2021-22 Fall

Introduction to Photography

(HART 1012)



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

Course Description

An introduction to the art and expression of photography through lectures and homework. In this course, students will learn about the history of photography, and the different genres of photography developed over time. This is not a technical-oriented program, but students will learn basic photographic techniques and concepts to prepare them to explore photography on some other occasions. Focus of this program is to facilitate students expressive themselves through photography. Upon the completion of this course, students will have basic photographic techniques and a deep understanding of how photography communicates with its audience, such that they will be in a better position to communicate visually with others.

Remarks
Assignment Submission Policy

  1. All photos must be taken on for after the course started, no old photos will be accepted.
  2. All photos must be taken in the highest resolution setting of your camera.
  3. Submit the original photos without any editing,  cropping, nor resizing.
  4. Rename every photo with your name and append it with three digits numbering in ascending order

Class schedule
All the classroom lessons in this course last for 2 hours. There are assignments to be completed by the students in order to fulfill the course requirements. And the critique sessions following the assignments are of utmost importance in term of learning. Please refer to the Course Topics below for details.

Camera Requirement
Students need to bring their OWN camera (NOT smart phone) to class, which need not to be a professional one, but it should be equipped with “Aperture priority” in the shooting mode setting (e.g. A mode or Av mode).


  1. Appreciate the history and development of photography
  2. Describe the characteristics of contemporary art photography and appreciate the master works
  3. Understand basic concepts, theories and techniques of photography
  4. Experience using photo as expressive tool to convey the photographer’s feelings and view point upon things happening around them.

Lesson 1: Introduction & History of photography

Lesson 2: Basics Photographic Techniques 1 : Understanding the camera & lens

Lesson 3: Basics Photographic Techniques 2 : Understanding the histogram and Exposure Compensation

Lesson 4: Field Trip 1 : Lai Chi Kok Park (19/9)

Lesson 5: Writing on Photograph and Artist Statement

Lesson 6: Meaning of Colors and White Balance Control

Lesson 7: Basic Techniques in Documentary Photography

Lesson 8: Different Genres of Photography

Lesson 9: Field Trip 2 : Sham Shui Po (31 Oct)

Lesson 10: An Introduction of Contemporary Photography

Lesson 11: Exhibition Set up, presentation - Individual Project
Lesson 12: Exhibition Critique & Exhibition Dismantling

  1. Barbara London & John Upton, Photography, Prentice Hall, 10th Edition, 2010. (Ch. 1-4, 7, 9-11, 17 & 18)

  1. Charlotte Cotton, The Photograph as Contemporary Art, Thames & Hudson, 2004. (Introduction and Ch. 1)

Enrolment Details

Course Registration : 26-27 Aug 2021
Add/Drop : 01-14 Sep 2021


Instructor

Leon SUEN


Assessment

Attendance 10%
Assignment 1 35%
Assignment 2 55%

 


Class Schedule

THU
LA1 | 10:30 am – 12:20 pm
LA2 | 14:30 pm – 16:20 pm
Classroom: CYT-G009A
 

Field Trips (Sunday)| Compulsory
19 Sept | Lai Chi Kok Park
31 Oct | Sham Shui Po


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