Digital Photography I

Student Learning Outcomes, Goals, Objectives:

Students successfully completing this course will be able to:

Course Goals

• Observe and photograph the world with heightened sensitivity to framing, composition, and lighting.
• Operate a digital camera with proficiency, including full manual control of aperture, shutter speed, ISO, metering modes, and related settings.
• Apply recommended digital file storage, organization, and workflow practices.
• Demonstrate a basic working knowledge of Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Bridge.
• Demonstrate a foundational understanding of inkjet printing, including evaluating print quality through contrast, color, and file preparation.
• Conduct formal analysis of photographic images and begin engaging with conceptual approaches to the medium.

Learning Objectives

• Create and present a work that results from immersion in a creative process using appropriate media, tools, and techniques.
• Explain how creativity, technologies, materials, and design processes contribute to knowledge, expression, and problem-solving.
• Critically evaluate their own creative work and the work of others, demonstrating how critique strengthens artistic practice.

Course Grading Information:

Activity/Performance Measure	Percentage/Points
Photography Projects (4 main out-of-class projects)	70 points / 70%
Reading Responses & Artist Statements	15 points / 15%
In-Class Exercises	8 points / 8%
Class Participation & Critiques	7 points / 7%

Some projects in this course will be short and technical, while others will be slightly more involved and introduce early conceptual thinking. Each assignment is designed to help students build a strong foundation in photographic practice, with an emphasis on exposure, composition, editing, and thoughtful image-making. Major projects will end in critique, beginning with digital reviews and progressing to printed work. Any shooting assignment may be reshot for a new grade as long as the original was submitted on time and shows a reasonable level of effort. The final project may not be reshot for a new grade.

Late assignments and projects will be penalized half a letter grade for every day they are late.

Grading Scale

Percentage	Letter Grade
100–94 points	A
93–90 points	A-
89–87 points	B+
86–83 points	B
82–80 points	B-
79–77 points	C+
76–73 points	C
72–70 points	C-
69–65 points	D+
64–60 points	D
59–90 points	F

Attendance/Participation:

Class attendance is mandatory. Failure to come to class without instructor approval may result in a lowering of the final grade. Failure to attend critiques may result in a lowering of the assignment grade. If a student misses more than four days excused, the grade may still be lowered. Repeated lateness may also impact the grade.

Class participation is a vital aspect of success in the course and includes thoughtful contributions during critiques and discussions, approaching assignments and projects with a positive, experimental, and inquisitive attitude, contributing to discussions, taking notes during lectures, demonstrations, and video screenings, and showing up on time and prepared for class.

Course Materials Purchased by the Students:

• SD card (at least 8–32+ GB)
• External hard drive (500 GB+ recommended, with USB-C cable)