SYLLABUS

Siena College
Spring Semester 2024
Digital Photography I
CREA 204 (48787)
Classroom: Foy 106, additional lab Rosetti 117
Mon & Wed 8 am-10 am
Professor Katherine March Driscoll
Email: kdriscoll@siena.edu
Cell (emergency only!): 585.797.7594
William Eggleston, 1973

DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY I
COURSE DESCRIPTION

A beginning studio course exploring the history of photography, the mechanics of making
pictures, and the range of conceptual approaches found within this expansive medium. Students
develop a digital workflow using Lightroom and Epson Inkjet Printers, and develop familiarity
with Camera RAW and Photoshop. Aesthetic issues regarding composition, light, subject
matter, and photographic vision are stressed. Studio fee. (ATTR: ARTS, CDA, EXCA, FILM,
MUMD, NOEX). 3.000 Credit hours 4.000 Lecture hours. Expect to work 4- 6 hrs. per week
outside of class.

REQUIRED MATERIALS

1. DSLR camera with manual controls, a UV filter for your lens, and your camera manual.
Note: There are a few cameras available to check out should you be in a position where you
either cannot borrow a camera or cannot locate funding

2. Memory Card (Compact Flash (CF) or Secure Digital (SD)) for your camera.

3. Media Storage - I highly recommended that you get a Macintosh compatible portable
external hard drive for storing your work (some recommendations: Other World Computing
(OWC), Lacie, and G-Drive brands). If you do not wish to purchase a hard drive, you can use a
USB flash drive (min 32GB) to save your images. Please format drives before class.

4. A tripod is optional but encouraged. There are tripods available for loan.

5. A Photo Box or 3-Ring Binder with 8.5 x 11” plastic sheets to store your prints.

CLASS WEBSITE : https://crea204driscoll.weebly.com/

The course website is your guide to the semester. It contains our daily agenda, project details &
deadlines, examples of past student work, and additional resources to help you hone your skills.

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GOOGLE DRIVE

We will use a shared google drive to view and submit work throughout the semester. Jpegs for
each project should be uploaded to the correct folder by the due date. All final or re-worked
images should be uploaded to your folder in the correct project folder by the last day of class.

EMAIL & CANVAS

Please check your email daily for class reminders, links, and announcements. Canvas will be
used for attendance and grading only.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

1. Demonstrate competency of manual camera exposure controls

2. Be able to transfer files from camera to computer

3. Be able to organize and edit photographs in Lightroom

4. Be able to print and have basic Photoshop knowledge

5. Demonstrate technical proficiency in inkjet printing

6. Engage in critical dialogue and participate in thoughtful discourse

7. Complete all assignments and create a website to showcase your work.

COURSE AIMS

1. Become familiar with a variety of historical & contemporary trends in the medium of
photography. Discover photographers that relate to your art making process.

GRADING

You will be graded on the following: In class & At home Assignments (210 points total, points
vary for each assignment) Attendance (final grade will be affected by your attendance
record) Your grades will be available on canvas. The grading rubric is outlined for each project
on canvas, the class website, and below.

A 93-100 C 73-76
A- 90-92 C- 70-72
B+ 87-89 D+ 67-69
B 83-86 D 63-66
B- 80-82 D- 60-62
C+ 77-79 F 59 and below

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ASSIGNMENTS & POINTS

LOOKING – 10 PORTRAITURE – 20 WEBSITE – 10

EXPOSURE - 10 24 FRAMES – 5 PRESENTATION – 10
SPACE - 10 ABSTRACTION – 20 GROUP PROJECT – 5
TIME – 10 SELF-DIRECTED - 25 GOOGLE DRIVE - 5
ELEMENTS – 20 BEST FIVE - 10
COMPOSITION – 20 ARTIST STATEMENT - 10
IMITATION - 10

ATTENDENCE

This course is in-person and uses some pre-recorded video tutorials and lectures to optimize
class time and program assistance. Attendance is required and there is no option for remote
attendance.

Attendance is mandatory for all class periods! Scheduled class time should take precedence
over other activities. Leaving early and coming late will result in being marked as absent.

**Should you feel ill, please stay home and contact me via text or email BEFORE THE
BEGINNING OF CLASS!! You will not be penalized for missing class when sick but you must
communicate with me before the absence occurs**

Excessive lateness or absences will result in a lower final grade:

§ Late (more than 5 min) 4x = 1 absence

§ After 3 unexcused absences, your final grade is lowered one a partial letter grade for
each additional absence. (A becomes A-, etc.)
§ If you are absent for more than 5 class periods, student should withdraw or risk receiving
failing grade

Call or email me if you have an emergency. Please do not use my cell phone if it is not an
emergency. (Attendance Policy)

LATE WORK

All assignments are due for class as indicated on the course website. Assignments turned in
late will have 2 points deducted for every late period until no points remain. I always aim to be
reasonable – if you would like to re-work a project or are struggling to finish a project please talk
to me!

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PARTICIPATION

All students are required to participate in classroom dialogue, including discussions, video
reviews, and critiques. Participation will be factored in to each project grade throughout the
semester.

LAB ACCESS

You may work on computers in the labs anytime there is not a class using the space - class
schedules are posted outside the classroom door. There is a lab monitor available during certain
hours if you need assistance outside of class (Hours vary from semester to semester)

CELL PHONES

Cell Phones are not to be used in class unless they are directly being used for a project. (Cell
Phone Policy)

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY POLICY

Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated. Students who commit such acts expose themselves
to punishments as severe as dishonorable dismissal from the College. The following quote is
from the Siena College Catalog: “Academic dishonesty can take different forms, including, but
not limited to: cheating [dishonesty in a test situation], plagiarism [dishonesty in the presentation
of written materials], and computer abuse. In any situation in which a student is unsure of what
constitutes academic dishonesty, it is the student’s responsibility to raise the question with his or
her instructor.” It is also each student’s responsibility to be familiar with the student guidelines
on academic honesty, “Academic Integrity and the Siena Student,” which can be found in the
student handbook on page 34 or at the following link on the website:
https://www.siena.edu/offices/academics/academic-policies-andprocedures/academic-integrity-
policy/

Students suspected of violating academic integrity will be referred to the Academic Integrity
Committee for final determination.

ACCOMODATION

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation
Act, Siena College is committed to ensuring educational access and accommodations for all its
registered students. I request that any student with a documented disability needing academic
adjustments or accommodations speak with me during the first two weeks of class. All
discussions will remain confidential. Students with disabilities should also contact Ms. Lindsay
Green, Director of the Office of Accessibility. Ms. Green’s office is located in Foy Hall Room
109. Her phone number is: (518) 783-4239. Complaints about services provided or not provided
may be brought to the attention of Public Safety at (518) 783-2376 or Ms. Lois Goland, JD, Title
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IX Coordinator and Equal Opportunity Specialist. Ms. Goland is located in Room 235 of the
Sarazen Student Union. Her phone number is (518) 782-6673.

Mental Health and Counseling Resources

For any number of reasons, you may become overwhelmed during your time at Siena. It is very
common to experience symptoms of anxiety, depression or other mental health conditions.
Fortunately, the Counseling Center, located in Foy Hall Room 110, is a resource to help
overcome those potential challenges. You can make an appointment by stopping by, calling
518-783-2342, or requesting one online on the Siena Counseling Center webpage. In addition,
for urgent matters after 4PM, there is an on-call therapist who may be accessed by calling
Public Safety at 518-783-2376. 14.

Inclusive Classroom

In our Franciscan community, diversity is an invitation to celebrate the uniqueness of each

individual, as well as the cultural differences that enrich us all. In this course, I will do my best to
ensure that students from all backgrounds and perspectives will be served equitably. The
diversity that students bring to this class will be viewed as a resource, strength and benefit. It is
my intent to present materials and activities that are respectful and inclusive of the many
identities of students in terms of gender, sexual orientation, disability, age, socioeconomic
status, ethnicity, race, culture, perspective, and other background characteristics. Your
suggestions about how to improve the value of diversity and inclusiveness in this course are
encouraged and appreciated.

SUGGESTED BOOKS
Digital Photography: A Basic Manual by Henry Horenstein
Seizing the Light by Robert Hirsch
The Magic Image by Gail Buckland
Ways of Seeing by John Berger
Camera Lucida by Roland Barthes
On Photography by Susan Sontag
Diane Arbus: A Biography by Patricia Bosworth
Hold Still: An autobiography by Sally Mann

PHOTO SUPPLIERS :

B&H: Bhphotovideo.com

Adorama.com