Cerritos College
Photo 240 - Experimental Photography

Spring 2011
Teacher: Ed Heckerman
Room: AC 40
Office: AC 64A
Class hours: Mondays and Wednesdays 4:00 - 7:00
Office hours:  MW 3:00 - 4:00, T 10:00 - 11:00
Office phone: (562) 860-2451 x2603
http://www.cerritos.edu/eheckerman/


Course Description:
Experimental photography involves three general approaches, all of which will be addressed in this class. Firstly, to study a variety of photographic processes which differ from standard, as supports for thoughtful transactions rather than ends in themselves. Secondly, to investigate technical and conceptual procedures involving chance. Thirdly, to experiment with new genres of photo-based art-making involving sculpture, installation, projection, and performance. Assignments include optic free forms of marking with light such as the cyanotype, photogram, etc., as well as photomontage, systems involving chance procedures, 3-D photography, the slide show tradition, and experimentation with alternative display. The fundamental aim of this class is to empower the student to better understand the subtleties of experimental photographic practice and discourse, and in so doing advance the scope of the possibilities available to them as self-motivated photographer / artists bent on shaping light into coherent form and meaning. Assignments may be completed in either black & white or color using the traditional darkroom or digital capture and output.


Textbook
Handouts will be provided by the instructor


Lab Fee
: $ 20.00


Attendance

Three tardy arrivals are equivalent to one absence. Any student with more than six unexcused absences, including lab days, will be dropped. Absences due to illness, family emergencies, jury duty, and religious holidays will be excused unless excessive only if it is feasible for the student to make up the lost time.  It is the student's responsibility to notify the instructor promptly of the expected dates of predictable excused absences.  Also, if a student arrives fifteen or more minutes late, or leaves class early without requesting to do so for whatever reason, they will receive a half-absence.  If a student does not work on lab days they will be marked absent even if physically present.


Grading and Withdrawal Criteria:

The following factors will influence the final grade:
a. Participation, including class discussions, critiques, and attendance. Also included in this category will be effort and enthusiam, courtesy, and appropriate darkroom etiquette. See Appendix A at the end of this document.(10%)
c. Excellence and punctuality of assignments (80%)

Each assignment, except the final project, should be handed in inside a protective envelope, with proof sheets and assignment description sheet.
- Late assignments will receive one full reduced letter grade.
- All assignments except the final project may be redone after the due date for a higher grade, but late assignments will not receive an "A" unless the student's absence on the due date was excused.
d. Performance on worksheets and final exam (10%)

For additional information on attendance and grading see the Cerritos College General Catalog.


Plagarism Statement
Representing the ideas of another as one's own is not acceptable.


Classroom Conduct
Please turn off your cell phone. Do not cause disturbances in class. Please do not chat while the teacher is lecturing and during class discussions and critiques. Make an effort to be courteous to the teacher and remain vertical during all classroom activities. Do not take extra long breaks. Please do not come to class under the influence of illegal drugs or alcohol.


Darkroom Conduct
Please do not handle other student's work unless unavoidable. If you must touch another student's prints or negatives please handle them as if they were your own. Be careful to recycle the appropriate chemicals (stop bath, fixer, hypo clearing agent) when developing film. Always thoroughly wash all graduates and return all checked-out equipment clean and dry when finished. Be sure not to mix up the tongs in the darkroom trays, otherwise the next student's print will be contaminated. Do not add prints to the fiber-based paper print washer until after it has been emptied. If you are unsure what to do regarding any darkroom activity or cleanup procedure, ask the teacher without hesitation.


Special Needs / Disabilities
If you think you will require any special assistance please contact the Disabled Persons Programs and Services (562) 860-24511 x2333 (DSPS) office on campus immediately and we will do our best to accommodate your needs.


Materials Needed
Required:
- Camera with manual exposure possibilities (film or digital capture)
- Film: Fuji 100c instant print film, black & white, color slides (specific films will be recommended)
- Black and white enlarging paper 8 x 10 inches or larger (fiber-based paper recommended)
- Digital inkjet paper (optional)



Darkroom chemistry, film development hardware will be supplied by the school.

Professional camera stores (a selection):
-
Samy’s Camera, 4411 Sepulveda Blvd. Culver City, (310) 450-4551
- Samy's Camera, 431 Fairfax Ave., Los Angeles, (323) 938-2420
- Bel Air Camera, 10925 Kinross Ave. at Gayley in Westwood Village, (310) 208-5150
- Calumet, 1135 N. Highland Ave., Hollywood, CA (213) 466-1238
- Calumet, 1430 S. Village Way, Suite A, Santa Ana, (714) 285-0143
- Freestyle, 5124 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, (213) 660-3460
- Freestyle Catalog Quick Order Counter 12231 Florence Ave. Santa Fe Springs, (800) 292-6137


Class Calendar
This calendar is subject to alteration, additions, and omissions at the teacher’s discretion, including due dates for assignments.  If absent the previous session make sure to check for updates and revisions to the calendar.  In the event that we should find ourselves ahead of schedule, a field trip to a gallery or museum housing a photo exhibition may be arranged.  Please always bring film to be developed or negatives and digital files to be printed on non-lab days in case the lecture or critique ends early.  Otherwise, bring in your camera so that you can use the time to take photographs.

1. 1/10/11
Review of syllabus
Slide Lecture: Photomontage
Assignment #1 explained
Homework: Raul Hausmann reading


2. 1/12/11
Demo / Lab: Fuji Emulsion Lift process

3. 1/17/11
Discussion of Raoul Hausmann reading
Slide Lecture: The Photogram
Assignment #2 explained
Demo: cyanotype (blueprint), flatbed scanner photogram
Homework: Floris Neusüss reading


4. 1/19/11
Fuji Lab

5. 1/24/11
Discussion of Floris Neusüss reading

Demo: photogram, luminogram, chemigram, lumen print, and cliché verre
Lab

6. 1/26/11
Lab

7. 1/31/11
Lab

8. 2/2/11
Critique of assignment #1
Lab

9. 2/7/11
Slide Lecture: Generative Photography
Assignment #3 explained
Chance Encounters: The LA Project by Douglas McCulloh
Video: excerpt from the film Smoke
Audio: John Cage
Homework: Jane Hirschfield reading


10. 2/9/11
Lab

11. 2/14/11
Lab

12. 2/16/11
Lab

Washington's Birthday (no school)

13. 2/23/11
Lab

14. 2/28/11
Discussion of Jane Hirschfield reading

Critique of assignment #2

No class 3/2/11

No class 3/7/11

15. 3/9/11
Slide Lecture and Demo: 3-D Photography
Assignment #4 explained
Homework: Jim Pomeroy reading

Lab

16. 3/14/11
Lab
Midterm (take home)

17. 3/16/11
Discussion of Jim Pomeroy reading
Lab

18. 3/21/11
Midterm due
Critique of Assignment #3

19. 3/23/11
Lab


20. 3/28/11
Slide Lecture / Demo: The Magic Lantern
Homework: John Bloom and Jeanne Finley readings
Assignment #5 explained

21. 3/30/11
Lab

22. 4/4/11
Discussion of John Bloom and Jeanne Finley readings
Critique of Assignment #4

23. 4/6/11
Lab

24. 4/11/11
Slide Lecture: New Genres / Surrogate Display (final project)
Homework: Brian Eno reading

Assignment #6 explained
Lab

25. 4/13/11
Lab

Spring Recess

26. 4/25/11
Discussion on Brian Eno reading
Critique of Assignment #5

27. 4/27/11
Lab

28. 5/2/11
Lab

29. 5/4/11
Redo deadline

Lab

30. 5/9/11
Lab

31. 5/11/11
Lab

32. 5/16/11
Final Exam

Critique of Assignment #6 (final project)

33. 5/18/11
Critique of Assignment #6 (final project)

34. No class Monday. Pick-up Final Project and discuss grades Wednesday at 4:00 PM.


Assignments
Enough lab time will be provided to complete all assignments during class time. However, a considerable amount of extra time outside of class hours will be required to successfully take photographs and complete the reading necessary to actively participate in class discussions.

(See individual assignment sheets for descriptions, related reading, objectives, suggestions, and evaluation criteria.)

(Percentages do not include attendance and other factors listed at the beginning of this syllabus.)

1. Fuji Photomontage (15%)

2. Cameraless Photography (10%)

3. Generative Photography (15%)

4. 3-D Photography (10%)

5. The Magic Lantern (10%)

6. Final Project: New Genres (20%)


Please note: Poorly done redos will not improve your grade. However, you may redo the assignments more than once.


Extra Credit (optional)

4. Exhibition Review
View an off-campus exhibition space currently housing a show with "experimental" photography. Write a one to two page review. This piece of writing should demonstrate that not only have you observed the exhibition, but also considered the works personal, cultural, and perhaps social import. Engage in the following four activities: describing, interpreting, evaluating, and theorizing, with the goal of increasing appreciation and understanding of the works in question.

Please note: poorly done extra credit assignments will not improve your grade.

Appendix A

Participation (10% of grade)
Attendance: 

The participation grade will be reduced a grade for every unexcused absence.

A = 0 unexcused absences
A- = 1
B+ = 2
B = 3
B- = 4
C+ = 5
C = 6
Unexcused absences in excess of 6 may cause the student to be dropped from the course.

Participation is required in all class critiques, discussions and activities.

Courtesy and darkroom and digital lab etiquette shall also be considered as part of the participation grade.


Learning Outcomes

Seventy percent of the students will complete a portfolio of experimental photography compiled of relevant assignments including the final project.