Certificate Photography

OVERVIEW

The one-year photography program is a total immersion experience designed to equip students with the practical skills needed to take great photographs. It uniquely provides instruction and intensive hands-on experience in the technology, aesthetics, business, history and theory of still photography, as well as the use of the moving image from a photographer’s perspective. While photography has always been intrinsically tied to technology, the image-makers of today cannot afford to call themselves just photographers. They must also be digital imaging experts, and capable of working confidently with multimedia platforms.

No significant prior experience in photography is assumed. The program brings everyone to the same level very quickly, beginning with the fundamentals and filling the inevitable gaps in the understanding of those who have some experience.

Skills learned as a result of successful completion of this program include:

• An in-depth knowledge of digital SLR cameras, lighting, post-production, and printing
• Expertise at producing winning bids and managing a successful photography business
• Research techniques for documentary subjects or news stories visualized through photography
• Mastery of Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Premiere Pro) and Lightroom
• Intimate familiarity with the history of photography and major movements since its invention
• Knowledge of aesthetic theories of photography and experience with their practical application
• The ability to work independently in a high-pressure creative environment

SEMESTER ONE OVERVIEW

The main goal of the first semester is to develop core photography skills by shooting assignments with a state of the art digital SLR. As you shoot and edit, you are immersed in the theory and history of photography. Studying and re-shooting master works and participating in critiques develops your skill at conceptualizing, pre-visualizing, composing, exposing and editing powerful images using style to underscore content.

Students roam the world-class museums, galleries, studios, agencies and publishers of New York City, a beehive of globally resonant creative imaging, to see firsthand how cameras have formed our world. A diverse group of professional guest artists and lecturers drawn from the superstar roster of talent that frequents New York City exposes students to a broad range of contemporary perspectives and approaches within commercial, fine art, fashion, documentary and journalistic traditions.

Photographers are first and foremost light hunters. Students will learn to recognize the revelatory power of dramatic light and the imaginative potential of shadows as they bend the sun, the moon, and every conceivable artificial light source from sparklers to studio flash to illuminate subjects with visceral intensity. Even as they learn traditional 3-point lighting, students are encouraged to think beyond convention to lighting techniques with the emotional and dramatic impact most appropriate to highlight their ideas.

As students examine a wide range of imaging disciplines, they practice the essential business skills that enable any professional to run a successful practice, including research, bidding, self-promotion, marketing, personal presentation, stock sales, studio organization, contracts, exhibition, licensing, publishing and artist grants.

Photography today is intrinsically linked to Adobe Photoshop as the pre-eminent digital darkroom tool. Industry experts help you master non-destructive image editing, learn the staggering power of RAW processing, how to target and shift colors with incredible precision, professional selection and masking techniques, and even how to manipulate time in the editing process.

SEMESTER ONE OBJECTIVES

PROJECT GOALS

• Test aperture ranges, shutter speeds, lenses, lighting tools, and filtration options on a wide variety of subjects.
• Thoroughly test the limits of over and under exposure and RAW processing and the effect on the “look” of an image.
• Research, conceptualize, shoot, edit and output a photographic and multimedia documentary essay, including a written artist’s statement.
• Conceptualize, shoot, edit and output a fine-art body of work on a single cohesive theme, including a written artist’s statement.
• Develop and participate in a community of creative peers capable of providing invaluable critical feedback.

LEARNING GOALS

• Understand the components of exposure.
• Acquire a working mastery over a digital SLR camera and standard lenses for still imaging.
• Develop working digital darkroom and library management skills using Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Lightroom.
• Understand basic color management and be able to output accurate prints to modern inkjet printers.
• Recognize the characteristics and make creative use of basic lighting tools and camera position to create drama and emotional impact under typical lighting conditions.
• Become familiar with the history of photography through the experience of studying and re-creating iconic images from the invention of the medium up until 1960.
• Understand and apply theories of aesthetics, semiotics, design, composition and color.

SEMESTER TWO OVERVIEW

The second semester is constructed as an experience of a typical photographer’s professional life, split between commercial assignments and personal work. The idea behind this is twofold: first, to give students the opportunity to actually practice not only creative techniques, but also to become completely comfortable with the business skills photographers need. Secondly, pursing a personal project insures that students never lose sight of what made them fall in love with photography in the first place, and that the demands of commercial work do not overshadow their passion.

The second semester builds on students’ basic skill set and challenges them to refine their technical, aesthetic and business skills. Focusing on commercial image-making, students look at established masters as they work intensively with studio lighting and the DSLR on fashion, product, beauty, and architectural assignments. Art direction and design elements are employed to create distinctive visual styles. In post production, students move beyond basic color and tonal correction into sophisticated compositing techniques, dynamic range extensions, advanced retouching and masking techniques.

Students explore the creative potential of unconventional cameras, and get familiar with the incredible high-definition video capabilities of today’s state-of-the-art DSLR cameras as they are immersed in a unique curriculum of visual storytelling techniques.

Students expand their repertoire of light and shadow as they work with professional lighting and grip hardware, as well as inexpensive and unconventional practical sources of light and shadow.

SEMESTER TWO OBJECTIVES

PROJECT GOALS

• Conceptualize, shoot, edit, print, and hang an exhibition of a personal body of work to contemporary exhibition standards.
• Apply professional business practices to each project, including releases, casting, contracts, and art direction.
• Thoroughly test a wide variety of lenses and alternative image capture devices.
• Conceptualize, shoot, edit and exhibit a commercial photo project, working with models, an art director, sets, and professional lighting equipment.

LEARNING GOALS

• Begin to develop a recognizable personal, iconic style and color palette through the use of composition, color, design, and lighting.
• Refine expert lighting skills that can be applied under controlled and real-world conditions.
• Develop an ability to pre-visualize an image before shooting and to execute it with precision and speed.
• Develop the ability to incorporate planned final RAW processing into exposure techniques.
• Acquire the ability to recognize and fix color correction issues.
• Develop the ability to pre-visualize and produce a wide variety of looks from the same RAW file.
• Learn motion picture storytelling techniques, including writing, directing, producing, lighting, and editing.
• Become familiar with commercial business practices, ethics, contracts, and legal issues.
• Develop expert digital imaging and inkjet printing skills using Adobe Photoshop.
• Become intimately familiar with the history of photography and imaging technology from 1960 through today.