STUDY PROGRAMME
Painting and Visual Arts

AFAM CODE
ABPR31

DISCIPLINARY AREA
Photography

DISCIPLINARY FIELD
Photography

CREDITS
8

APPROACH
Theoretical/project based

Over this course, the student will approach the culture of photographic projects through the analysis of the historic and technical aspects, also analysing all issues related to “how to look at” and “how to read” photographic images. The course also aims at providing the students with the necessary competences to use analogic and digital photographic tools.

The total credits for this course are 8, divided as follows:

• Photography: 5 CFA

• Photography Techniques: 3 CFA

• In the Photography module, the fundamental trait of photography lays in its ability to “capture”, at once, the whole of figures and moments, spaces and events. With these premises, the programme develops around three main themes: the first two are more theoretical (elements of history and technique of photography, analysis of photography as a language, elements of photography design as a project), whereas the last is devoted to the carrying out of photography projects.

• The Photography Techniques module aims at providing the students with technical competence in the use of analogic and digital photographic tools, from small formats to view cameras, to create mindful photographic images.

• The Photography module syllabus develops around the understanding of the technical aspects of photography, as well as around the creation of photography projects that originate in the research and development of personal themes.

• The Photography Techniques module analyses shutter, diaphragm, exposure, focal length, depth of field, hyperfocal distance, tilt-shift and rise-fall. Beside the technical lessons, there will be practical exercise sessions where the acquired knowledge and competences will be applied. The second part mainly focuses on the photographic-visual language (through the analysis of images belonging to history of art and contemporary art), keeping the link with the practical exercises that lead to the development of individual research projects (a themed visual research to be translated into a photographic project).

• Theoretical/project based classroom lectures

• Workshops

• Use of tutorials, videos or other media tools for detailed study

• Classroom debates and presentations

• Individual study and research

• Field trips (conferences, meetings, visits to exhibitions as organized by the professor or department)

Assessment is based on the overall competence of the students and may include:

• Oral exam

• Written exam

• Submission of papers, projects or research work

Further details on specific tests can be provided by the professor during the course. Assessment criteria include commitment, active participation and personal growth of the students over the course.

• John P. Scaefer, The Ansel Adams Guide: Basic Techniques of Photography,1999.

• Roland Barthes, Camera Lucida: Reflections on photography.

Further bibliographic recommendations may be provided by the professor during the course. A lot of the referenced material, together with other in-depth study material, can be consulted online in MyNaba, in the Library section.