J450

ADVANCED PHOTOJOURNALISM
Fall 2008
Thursday 2-4:50pm, MZ 213
Office hours: to be announced
Tel: 818 677-3144
Email: david.blumenkrantz@csun.edu

Blog: street photography, documentary & art

PHOTO LAB HOURS
To be announced

Fall 2o08 syllabus

Online Soundslides photo essay grading rubric

Model release form (word document)

COURSE DESCRIPTION
Advanced Photojournalism is designed for students who are in the Photojournalism Concentration, and are seriously considering the profession. Emphasis will be placed on:

• developing skills in photographing news, portraits, features and sports
• familiarization with the profession of photojournalism
• proficiency in using Adobe Photoshop
• the creation of a personal portfolio
• the development of a personal philosophy toward photojournalism
• producing multimedia presentations for the web

EQUIPMENT
This course is geared toward the electronic and digital processing and dissemination of images. Digital SLR cameras are preferred. 35mm film cameras are acceptable, but all negatives will then be scanned for processing with Photoshop. Fully automatic, fixed-lens “point and shoot” cameras are not allowed. Students need a USB mini-drive of at least 512MB. Also recommended: an audio digital recording device.

TEXTBOOK
Photojournalism: The Professionals’ Approach. Kenneth Kobre, 5th Edition.

Adobe Photoshop CS manual is available as an eBook on our lab’s server.

ASSIGNMENTS

I   THE ENVIRONMENTAL PORTRAIT download (due Sept. 25)

II  SPORTS/ENTERTAINMENT: Produce an in-depth multi-media presentation on a CSUN athlete or performer (dancer, musician, actor). Over the course of the semester, document this person at home, work, in class, in practice or rehearsal, during games or performances, and arrange one photo session in our studio. Minimum of ten images required, with detailed captions in Soundslides format. (Deadlines will be assigned  for Sundial website application)

III  PHOTO STORY: Produce an in-depth multi-media presentation on an issue of social importance. Audio component should include both interviews and ambient sounds. Minimum of ten images required, with detailed captions in Soundslides format. (Deadlines will be assigned for J450 webpage application)

IV  PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER: Team up with a professional photojournalist. Follow their work in the paper (clip out and compile a record of their published work), interview them, and accompany them for at least one day on the job. Present a 2-3 page report on your findings, along with their clippings.

V   PORTFOLIO: By the end of the semester you should have prepared a CD portfolio of 20 captioned images, which includes one of your photo stories. (due Dec. 11)

FOR EACH ASSIGNMENT:

• TURN IN THE WORK WITH A WRITTEN REFLECTION: YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE TECHNICAL, JOURNALISTIC AND ARTISTIC ASPECTS OF THE WORK
  
• SUBMIT ESSAY WORK FOR CLASS CRITIQUES IN SOUNDSLIDES FORMAT: USE YOUR MINI USB DRIVE TO TRANSFER WORK TO PROFESSOR’S LAPTOP
  
• PROCESS THE IMAGES THROUGH PHOTOSHOP; PRODUCE INK JET OR LASER PRINTS WITH CAPTIONS. SAVE YOUR BEST IMAGES IN JPEG FORM IN YOUR  FOLDER IN THE LAB’S SERVER: KEEP BACK-UP FILES FOR YOURSELF BY BURNING YOUR IMAGES ONTO A CDROM OR COPYING INTO YOUR PERSONAL COMPUTER

COURSE OUTLINE

Aug. 28     Introduction: course objectives,expectations.
Lecture: The photographer/subject dynamic; the importance of the feature story/photo essay; difference between the narrative story and the photo essay/documentary (chapter 8)

Lab: Using Photoshop

 ASSIGNMENT: PHILOSOPHY STATEMENTS (due Sept. 11)

ASSIGNMENT: Sports/Entertainment Photo Essay

Sept. 4   Lecture: The Environmental Portrait (chapter 6)

ASSIGNMENT: ENVIRONMENTAL PORTRAIT (due Sept. 25)

Sept. 11      Lab: Using Soundslides

GUEST SPEAKER: Researching, developing, shooting the feature story

ASSIGNMENT: The Photo Story (bring two ideas by next week)

Sept. 18     Daily News Photo Department field trip

ASSIGNMENT: Professional Photojournalists (due Dec. 4)

Sept. 25      Critique of Environmental Portraits. Lecture: Lighting concerns; natural vs. artificial lighting; using flash, studio strobes; ISO considerations

Oct. 2    BRING CAMERAS TO CLASS
Wild Art Contest

Oct. 9    Lecture/class activity: Photojournalism History; preparation for museum/gallery visit

ACTIVITY: First website photo stories go online this week

Oct 16    Lecture: Putting together the portfolio (Guest Speaker)

ASSIGNMENT: Final Portfolios (due Dec. 11)

Oct. 23      Lecture: Ethical Issues in Photojournalism (chapter 14); Legal Issues in Photojournalism (chapter 13)

Oct. 30      Lecture: Turning Pro (chapter 16); entering contests; rethinking personal philosophies of photojournalism

Nov. 6       Visit to LACMA: VANITY FAIR PORTRAITS 1913-2008

Nov. 13      Film & Group Discussion: James Natcheway

Nov. 20    Lab Time: Consultations on portfolio, final projects.

Nov. 27    THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY

Dec.   4    Reports on professional photojournalists due today: each student to make an oral presentation of their experiences

Dec.  11      FINAL PROJECTS/PORTFOLIO PRESENTATIONS

ORGANIZATIONAL NOTES

• Since this class only meets once per week, it is imperative that you attend class as often as possible. Remember, missing one class in this format is the same as missing an entire week of instruction in a daily class. Each absence will result in result in 3 pts taken off final grade; each late arrival will cost 1 point.

• This is a laboratory class. Although you will not be expected to adhere to a formal lab schedule, you should treat each assignment as if it came from a publication, and remember that you have a deadline to meet. The work can be completed at your discretion, though you are advised not to leave your lab work until the last minute. Lab hours for independent work will be posted.

• Your lab fees go toward hiring lab techs, but you may incur additional expenses for film, paper and other incidentals. Although there are lab techs to assist you in the computer labs and darkroom, all students are expected to clean up after themselves. Common courtesy is expected, and appreciated. Failure to leave the workspaces in good working condition for others may result in a lowering of your grade.

JOURNALISM DEPT. POLICY ON CULTURAL DIVERSITY
Students in this course are strongly encouraged to broaden their journalistic experiences, with the instructor’s help, by including in their work people and subjects such as ethnic, racial and religious minorities; the elderly, disabled and poor; gay men and lesbians; and other similar groups. The intent is to ensure that student work reflects the diversity of the community.

PLAGIARISM: DEPT. OF JOURNALISM STATEMENT
Plagiarism and other forms of cheating will not be tolerated, and anyone caught cheating will be reported to the dean of students and will receive a failing grade in the course. For a further explanation of disciplinary procedures, consult pages 522-524 of the 2002-2004 CSUN catalog. Please also remember that much of the information posted on the Internet is protected by U.S. copyright laws. Passing this information off as your own is a violation of CSUN’s plagiarism policy, and carries the penalties outlined above