CREA 204: Digital Photography I

Spring 2024
Foy 106
Mon & Wed 1:30 pm- 3:30 pm

Professor: Allison DeBritz

Email: adebritz@siena.edu

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, Camera RAW, Photoshop, and Epson Inkjet
Printers. 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. 35mm DSLR with manual controls 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. Appropriate Memory Card (Compact Flash (CF) or Secure Digital (SD)) for your camera. It is
strongly encouraged that you have more than one card.

3. Media Storage. I highly recommended that you get a Macintosh compatible portable external
hard drive. I can recommend Other World Computing (OWC) Mercury on the Go, 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 50 8.5 x 11” plastic sheets to store your prints.

SUPPLIES
B&H Photo: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/
McGreevey’s (Albany): http://www.mcgreevyprolab.com
Adorama: https://www.adorama.com/

CLASS WEBSITE
LINK

GOOGLE DRIVE
We will have a shared google drive folder to view work throughout the semester.
*All final images (jpgs format) will be uploaded to your named folder by the last day of class.
GOOGLE DRIVE

EMAIL & CANVAS

Please check your email and canvas daily for class reminders, links, and announcements.
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 edit in Camera Raw and have basic Photoshop knowledge
5. Demonstrate technical proficiency in making black & white and color prints
7. Engage in critical dialogue and participate in thoughtful discourse
8. Complete all assignments and create a website to showcase your work.

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

LATE WORK POLICY

Work may be turned in up to one week late with a 15% reduction of your original grade. If you
turn your project in on time but you’re not happy with the grade, I offer the option to re-submit
the project any time before the end of the semester for a new grade. If you would like to do this,
please chat with me first. If you need an extension due to an emergency or illness, please speak
to me before the deadline. You must give me ample notice if you are unable to turn something
in. There will be no extensions for last-minute emails about not finishing work.

ATTENDANCE, PUNCTUALITY & CELL PHONE USE

Attendance is mandatory for all classes that you are assigned to attend. Class hours take
precedence over other activities. Attendance is required for the full period. Leaving early and
coming late will result in an absence.

You are allowed two unexcused absences and any absence after that will result in your grade
being lowered (ex. B becomes a B-). More than four unexcused absences can result in you
failing the class. Excused absences must have proper documentation (doctor’s note etc.).

Besides not being physically present in the classroom a student may be marked absent for
behaviors that disrupt the learning environment or prevent themselves or others from engaging
with the course content, including:
 Any behavior which requires the instructor to excuse or remove a student from the
classroom.
 Cell phone use during class without prior approval of the instructor.

Should you feel ill, stay home, and contact me via email. (Attendance Policy)

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

PLAGIARISM
Uphold artistic integrity and follow the academic integrity policy (Academic Integrity). Using AI to
write anything for this class is also not allowed and will result in a zero on that assignment. All
images you submit must be your own and made specifically for this class.

ACCOMMODATION
Please email me if you have any questions, comments, or concerns. Please make sure to
provide me with your letter of accommodation should you have one. (Policies and Forms)
SIENA MISSION AND LEARNING GOALS
(Siena Mission and Learning Goals) School Mission and Learning Goals – School of Liberal Arts
(Mission Statements/Learning Goals); Major/Program Mission and Learning Goals (Individual
Link)

MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES

“Siena College Counseling Center services are free and confidential. The Counseling Center
also provides consultations for students to faculty, staff, and families regarding the mental
health of Siena students. This is a confidential resource on campus, in Foy Hall, 110. You can
schedule an appointment by calling 518-783-2342. A clinician is on-call 24/7/365 for mental
health emergencies.” Visit www.siena.edu/offices/counseling-center for more information.
If your life or someone else’s life is in danger, please call 911. If you are in a crisis and
need help right away, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-
TALK (8255). Students dealing with heightened feelings of sadness or hopelessness,
increased anxiety, or thoughts of suicide may also text “GOT5” to 741741 (Crisis Text
Line).

RESPECT FOR DIVERSITY

I intend that students from all diverse backgrounds and perspectives benefit from this course,
that students’ learning needs be addressed both in and out of class, and that the diversity that
students bring to this class be viewed as a resource, strength, and benefit. I present materials
and activities that respect diversity: gender, sexuality, disability, age, socioeconomic status,
ethnicity, race, and culture. Your suggestions are encouraged and appreciated. Please let me
know ways to improve the effectiveness of the course for you personally or for other students or
student groups. In addition, if any of our class meetings conflict with your religious events,
please let me know so that we can make arrangements.

GRADING TERMINOLOGY
Elemental Considerations: Use of light, space, color, texture, form, line, and shape
Compositional Considerations: Attention to framing, placement of light, arrangement of
subject(s) within the frame, and DOF
Technical Ability: Demonstrated attention to balanced exposure, wide tonal range, detail in
highlights and shadows, contrast, focus, camera shake, and any creative editing applied

ASSIGNMENTS & POINTS

All project directions are located on our class website and Canvas.

LOOKING 10 points IMITATION IMAGES10 points

EXPOSURE 10 points PORTRAITURE 20 points
SPACE 10 points ABSTRACTION 20 points
TIME 10 points SELF-DIRECTED 25 points
ELEMENTS 20 points ARTIST STATEMENT 10 points
COMPOSITION 20 points WEBSITE 10 points
IMITATION PRESENTATION 10 points GOOGLE DRIVE 5 points
ATTENDANCE 10 point

PROJECT DUE DATES

1/24 LOOKING 3/13 Group 2 Imitation Presentation
1/31 EXPOSURE 4/3 PORTRAITURE IMAGES
2/12 SPACE 4/8 PORTRAITURE PRINTS
2/14 TIME 4/15 ABSTRACTION
2/26 ELEMENTS 4/29 SELF-DIRECTED
3/6 COMPOSITION 4/29 ARTIST STATEMENT
3/11 IMITATION IMAGES 4/29 GOOGLE DRIVE
3/11 IMITATION PRESENTATIONS 4/29 WEBSITE
3/11 Group 1 Imitation Presentation

GRADING
You will be graded on the following:
Assignments: 180 points total, points vary for each assignment
Attendance: 10 points determined by your attendance record (excessive absences will result in
a lowering of your final grade, see Attendance section for more details)
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