In the Concepts in Photography course,

students will learn basic camera operation

while focusing on postproduction
techniques to improve the quality of their
images. Students will learn strategies in file
management and metadata that will build
their professional production workflow. In
this course, students will be asked to shoot
and present their work over various delivery
platforms. The design concepts reinforced

CONCEPTS IN in this course can be applied across all types

PHOTOGRAPHY
of media.

PHOTOGRAPHY | EDITING | DESIGN

 COURSE OUTCOMES

CONCEPTS IN
PHOTOGRAPHY
A DESIGNER TODAY MUST UNDERSTAND
PHOTOGRAPHY AND HOW TO EFFECTIVELY USE
IMAGES TO TELL A STORY, AND BE ABLE TO PRESENT
WORK
In AND
one or two PROCESS
sentences, PROFESSIONALLY.
summarize what students will be doing in this course.

COURSE OUTCOMES
COURSE MATERIALS
To show basic DSLR camera functionality and photography, students will
Full Sail learning management system (FSO Platform)
create photo images that demonstrate the use and operation of their
Full Sail academic research services
camera.
Computer with Internet access and built in camera
To show that students can edit and manipulate photo images for design Degree Specific Software
production they will use professional software to manipulate and edit Suggested: DSLR Camera & Tripod
photographic images for design production.

To demonstrate knowledge and use of designer’s “creative process” going

from concept through completion, students will create a presentation
illustrating each step of their process.
 INSPIRATION

CONCEPTS IN PHOTOGRAPHY
SKILLS DEVELOPMENT GRADUATE NAME
COMPANY, ROLE

Alena Heath is a Boston based freelancer

specializing in Motion Graphic Design,
Photography & Photomanipulation, Digital
Design, and Video/Visual Effects.

Alena has been a freelance photographer and

designer for over 6 years, applying the concepts
and skills taught in Concepts in Photography

ACADEMICS CAREER PORTFOLIO course. After successfully graduating as a

Salutatorian with perfect attendance from the
This course lays the foundation for Camera theory and skills will be The final deliverable in Concepts of Digital Arts and Design program in 2010, Alena
basic camera operation and image further utilized later in the Video photography will be to create a set of has used her eye and professional attitude to
manipulation. Students will create Production courses. Assignments and images and processes to be win awards, become a NASA Invited
Photographer, and was selected for a Juried
various projects and participate in tutorials will reinforce and expand on submitted to your portfolio course.
exhibition in Cambridge, and has many
discussions that will allow them to skills learned in DGT241 Advance This builds your skill and knowledge
satisfied companies. By successfully the
explore image creation and refine Computer Graphics. These skills will base for your future portfolio work. photographic image with problem-solving
image-editing skills. be used to create your own brand as design, Alena has earned a name for herself in
you go through the career modules. the Boston area.

LEARN MORE
 WEEKLY BREAKDOWN

CONCEPTS IN PHOTOGRAPHY
WEEK ONE WEEK THREE
Week 1 is all about learning to use all the functions on your Camera and In Week Three you will work with your photographs to create stories using
having an introduction to basic photo-editing techniques so that you can your photography and Photoshop skills. You will explore both Sequential
successfully take and manipulate images. and Illustrative stories. We also continue our compositing work, adding
skill and techniques to lend powerful design concepts to the work.

THEMES THEMES
• Camera Operation, Basic photo-editing • Shooting with Intent, Storytelling

WEEK TWO WEEK FOUR

As a designer, you have to know how to put images together in a The last assignment puts all the concepts and skills learned together when
compelling way. In Week 2 you will be spending a lot of time shooting the student emulates a favorite image or photographer, planning the
images and working on compositing techniques in Photoshop, including shoot and equipment needed, and then creating a Reflection video about
advanced Masking. the process.

THEMES THEMES
• Photography, Photo Compositing • Pro Photography techniques, Reflection
 GRADE WEIGHTS

CONCEPTS IN PHOTOGRAPHY
GRADE WEIGHTS
GRADE WEIGHT

Week 1 graded items in this format: Activity 1 (10%), Discussion 1 (5%) 25%

Week 2 graded items in this format: Activity 2 (10%), Discussion 2 (5%) 20%

Week 3 graded items in this format: Activity 3 (10%), Discussion 3 (5%) 20%

Week 4 graded items in this format: Activity 4 (10%), Discussion 4 (5%) 25%

GPS 10%

Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Total 100%

OUT-OF-CLASS WORK
This course requires at least 12 hours of preparation and out-of-class work. Out-of-
class activities are documented in this syllabus and include reading assignments,
outside research, project development, skills practice, and homework. Consideration
has been given to creating out-of-class work that will support students’ efforts to
successfully complete this course while achieving course objectives and program
learning outcomes.
 RECOMMENDED
RESEARCH

EXTRAS
EXPERTS IN THE FIELD | TUTORIALS | COURSE DIRECTOR’S PICKS

WEEK 1

http://digitalcollections.nypl.org/
http://webneel.com/famous-photographers

WEEK 2
http://www.crisismagazine.com/2014/new-film-reveals-genius-obscure-photographer
Book: Photoshop Masking & Compositing (2nd Edition) (Voices That Matter) by Katrin Eismann, New Riders, ISBN-10:
0321701003

WEEK 3
http://www.vandelaydesign.com/best-photographer-portfolio-websites/
Book: Zen of Postproduction: Stress-Free Photography Workflow and Editing , 1st Edition by Mark Fitzgerald, Wiley,
ISBN-10: 1118749421

WEEK 4

http://www.commarts.com/photography
Book: Photoshop LAB Color: The Canyon Conundrum and Other Adventures in the Most Powerful Colorspace, Dan
Margulis, 2015, Peachpit Press, ISBN-10: 0134176103
CONCEPTS IN PHOTOGRAPHY
CONNECTIONS

INDUSTRY CONNECTIONS be through our Discussion Boards and professional portfolio

Designers need to have an understanding of photography operations websites, where students will post initial and final work to gain

when dealing with photographers. Students need to have the ability to feedback. By working together the students will help each other focus
communicate in a common language and to understand the process their photography, their shot plans and offer suggestions for

of photography in order to achieve desired final images. The material improvement.

covered in this course will give students a marketable skill not
FEEDBACK
commonly held by their peers—the ability to request and manipulate
The rubrics and feedback given in Concepts in Photography will help
digital images.
the student learn to break down a client’s needs into a list of
SEMESTER TRENDS Completion Criteria. This is a critical part of the industry, as one needs
Students synthesize the additional knowledge they gain in Concepts in to understand what the client/supervisor is looking for before

Photography in future courses that include Motion Graphics, Layout beginning the task. By learning how to list needed components of
and Digital Publishing, and perhaps most importantly, in building their their work using a rubric, students will have a critical skill in working

portfolios, ensuring success here at Full Sail as well as in their future with future clients.
professional careers.
PERSONAL BRAND
COLLABORATION By learning and demonstrating knowledge of photography and photo
Collaboration is a vital element of success in the entertainment and editing, the students will be well prepared when it comes to creating

media industries. In Concepts of Photography we interact with each their personal brands. Images are a central part of our design
other in various ways. The primary source of peer-to-peer contact will environment, and successful students will have the control and
mastery of their image making process.
TERMINOLOGY
APERTURE - A circle-shaped opening in a lens (a hole,
really) through which light passes to strike the
image sensor or the film. The aperture is usually
created by an iris diaphragm that is adjustable,
enabling the aperture to be made uniformly wider
or narrower, thereby letting in more or less light.
The size of the aperture is expressed as an f-
number, like f/8 or f/11.

EXPOSURE COMPENSATION - Deliberately changing the

exposure settings recommended by a light meter
in order to obtain proper exposure. (Sometimes
an exposure meter or light meter is “tricked” into
providing settings that will underexpose or
overexpose an image, for example, when the
subject is relatively small in a field of bright, white
snow.
 TERMINOLOGY

SHUTTER PRIORITY - An exposure mode (in a FILTER FACTOR - A number that indicates to HISTOGRAM - a bar chart graph that shows
camera with automatic exposure what extent you must increase all of the tones in a digital image. A
control) that permits the photographer exposure when you use a particular photographer can use a histogram to
to preset shutter speed while the filter (by multiplying the unfiltered understand and manipulate exposure.
camera automatically determines the exposure by the filter factor number). Many digital cameras have the ability to
aperture setting required for proper Filters absorb light. The filter factor show the photographer a histogram of
exposure. allows you to compensate for this an image he or she has taken. Most
absorption. The amount of exposure image editing applications can create a
ƒ-STOP - (f-stop or F/stop) A lens aperture compensation has been predetermined histogram for an image. A well-exposed
setting calibrated to an f-number, which for every filter, and is expressed as a photograph will appear as a bell curve,
is a number that expresses a lens’ light- “filter factor” (sometimes also called an with lower values at the dark and light
transmitting ability - i.e. the size of the exposure factor, and also referred to as ends.
lens opening, its aperture size. Usually Exposure Magnification or EM values).
found on the barrel of a lens, f-numbers POLARIZING FILTER - A polarizing filter
indicate the size of the aperture in ("Polarizer" or "Polarizing screen") is an
relation to the focal length of the lens. A adjustable filter, with an inner ring that
smaller number indicates a larger lens screws onto the lens and an outer ring
diameter. that can be rotated. Turning the outer
ring reduces or increases the filter’s
effectiveness. The polarizer absorbs
glare, reducing or eliminating reflections
and darkening blue skies. It works by
transmitting light that travels in one
plane while absorbing light that travels
in opposing planes.
 TERMINOLOGY

PROOF - A sample image intended to be used COMPOSITING - All compositing involves the
for the purpose of selecting a final replacement of selected parts of an
image. Proof prints are often stamped image with other material, usually, but
with the word "proof" on the face of the not always, from another image. In the
image to identify them as proofs and digital method of compositing, software
sometimes to prevent their being used commands designate a narrowly
in place of a final image. Digital image defined color as the part of an image to
files may also be considered as proofs be replaced. Then the software replaces
when they contain a watermark to every pixel within the designated color
prevent them from being used as a final range with a pixel from another image,
picture. aligned to appear as part of the original.

LAYER MASK - A layer mask is something that

you apply to a given layer to control the
transparency of that layer. Where layer Adobe LAB color mode - L is the luminosity
opacity controls the transparency of the channel, A is the green-magenta
entire layer at once, a mask gives you channel and B is the blue-yellow
more precise controls over very specific channel. “L” channel contains all the
areas. If you want the entire layer to be luminosity information and is basically
at 30%, you would lower the opacity, if the black and white version of a photo
you want just the left side of a layer to with no color whatsoever. “A” channel
be at 30%, you would use a mask. has all the greens and the magentas
while “B” has all the blues and yellows.
COURSE-SPECIFIC RUBRICS
RUBRIC 2.1 COMPOSITING IMAGES

ELEMENT EXEMPLARY ACCOMPLISHED DEVELOPING BEGINNING TOTAL

Project file Sunday Submittal. Sent via FSO Sunday Submittal Sunday Submittal Submitted After Sunday Night
submittal Platform in PDF format. One or more incorrect: Two or more incorrect: or Three or more incorrect:
Correct file naming. (-10 pts/day late, up to 3 days)
8-10 points 5 points 2 points 0 points

Image Concepts, 2 Image concepts Two or more items need Three or more items need Four or more items need
Pre-Vis and Shot Diary understandable and clearly tied completed or submitted, to completed or submitted, to completed or submitted, to be
to images be re-worked after be re-worked after re-worked after feedback
• Pre-Vis sketches representing feedback. feedback 0-5 points
2 final compositions
15-20 points 5-10 points
• 2 Shot Diaries filled in
completely
25-30 points

Final Composites and 2 composites, each of 4 original Two or more items need Three or more items need Four or more items need
Creative presentation images, Good composition completed or submitted, to completed or submitted, to completed or submitted, to be
of Work Some PS process shown. be re-worked after be re-worked after re-worked after feedback
Template used, theme changed. feedback feedback 5-10 points
All titling, text, and images are 35-40 points 15-20 points
your own work.
Everything complete.
50-60 points