ART 2674 - Introduction to Photography
Fall 2026 Syllabus, Section 01, CRN 41184,
Credit hours: 3
Course Meeting Times
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Instructor
Anthony Nicholas
Email: amnicholas@ysu.edu
Course Description
2674. Introduction to Photography. Introduction to black and white digital photographic image capture emphasizing visual literacy, creative possibilities and critical awareness of the medium as an art form. Course content focuses on DSLR camera operation, composition and basic computer editing using Adobe Lightroom. A digital SLR camera is required. Prereq.: C or better in ART 1503 or permission of instructor. 3 s.h.
Course Readings
| Group | Title | Author | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|
| No required readings |
The course readings are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances, research developments, current events, and/or to ensure better learning.
Assignments/Assessments
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Schedule of Topics and Assignments
| Week of | Proposed Topic | Due/To Prepare for Class |
|---|---|---|
| 8/24 | Introductions, review of syllabus, discuss camera needs. Begin lecture on exposure. | |
| 8/31 | It is very important to get a camera ASAP. Lecture on exposure triangle. Getting to know your camera. Discuss and show examples for first assignment. First assignment is Subject Placement. Students will be evaluated on technical knowledge of camera operation and proper exposures as well as creative treatment of the assignment. We will be going outside to practice shooting and familiarize everyone with their camera. A lecture and visual examples for assignment one. |
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| 9/7 | First assignment critique: Subject Placement. Students will be prepared to show and discuss work on first assignment. | Subject Placement Due: 9/7 (subject to change) |
| 9/14 | Assignment 2- Dynamic Motion. This is a two part assignment. First part utilizing blur. Second part is freezing motion. Lecture and visual samples of the assignment will be discussed in class. 9/16 We will discuss and introduce Adobe Lightroom as your editing tool. |
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| 9/21 | 9/21 History and aesthetic lecture and video 9/23 Critique of assignment 2- Dynamic Motion |
Dynamic Motion Due: 9/23 (subject to change) |
| 9/28 | Assignment 3- Depth of Field. Students will practice and use camera settings to utilize DOF in order to emphasize the subjects in your images. We will discuss and show examples in class. |
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| 10/5 | History Essay- Assignment 4- Students will choose from a provided list of photographers and write a 2-5 page essay and provide image examples of the photographers work. Be prepared to show and present your paper to the class. 10/7 Depth of Field critique |
Depth of Field Due: 10/7 (subject to change) |
| 10/12 | Assignment 5- Light and Shadow: students will use light and shadow as visual elements to accentuate the subjects or creatively use light and shadow as the subject. | |
| 10/19 | 10/21 Assignment 5 critique 10/19 class shoot day. Use this time to work on assignment 5. |
Light and Shadow Due: 10/21 (subject to change) |
| 10/26 | History essay presentations due. Each student will present their essay and chosen photographers work. | History Essay Due: 10/26 (subject to change) |
| 11/2 | Photo Essay: Assignment 6- This assignment will be created throughout the entire semester. It will culminate with a booklet or portfolio of images tell the story of your semester. You can pull images from the assignments and make pictures from your daily lives. This will be due at the end of the semester. |
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| 11/9 | Assignment 7-Portrait assignment. A two part assignment. Students will do a few portraits of someone in front of a plain white backdrop. A full length, head to toe image and also closer of half torso and a headshot. 2nd part of assignment is an environmental portrait of the same person. The environmental portrait is one taken in a location that speaks about the person you are photographing. ie workplace, favorite place, place where they spend most of their time etc. As per previous assignments we will discuss and show examples in class. 11/11 Class Photographing Day |
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| 11/16 | Minimalist assignment. Assignment 8 - This assignment will be done during class. We will go outside and photograph for a specific amount of time, using a minimalism approach. The idea is to get to the essence of the thing photographed, framing the image to omit any extraneous elements. The challenge here is to only have one specific location for everyone to photograph in. Then during critique we will see how each of you chose what to photograph. The idea is to not follow a classmate around and photograph how or what they choose to photograph. It is to show us the thing photographed as only you see it. |
Portrait Assignment Due: 11/16 (subject to change) Minimalist Assignment Due: 11/18 (subject to change) |
| 11/23 | History lecture and video component. The week will be utilized for editing and working on extra credit assignments or any reworked assignments. | |
| 11/30 | This week will be used as lab time to print and edit your photo essay projects in preparations for final critique. | |
| 12/7 | Final critiques - The photo essay assignment will be critiqued. This will be treated as a final exam. You must be in attendance ready to show your work. Any outstanding circumstances will be handled on a case by case basis. | Photo Essay Due |
The course schedule, policies, procedures, and assignments in this course are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances, by mutual agreement, and/or to ensure better learning.