Cerritos College
Photo 232 - Approaches to Studio Lighting Syllabus

Fall 2011
Teacher: Ed Heckerman
Room: FA 40
Office: FA 64B
class hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays 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:
This course examines a variety of approaches to studio lighting, including copy stand work, photographing metal with a light tent, special set ups for glass, and also for emphasizing texture. Furthermore, numerous portrait lighting strategies will be examined with both strobe and tungsten lighting. This class will prepare the emerging studio photographer to do a lot with a minimum of resources. In addition to cultivating a broader understanding of light and lighting this class will focus on specialized exposure and traditional darkroom techniques, medium and large format photography, and digital capture and output.


Lab Fee
: $ 20.00


Attendance

Due to the excessive size of this class, and the limited work space, it will not be possible to use class time to complete all studio work. However, there will be sufficient class time to complete all darkroom work and digital output, as well as photographing in the classroom portrait studio. Although attendance will be monitored every class session, it will only be mandatory for critiques and demos. The student is responsible for completing all work on time. In order to accomplish this aim it will be necessary to utilize the tabletop studio space outside of class time.


Grading and Withdrawal Criteria:

The following factors will influence the final grade:
a. Participation, including class discussions, and critiques. Also included in this category will be effort and enthusiam, courtesy, and appropriate darkroom etiquette. (10%)
b. Excellence of assignments (90%)
- Each assignment, except the final project, should be handed in together with proof sheets and assignment description sheet.

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 beakers 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.  You will be responsible for washing and drying your own prints.  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:
- 4 x 5 inch black and white film
- 11 x 14 inch black and white fiber-base enlarging paper or archival inkjet paper
- Dodging wand and burning board (make your own)
- Negative notebook
- Negative sleeves
- conservation board
- 11 x 14 dry mounting tissue for fiber-base paper
Optional:
- Polyethylene or polypropylene storage bags
- Gray card
- Compressed air and/or blower brush (for removing dust from negatives)
- Darkroom apron
- Gloves
- Towel
- Thermometer
- 11 x 14 inch blotter book (for drying prints)

Darkroom chemistry, film development hardware, and ink in the digital lab 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 you were 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, and negatives or digital files to be printed on non-lab days in case the lecture or critique ends early.

1. 8/15/11
Review of syllabus / materials needed for class

2. 8/17/11
Reproduction of Artwork explained and demonstrated
Demo:  how to use a hand held light meter

Assignment #1 explained

3. 8/22/11
Lecture / DVD and demo: Portrait Lighting Strategies
Assignment #5 explained

4. 8/24/11
Studio work and lab

5. 8/29/11
Studio work and lab

6. 8/31/11
Critique of Project #1(Reproduction of Artwork)

Labor Day

7. 9/7/11
Demo:  how to load film in 4 x 5 film holders
Demo:  an introduction to 4 x 5 camera movements
Demo:  how to process 4 x 5 sheet film
Lecture and demo: how to work with fiber-based paper

8. 9/12/11
Lecture and demo: how to photograph glass

9. 9/14/11
Studio work and lab

10. 9/19/11
Lecture and demo: how to emphasize texture
Studio work and lab

11. 9/21/11
Studio work and lab

12. 9/26/11
Studio work and lab

13. 9/28/11
Lecture and demo: how to photograph metal
Studio work and lab

14. 10/3/11
Studio work and lab


15. 10/5/11
Critique of "Glass" assignment

16. 10/12/11

17. 10/17/11
Studio work and lab

18. 10/19/11
Studio work and lab

19. 10/24/11
Studio work and lab
Critique of "Texture" assignment

20. 10/26/11
Studio work and lab

21. 10/31/11
Studio work and lab

21. 11/2/11
Studio work and lab

23. 11/7/11
Critique of "metal" assignment

23. 11/9/11
Studio work and lab

24. 11/14/11
Lecture and demo: working with tungsten lighting
Assignment #6 and extra credit assignment explained

25.
11/16/11
Studio work and lab

24. 11/21/11
Job descriptions for assignment #7 due
Critique #5 (Portrait Lighting Strategies)


25. 11/23/11
Studio work and lab
Deadline for redo assignments

26. 11/28/11
Studio work and lab

27. 11/30/11
Studio work and lab

28. 12/5/11
Studio work and lab

29. 12/7/11
Critique of Project #7 (Job)

33.
Finals Week - no class Monday, 11/14/11
Final Exam
Pick-up Final Project


Assignments

Do not use old work.  New images must be generated for each assignment.

(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. Reproduction of Artwork (10%)

2. Light Tent (10%)

3. Glass (20%)

4. Texture (10%)

5. Portrait Lighting Strategies (20%)

6. Job (no redo / 20%)

Please hand in your assignments together with the assignment description sheet in a protective sleeve with museum board. Proof sheets are optional for this class.

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


Learning Outcome

Seventy percent of the students will complete a portfolio demonstrating a thorough understanding of studio lighting covering a broad spectrum of approaches.