Seeing the Light

Description

This photography program is designed for the serious student at the intermediate and advanced level wishing to do in-depth study of the technical and aesthetic aspects of the medium. Through the combination of darkroom exercises, seeing workshops, seminars and written responses to readings and films, tests, and critiques we will explore the use of small, medium and large format cameras along with aspects of historic and contemporary aesthetics. The course will culminate in a group project dealing with documentation of place and preservation of visual histories.

Readings for the quarter will include but not be restricted to the following books: On Photography by Susan Sontag, Criticizing Photographs by Terry Barrett, Camera Lucida by Roland Barthes, and The Photo Book edited by Ian Jeffrey.

The first part of the program will be devoted to developing skill in the use of large and medium format and 35mm cameras and in how to conduct interviews of people. We will also identify specific areas or groups in the vicinity which might serve as subjects on which to conduct a photographic study. Finally, we will learn about how to make and bind books.

The second part of the program will be spent doing field research (making photos of and interviewing people in the communities we have chosen) and making something from it. At the end of the term, I would like to put our photographic studies into book form and present them to the people who have served as our subjects in recognition of their sharing of their stories and for allowing us to work with them. Each student will also be responsible for doing research and giving a 20-minute presentation on the work of a contemporary or historic photographer.