This course combines research and studio components. The research topic, broadly painted, will be fine art documentary practices, grounded with the entry-level hands-on studio component of digital photography.
Related to these two components, there are two expected outcomes: to give participants creative control of photographic tools (technical, formal, conceptual) prior to their possible departure for study-away, but also to explore the issues and ethics of documentary photographic practice. While the research topic is broad, including theory and tradition, this course would place particular emphasis on the ethics of photographing outside of one’s own group or culture (more below).
Through research (readings, short writing assignments, discussion) and the production of a small body of work, each student should complete this course with a basic technical foundation in digital photography generally, as well as an introductory understanding of documentary photographic practice—including gaining an awareness of the responsibility involved when “taking” someone’s picture.
Related to these two components, there are two expected outcomes: to give participants creative control of photographic tools (technical, formal, conceptual) prior to their possible departure for study-away, but also to explore the issues and ethics of documentary photographic practice. While the research topic is broad, including theory and tradition, this course would place particular emphasis on the ethics of photographing outside of one’s own group or culture (more below).
Through research (readings, short writing assignments, discussion) and the production of a small body of work, each student should complete this course with a basic technical foundation in digital photography generally, as well as an introductory understanding of documentary photographic practice—including gaining an awareness of the responsibility involved when “taking” someone’s picture.
- Teacher: Richard Koenig