Digital Photography (ART-061)
Syllabus
Quick Links
Tips for Success
Course Learning Outcomes
Course Materials
Assignments
Exams
Grading
Course Policies
Welcome to Art 61: Digital Photography
Photography is an elegant form of visual communication. Learning to use all the tools and techniques of photography is like learning to write the letters of the alphabet and then forming those letters into words, sentences, and meaningful paragraphs. Photography can then help you tell stories, record ideas and memories, express feelings and emotions, and seek understanding. Visual communication, in many cases, can be even more powerful than words.
This course will help you learn the basics of photography, but its purpose is to help you learn to communicate messages with powerful and beautiful imagery.
Tips for Success
If you’re new to online courses, or if you just need a quick refresher, be sure to take a look at these video tutorials!
Prerequisite
This is an introductory course, so there are no prerequisite courses that you should have taken. The course covers some topics you have undoubtedly heard about, but you will expand your knowledge through new concepts and opportunities to apply your understanding.
Course Learning Outcomes
During this course, you will learn the knowledge and skills necessary to do the following:
Discover how to operate a point-and-shoot camera or a DSLR camera.
Identify different types of digital cameras, the locations of their basic components, and the benefits and drawbacks of each type.
Identify and demonstrate the elements of composition.
Know the history of photography.
Demonstrate the appropriate use of the camera controls on a digital camera.
Explore and apply the multistep process of workflow.
Discover and identify memory devices and file types associated with digital cameras and scanners.
Demonstrate basic proficiency in the use of Adobe Photoshop.
Apply and practice copyright laws, ethics, and legal issues dealing with photography as identified in United States Code Title 17, Chapter 1, Section 101.
Recognize the importance of career readiness skills as they relate to the workplace and as outlined in the SkillsUSA Framework—Level 1.
Research the careers available in the field of photography.
Course Materials
Access to a digital camera. We recommend a digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) camera or a mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera (MILC), but a smartphone camera or a similar device will work nearly as well for most of the course.
Access to digital editing software. We recommend Adobe Photoshop, as it is the industry standard, but there are free alternatives like GIMP and Pixlr that will be sufficient for completing the assignments in this course.
Access to the internet. We do not expect everyone taking this course to have access to the same types of cameras or editing software, so you may need to find online tutorials that match the equipment you have available to you.
A tripod (optional). A tripod would be helpful but is not necessary.
Assignments
ART 061 consists of 15 weeks of lesson content and assignments, plus a final exam. Each week, you can expect to have 2 to 4 lessons where you learn to apply principles of photography. You will also have 8 photography exercises that your instructor will quickly check, sometimes you have a quiz (modules 3, 6, 9, 12, and 14), and you will have 3 photography projects due in Modules 6, 13, and 15.
Self-checks on pages within the modules
Self-check questions will test your retention of the reading and help you review. These questions do not count toward your final grade but will help you prepare for the quizzes and final exam.
Discussions
You will have two discussions in Modules 1 and 2. Discussions are worth 15% of your final grade.
Exercises and projects
Most modules, you will have an exercise or a project to complete. Exercises are expected to be completed within the module they are assigned. The first projects span 6 modules. The other two projects span a couple of modules. You will work on them a little each week in preparation for turning in a portfolio of images. Exercises and projects will be submitted for instructor grading and will count for 50% of your final grade.
Quizzes
Every few weeks, you will have a computer-graded quiz. These quizzes will test your retention of the material and help you review for the final exam. Quizzes count for 20% of your final grade.
Final Exam
At the end of the course, you will have a comprehensive, computer-graded final exam. The final exam questions will be modeled after the quiz questions. The final exam counts for 15% of your final grade.
Grading
Your grade in this course will be based on these assignments and exams:
| Assignment | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Quick Check Assignments(8) | 20% |
| Projects(3) | 30% |
| Quizzes (5) | 20% |
| Discussions (2) | 15% |
| Final exam (1) | 15% |
* You must pass the final exam with at least a 60% to earn credit for the course.
Grade Scale
Your letter grade is calculated according to these percentages.
| A | 93% - 100% |
| A- | 90% - 92% |
| B+ | 87% – 89% |
| B | 83% - 86% |
| B- | 80% - 82% |
| C+ | 77% - 79% |
| C | 73% - 76% |
| C- | 70% - 72% | D+ | 67% - 69% |
| D | 63% - 66% |
| D- | 60% - 62% |
| F (fail) | 0% - 59% |
Getting Help
Please use the help menu in this course to contact Academy of America or your instructor. You can find information about tutoring available to Academy of America students on the Tutoring website.
The Resources page offers a wide variety of services to support you:
Academic success skills coaching such as time management, study skills, test preparation, motivation, and more.
Course-specific support that includes live tutoring and on-demand resources.
Come find out how we can help you achieve your goals.
Course Policies
For information about how long you have to complete the course, resubmitting assignments, retaking exams, and other questions, please see Academy of America’s Policies.