8 The Color. B&W.

3.9 Shapes, Rhythms and Textures.

3.10 Other Techniques.

4. THE PORTRAIT

4.1 Leit-Motive.

4.2 Language of Communication.

4.3 Position and Angle of the camera.

4.4 Framing: Type of Plan. Rotation. Fund Treatment.

4.5 Visual Communication. The Rule of Sight.

4.6 The Light.

4.7 The Color. B&W.

ACTIVITY 1: PRACTICE 1: CAPTURE IN MANUAL AND RAW DEVELOPED MODE (4%). [E10: RA8].

A shot shot in RAW format in MANUAL mode will be revealed to experience the advantages and possibilities of RAW format to the JPG file, controlling the shutter speed and aperture in order to achieve the desired effect.

Advanced RAW developing techniques will be applied to obtain reservations in areas of the image that require it.

The students must deliver two photographs acquired according to the specific specifications of the practice.

ACTIVITY 2: PRACTICE 2: REVEALED WITH PHOTOSHOP (4%) [E10: RA8].  

The photo shot will be revealed in Practice 1 in order to know and apply the most important settings of the Adobe Photoshop CS5 Post-Production Program.

Techniques for improving color and lighting will be acquired, applying layers on the original image. Selection techniques will be learned in order to reveal an image by zones.

The students must deliver two photographs acquired according to the specific specifications of the practice.

ACTIVITY 3: PRACTICE 3: HDR LANDSCAPE (4%)  [E10: RA6, RA7 and RAC2].

It will be shot in a very contrasting scene. Different techniques will be applied to achieve a depth of field HDR landscape. Deliverables:

1. 2-step bracketing with tripod, resulting in three photographs that must be processed with Photoshop to obtain a single photograph.

2. Photographic capture overexposing the lights, revealing by zones the different areas of the photograph.

The student will have to deliver four photographs acquired according to the own specifications of the practice.

ACTIVITY 4: PRACTICE 4: STUDY PORTRAIT (4%) [E8: RA3, RA4 and RAC3; E10: RA7].

You will experiment with the photographic portrait in the Photographic Plato to experiment with the different lighting schemes, how to measure the light of a studio flash and how to control the accessories of the flash in order to obtain a good portrait.

The students will have to hand in four photographs acquired according to the specific specifications of the practice.

ACTIVITY 5: PRACTICE 5: PORTRAIT WITH SEPARATE CAMERA FLASH (4%) [E8: RA3, RA4 and RAC3; E10: RA7].

You will experiment with the photographic portrait using the separate external camera flash in order to carry out the different lighting schemes with front, side and backlight, combining ambient light with artificial light.

The students must deliver two photographs acquired according to the specific specifications of the practice.

ACTIVITY 6: PROJECT # 1: AUTHOR REVIEW (25%) [E5: RA7; CB5: RA7].

Individual project that will consist of the elaboration of a personal project based on the previous study of the work of a recognized photographer. The project will include two clearly differentiated parts:

-A report that incorporates the following points: Justification of the Election. Technical File (Photographic Equipment and Camera Parameters), Intentions and Personal Assessment.

-A photographic production that will include a minimum of three revisions of the work of the investigated author.

ACTIVITY 7: PROJECT # 2: THEMATIC PHOTOGRAPHY (25%) [E5: RA7, RAC5 and RAC6; CB5: RA7 and RAC7].

The Project will consist of the acquisition of a series of photographs on a topic chosen by the students and approved by the teacher.

The work may be on a subject worked on at an individual or collective level as long as and when it is justified that more than one student participates due to the subject matter or scope, clearly defining the roles of each. In the theory session, all the different photographic themes will be presented, in order to facilitate the initial process of choosing the theme to be developed by the students.

The body of the work will consist of two parts:

-A report describing the thematic photography work, the motivations, locations and methodology expected to be used, accompanied by a collection of antecedents (photos by other recognized and current authors), which have served as a starting point and background inspiration to develop the work, plus a sample photo.

-Final Images. The volume of photos will depend on the work: from 5 to 15 photos for an individual work and from 10 to 30 photographs for a collective work. This set will be presented accompanied by a PDF file where the series is presented accompanied by an explanatory text. Optionally, each photograph may be accompanied by an individual title.

All original images in RAW and final ones processed in JPG must be provided according to delivery specifications. It will be necessary to apply the conditioned graphic edition to the final means of diffusion.

ACTIVITY 8: EXAM (30%). [E5: RA1, RA2, RA5, RA9, RAC1 and RAC4]

The exam responds to the test-type format and consists of 20 questions, with four possible answers each and a single possible solution (which can be vision o false, according to the wording of the question). Incorrect Answers penalize 25% of a correct answer.

The exam will take place without notes, on a day and time set by the head of studies at the beginning of the course.

This activity is recoverable.
 

The final grade will be based on the weighted average of the grades of the assessable activities mentioned, as specified below:

• THEORY (30%): TEST EXAMINATION (A minimum grade of 4 must be obtained to be able to apply the corresponding weighting and choose to pass the subject) [#].
• WORK EXPERIENCE (20%): [5 PRACTICE x 4%].
• PROJECTS (50%):

• PROJECT 1: Author revisitation: 25%.
• PROJECT 2: Thematic Photo: 25%.

[#]: In the case of not reaching the minimum grade of the exam, the overall grade of the subject will remain limited to 4. This activity is the only one that can be recovered through a RECOVERY EXAMINATION (Again, it will be necessary to achieve a grade of no less than 4 in order to be able to apply the corresponding weighting (the grades obtained throughout the course of the rest of the assessable activities, of towards calculating the corresponding final average).                                     

ESPINOSA DURÓ, Virginia, Composition and Portrait Notes. 2022 edition.

FREEMAN, Michael., The Eye of the Photographer. Composition and Design to capture better digital photographs. Ed. Blume Photography. 2017

PRÄKEL, David. Composition. Ed. Blume. 2014

HACKING Juliet, Photography, All History. Ed. Blume. 2021. ISBN 978-84-18459-75-7.

MELLADO, José MarÍa, High Quality Photography. The fundamentals of photography. Publisher Anaya Multimedia. 2017. ISBN 10: 8441538700.

FREEMAN, Michael, Digital Photography of People. Ed. Taschen Benedikt, 2004.