Course Description
The practice of landscape photography and the recording of place. Includes an overview of the history and practice of landscape photography. Students will develop studio projects that engage both natural and urban landscapes, considering the social, political, and personal engagements with the earth.
Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:
Graduate students will be required to engage research
components outside of the art making practice, presenting
written papers and/or oral presentations on historical
movements and contemporary practices. In addition, the studio
work of those enrolled at the graduate level will require more
extensive research and practice resulting in portfolios that
are larger, craft that is more refined, and concepts that are
more fully realized.
Athena Title
LANDSCAPE PHOTO
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
This course is designed for students to engage the practice of documenting the land through photography and video as a practice of recording time and place, both natural and urban. Classroom discussions, slide lectures, gallery visits, research projects and critiques will expose the students to the conceptual framework of historical and contemporary practices in landscape photography. Graduate students will be required to research artists and/or movements within this genre, presenting both a written paper and multiple oral presentations of those topics, including both factual research and conceptual engagements into the ideas within the chosen subjects. Through research students will become familiar with social, political and personal topics impacting local and regional landscapes to engage in their work. Emphasis in the course will be on portfolio development through proposed project design and implementation. Students will be required to engage assignment topics and present their work in the context of historical and contemporary practices within the medium. In presenting his/her photographs, each student will be expected to assimilate and analyze the topic of the assignment and present the work orally as well as through various modes and media, including the use of appropriate technology. Students will be expected to engage other students' work with dialogue that is stylistically appropriate and mature. During critiques students will learn to communicate for academic and professional contexts, supporting a consistent purpose and point of view while considering and engaging opposing points of view. Students will be required to interpret inferences within each photograph or video being discussed, developing subtleties of symbolic and indirect discourse.
Topical Outline
This course will include an overview of historical and contemporary practices in landscape photography through readings and slide/video presentations. Class discussions will engage effective use of media to tell stories of place, possibly engaging public opinion or perception. Studio practice and technical assignments related to landscape photography will be covered in detail. Sustained personal portfolio development through project design and implementation practices. Regular critiques on developing work. Regular in-class assisted studio and lab work.