Friday, January 22, 2016

Assignment #2 Photograms


Man Ray made his "rayographs" without a camera by placing objects-such as the thumbtacks, coil of wire, and other circular forms used here-directly on a sheet of photosensitized paper and exposing it to light. Man Ray had photographed everyday objects before, but these unique, visionary images immediately put the photographer on par with the avant-garde painters of the day. Hovering between the abstract and the representational, the rayographs revealed a new way of seeing that delighted the Dadaist poets who championed his work, and that pointed the way to the dreamlike visions of the Surrealist writers and painters who followed. 
Today, we generally call these types of images, "photograms".




In this assignment you will bring three objects to class, a transparent, a translucent and an opaque one, all sized to fit on a piece of 8x10 paper. Due FEB 11

Monday, January 18, 2016

Assignment #1 the black & White Image

Black & White photography is different from color photography from both an obvious visual approach but also from a more conceptual understanding. With the exception of a few who are color blind, we all see and understand the world in color. To make black & white images requires that you make the translation in your head as your shooting.

For this assignment shoot one roll of 36 exposure HP-5 or similar film with the goal of making images where it matters that the image is mono toned and not in color. As part of this assignment, you should bracket all your images, one stop over, one exposed what you believe to be the correct exposure and one stop under exposed.

Bring the exposed film to class for in class processing January 20.




Critique for this assignment is FEB 2, bring contact sheet and one print to class.

Friday, January 1, 2016

Welcome to Black & White Photography

The Fine Print:

Prof. Stan Strembicki

Black and White Photography I ART1186 sec 01

SP 2016 V1.1

Tuesday & Thursday 1:00-4:00


01/19/16          class intro; exposure and development; assignment #1 Black & White Image
01/21/16          film processing demo; students bring exposed roll to class from Assignment #1
01/26/16          contact printing & enlarging demo; students bring developed film to class
01/28/16          slides for assignment #2 (“Photograms”); lab time for film processing

02/02/16          Crit assignment #1-The Black and White Image
02/04/16          No Stan-TBA Lab day
02/09/16          Fat Tuesday-No Stan-TBA lab day
02/11/16          Crit for Assignment #2 Photograms
02/16/16          slides for assignment #3 Street Photography-Decisive Moment
02/18/16          Contrast control & Burning and Dodging demo -work day   
02/23/16          Slide lecture for #4 “Environmental portrait”
02/25/16          Crit for assignment #3- Street Photography/Decisive Moment assignment

03/01/16          Fiber print demo/lecture; lab day
03/03/16          slides for assignment #6 Studio portrait
03/08/16          Crit for # 4 Environmental Portrait
03/11/16          Stan’s Life In Art lecture
03/13-19          Spring Break, no classes, lab closed
03/22/16          Lecture and give assignment # 5 TBA
03/24/16          crit  # 6 Studio portrait
03/29/16          Slides for studio assignment  #7 Studio nude
03/31/16          Crit for #5 TBA

04/05/16          nude model in class
04/07/16          Slides for Self portrait #8
04/12/16          TBA
04/14/16          crit for assignment  #7 studio nude
04/19/16          presentation, mounting and matting

04/21/16          crit for assignment #8 Self Portrait
04/26/16          Crit for # 9 Self Directed Project
04/28/16          last day to submit assignments for grades

04/29/16          Last Day of WU classes
04/03/16          final portfolio due today                                 
04/05/16          final exams begin                   
04/10/16          portfolios returned


Assignments:

  1. Exposure and development/The Black & White Image
  2. Photograms
  3. Street Photography-decisive moment
  4. Environmental Portrait
  5. TBA
  6. Studio Portrait
  7. Studio nude
  8. Self portrait
  9. Self Directed project

Final Portfolios:
You are expected to shoot film, perform all lab work, and final presentation. Students who use other students’ prints or negatives without attribution are guilty of cheating and will be referred to the Associate Dean for further action, and fail the class. Final portfolios consist of 10-15 prints, printed to your highest standards.  Of these 10-15 images 5 must be mounted or matted to your highest standards. Portfolio may include assignments, may be thematic, or may just have 10-15 of your best images.  All prints should be spotted and ready for presentation.  All prints must be in something that resembles a folder or case.  No trash bags or loose prints please.  Label all mats on rear with your name and class.

Grading:
Work will be graded in two parts, 1) craft and technique, which refer to camera handling skills, and print quality and 2) concept and creative solution to assignment problem.

Final grade comprised of the following guidelines:
                                                                        25% assignment
25% attendance and class participation
                                                                        50% final portfolio
Grade values:

A+, A, A-: Superior work and effort. This grade level is for those who demonstrate and maintain strong, creative concepts, intellectual curiosity, focused work ethic, and courage to push beyond safe limits. They produce work consistently, and create technically and conceptually excellent work that is innovative and resolved. They actively participate in critiques, and show a high level of independence and motivation facilitating the studio community and their education.

B+, B, B-: Very good work and effort. This grade implies above average work,
participation/citizenship and demonstrates an effort beyond expectations to discovery in the process of developing a solid studio practice. The B student works hard but struggles with technique and process; or has good conceptual goals but does not put forth substantial skill/effort to communicate them effectively.
The B range student may be doing minimal outside research to develop ideas but makes use of the faculty/peer suggestions and dialogue.
C+, C, C-: Average work and effort. This grade indicates good attendance, completion of ideas, and some extra work. Adequate time spent in studio. The C student struggles with resolving projects in a coherent manner, or may struggle with the development of a consistent and rigorous studio practice. Their participation and initiative in critique settings and seminar is minimal, and they often fail to initiate peer/faculty feedback.

D+, D, D-: Unsatisfactory work. Often, these grades are earned through poor attendance, late work or not following directions.

F: Failing work.

Attendance policy:
Students are expected to attend all classes, in case of medical excuse, students are responsible for supplying documentation to faculty.  Excessive absence  (five unexcused) will result in lowering of grade, one letter and seven unexcused, failure of class entirely.  Students should plan on arriving to class on time. Excessive tardiness will result in a lowering of the final grade.

Digital Etiquette:
This should go without saying, but let’s say it anyway: you should turn off your cell-phone and/or other devices (iPods, etc) before you enter the classroom. If your phone rings once during class this semester, we’ll all laugh and I’ll ask you to turn it off. If your phone rings again during class this semester, we’ll need to have a talk.
I understand that your phones connect you with your friends and family, but the classroom should be a place apart, however briefly, from the outside world. You will learn more, in short, if you can concentrate on the class while you’re in class. If you’re really into your phone to that extent, consider taking my class this Spring 2016 “Cell Phones, Snapshots and the Social Network”, it’ll all be about the mobile device and making art.
Stan’s office number/voice mail:  935 8406
Stan’s cell 314 440 2894
Stan’s E mail address:  Strembicki@wustl.edu


Class blog: www.blackandwhitephoto1.blogspot.com