2016-17 Fall

Introduction to Portrait Photography

(HART 1038)



1 Credit | Can be used to fulfill Common Core Requirement (Core Elective: Arts Area)
Teaching Medium: English.

Course Description

Capturing a person’s face with a camera is easy but making a meaningful representation of that person through photography requires not only photographic techniques, but also the ability to communicate, understand and make insightful interpretation of one’s personality.  In this course, students will acquaint themselves with the history and development of Portraiture in different art forms, learn to analyze portraits taken by master photographers, and acquire knowledge and skills necessary to make a good portrait through hand-on practices and photo editing workshops. Basic photography knowledge is preferred but not necessary.

Remarks
Camera Requirement
Students need to bring a camera to class, which need not to be a professional one, but it should be equipped with either:
- aperture priority setting (e.g. A/ Av mode) ; OR
- manual setting (M mode)

IMPORTANT NOTE
This course focuses on appreciating and shooting portraiture as a way of communication and expression. This is NOT a technical course to teach you how to take a photo step-by-step, but some features on taking a portraiture will be discussed. You will also have abundant opportunities to practice, and taking a good portraiture does not mean just doing the setting right. It is also important you dare to try and allow errors.


  1. Apply photographic techniques appropriate to the sitter (i.e. person to be photographed), shooting environment and their own emotional responses
  2. Demonstrate an understanding of the personality of the sitter in taking photos
  3. Effectively render the personality of the sitter into the photo
  4. Appreciate the history, development of portrait photography and critically analyze master pieces in this art form

Week 1: History of Portraiture in art
Week 2: Lens and Camera
Week 3: Light and Medium
Week 4: Understanding the Sitter
Week 5: Master pieces on Portrait Photography 1
Week 6: Studio Session 1
Week 7: Photo Editing 1
Week 8: Self Portrait – Discussion and Practice
Week 9: Studio Session 2
Week 10: Personal Project Development
Week 11: Master pieces on Portrait Photography 2
Week 12-13: Exhibition Set-up & End-of-Course Exhibition

Theory and Practice
Portraiture, Richard Brilliant, Harvard University Press, 1991

Enrolment Details

Course Registration : 22-25 Aug 2016
Add/Drop : 01-14 Sep 2016


Instructor

Leon SUEN


Assessment

Attendance 10%
Participation 10%
Portrait of Sitter 20%
Self Portrait 20%

Individual Project

40%

Class Schedule

Tuesday | 10:00-11:50
CYT-G009A
Library LG1 (Production Studio & E-Learning Classroom A)


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