PHOT 0065. Documentary Photography

Units: 3
Prerequisite: Completion of PHOT 60A or 78 with grade of "C" or better
Hours: 72 (36 lecture, 36 activity)
Production of photographic essays and individual images that capture what is happening in the world around us. Historical origins and cultural impact of documentary photography and photojournalism. Emphasis on ethics, communication with single images and photographic essays. Bringing together photography and text, contemporary practitioners, and organization of visual essays. (CSU)

PHOT 0065 - Documentary Photography

http://catalog.sierracollege.edu/course-outlines/phot-0065/

Catalog Description Prerequisite: Completion of PHOT 60A or 78 with grade of "C" or better Hours: 72 (36 lecture, 36 activity) Description: Production of photographic essays and individual images that capture what is happening in the world around us. Historical origins and cultural impact of documentary photography and photojournalism. Emphasis on ethics, communication with single images and photographic essays. Bringing together photography and text, contemporary practitioners, and organization of visual essays. (CSU) Course Student Learning Outcomes CSLO #1: Create single images and photographic essays based on personal interests and newsworthy events, while considering visual meaning, ethics and historical context. CSLO #2: Analyze contemporary and historical documentary and photojournalistic projects and individual photographs in terms of their purpose, influence on society, visual interest, and communication. CSLO #3: Assess photographs based upon technical quality, visual interest, and their ability to deliver a message or meaning to the viewer. Effective Term Fall 2025 Course Type Credit - Degree-applicable Contact Hours 72 Outside of Class Hours 90 Total Student Learning Hours 162 Course Objectives Lecture Objectives: define the characteristics of documentary photography and photojournalism; discuss ethical issues surrounding permissions, point of view, lens selection, manipulation, and editing; assess the social and historical significance of photojournalism and historic documentary photography; compare photographers working in diverse cultures for evidence of cultural bias; evaluate the impact of news reporting and documentaries migrating from print to online outlets; distinguish between social and environmental documentary projects; plan a documentary project; analyze and evaluate impact of photographs in terms of subject, technique, composition, presentation, and communication; Activity Objectives: 9. apply principles of proper camera use to various photographic situations encountered; 10. prepare digital photographs with technical quality, visual interest, and communication; 11. create individual images covering typical visual categories in photojournalism; 12. construct and present a cohesive portfolio of images as a documentary essay. General Education Information Approved College Associate Degree GE Applicability AA/AS - Fine Arts CSU GE Applicability (Recommended-requires CSU approval) CSUGE - C1 Arts Cal-GETC Applicability (Recommended - Requires External Approval) IGETC Applicability (Recommended-requires CSU/UC approval) Articulation Information CSU Transferable Methods of Evaluation Classroom Discussions Example: A classroom discussion will take place on the working methods of contemporary documentary photographers, such as Tobias Zielony, with those working in the past, such as W. Eugene Smith. Students are evaluated on participation, their ability to actively engage in the discussion and to provide input and receive feedback from their peers. Objective Examinations Example: Students will complete an objective exam covering equipment selection for documentary photography. Example: You are photographing in a dark and cramped interior. Select the lens that would allow the best combination of light gathering capability and angle-of-view. Standard Grading. Projects Example: Students will create a documentary essay along with a self-evaluation of their project. Grading will be based upon a rubric provided to students at the beginning of the project. Components of this rubric will include the ability for the images to tell a coherent story, their success in terms of aesthetics, consistency of style and presentation. Reports Example: Student will research an assigned documentary photographer and give an oral report supported by visual examples or provide a written report with embedded examples. A rubric will be provided detailing the components of the assignment and their relative weight when determining a final grade. Repeatable No Methods of Instruction Activity Lecture/Discussion Distance Learning Activity: Instructor will lecture on the photojournalistic category of sports photography. Instructor will then place students in different scenarios related to frozen motion and panning. Students will practice these motion capture techniques in class. Instructor will review the student’s images to make sure they are utilizing the correct camera settings. Students will then be assigned to photograph a sporting event so that they can apply these concepts. Lecture: Instructor will lecture on the major historical and contemporary figures in the field of documentary photography. Instructor will then break students into groups where they will discuss similarities and differences between two specific documentary photographers. The instructor will then lead the groups in reporting back to the class their findings. Distance Learning The instructor will provide a video lecture on the topic of Spot vs. General News. Instructor will assign students to capture a variety of images from one of these two categories. Students will post the images they create on LMS for peer critique and submit final images to instructor for feedback. Instructor will record a critique of the students work and post in the comments area for the submission. Typical Out of Class Assignments Reading Assignments 1. Read the interview with Sebastiao Salgado and come prepared to discuss his impact on documentary photography, his working methods and the role ideology plays in his work. 2. Read the chapter on available light portraiture and come prepared to demonstrate these techniques during class. Writing, Problem Solving or Performance 1. From the list of photographers choose a photographer for in-depth review of his/her work. Write a report following the format provided to describe the work, its social significance and important biographical information concerning the photographer. 2. Prepare a detailed written proposal outlining what your social documentary project will be for the semester. Make sure to include a timeline, contacts and permissions that need to be obtained and your reasons for choosing your project. Other (Term projects, research papers, portfolios, etc.) Students will complete a documentary essay which will be presented as a portfolio of prints including a statement of purpose. Required Materials Understanding Photojournalism Author: Good and Lowe Publisher: Routledge Publication Date: 2019 Text Edition: 1st Classic Textbook?: Yes OER Link: OER: Documentary Photography Reconsidered: History, Theory and Practice Author: Bogre Publisher: Routledge Publication Date: 2019 Text Edition: 1st Classic Textbook?: Yes OER Link: OER: Multimedia Storytelling for Digital Communicators in a Multiplatform World Author: Seth Gitner Publisher: Routledge Publication Date: July, 2022 Text Edition: 2nd Classic Textbook?: Yes OER Link: OER: Mortevivum: Photography and the Politics of the Visual Author: Kimberley Juanita Brown Publisher: The MIT Press Publication Date: February, 2024 Text Edition: 1st Classic Textbook?: Yes OER Link: OER: Other materials and-or supplies required of students that contribute to the cost of the course.

Humanities

http://catalog.sierracollege.edu/departments/humanities/

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