The students in this course learn the basics of studio photography. They will also learn how to make Cyanotype prints and will be introduced to digital imaging.

The virtue of the camera is not the power it has to transform the photographer into an artist,
but the impulse it gives him to keep on looking ~ Brooks Anderson

Course Outline Download :: FA 6th Semester Gallery :: Reference Links ::.

Introduction ::.

The Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture offers photography as a FA minor subject in Semesters 5, 6 and 7. Each minor’s duration is six or seven weeks, during which time the students practice concentrated studio and outdoor photography sessions. The first and second minors are concerned with developing technical and visual skills, the third with the conceptual aspects of a personal portfolio.

Course Objectives :: Fundamentals of Studio Lighting ::.

For the most part, the sixth semester class is concerned with mastering the 35mm camera and gaining technical control over exposure and light ratios, studio lighting and the creation of aesthetically pleasing still-life and portrait images; emphasis is placed upon experimentation.

Detailed Course Description ::.

This semester, through demonstrations, lectures, and assignments on alternative days, students will be prepared with basic knowledge and the techniques of strobe lighting as applied to people and some still-life photography. By this stage students have covered various aspects of photography, and move on from the intermediate level to the advanced. As a minor, “Fundamentals of Studio Lighting” has longer class durations owing to the studio sessions incorporated into the course. The school has a professional studio equipped with tungsten (hot lights) and strobe lights (electronic flash) and several other studio accessories; this is an incredible opportunity for experimentation and growth as this material, which was not available in earlier classes, will be on hand for exploration. Students will experiment with different electronic flash equipment while learning how to control contrast, direction, and color balance. We will explore a myriad of ways to modify light using umbrellas, soft-boxes, snoots, barn-doors, honeycombs, reflectors, projectors, spots, gobos and other diffusion materials.

A studio environment is ideal for still-life and portrait photography as the transition is made from ‘seizing the moment’ to ‘creating the moment’. Taking a tabletop or space as the blank slate, the student builds photographs from the bottom up by adding substance and light until the photograph says entirely what the photographer wants it to say. Studio still-life and portrait photography are pleasurable means of creative expression and visual experimentation. They encourage the student to use the tools and techniques learnt in the studio and apply them to concepts thematically outline in this course. Topics include working with light, selection of lenses and films; special manipulations are possible in the choice of lighting, perspective, camera angle, surface propping, multiple exposures, front projection and other esoteric techniques which can be applied. Alongside are lectures on various fine art concepts of known artists.

In addition, students for this course are to practice and learn an alternative photography process technique called “Cyanotype” which will take their darkroom knowledge to an elevated level. The shooting sessions are done in color slide, negative or black & white films. Digital preparation with Photoshop CS3 for printing assignment images will be demonstrated, once studio techniques have been understood.

The Visual Journal ::.

Students must maintain this journal as part of their creative process. This will become a personal indication of your own photographic ‘escape’. The Visual Journal should contain:

::. A collection of ideas and inspirations
::. Documentation of your research into processes and content
::. Reviews, critiques, quotes, clippings, tear sheets.
::. An information sheet for each and folio assignment
::. Technical requirements and equipment used

The Assignments ::.

These assignments should only be attempted after the successful completion of five of the ten mandatory assignments practiced in class as a group. Studio still-life photography is a medium for creative expression and visual experimentation. They encourage the student to use the tools and techniques of studio still-life photography for concepts of visual communication natural to the still life. Topics include working with light, selection of lenses, fine art photography concepts. Moreover, there are special manipulations possible¾choice of lighting, perspective, camera angle, surface propping, multiple exposures, front projection and other esoteric techniques which can be applied. Overall basic to advanced skills in studio lighting techniques are taught to the minor students. The shooting sessions are done in either black and white and color or both films. The following assignments are designed to give you know-how with specific techniques, methods and mediums. They are examples of your experiments and use of a specific technique, method or medium and are NOT anticipated to be finished works of art. They ARE expected to be successful applications of technique, method & medium and to display thought concerning concept & aesthetics.

::. Still life on a Seamless White Background
::. Numeral Expression
::. Metallic Objects
::. The Creative Darkroom Project III :: Alternative Photography Processes “Cyanotype”
::. Digital Imaging
::. Five Portraits
::. Master Fine Artists’ Work :: Literal & Non Literal Presentations

Final Work Submission ::.

A total number of 19 images, to be submitted in a durable portfolio case (purchase appropriate size from an art supply shop) visual diary along your with a CD containing high-quality jpegs of the images. The overall quality of the execution and presentation of the work will have a considerable impact on the outcome of the grade.

::. Print size: 12″ ×16″ (remember to retain the 2:3 ratio of the 35mm format)

::. Mounts: Use 16″ × 20″ white/off-white window mounts and visually centralize the image; paste typed labels on the reverse identifying yourself and the assignment.

Course Reference Links ::.

http://www.edwardaddeo.com ::. Edward Addeo began his career by photographing still life’s for House & Garden and Vogue. While shooting commercially for top ad agencies he has remained involved with many personal & editorial projects.

http://www.tedmorrison.com ::. Beautiful site design ...studio photography at is best ... amazing work.

http://www.hunterfreeman.com/::. Some good examples of white seamless table product photography.

http://www.stuartheir.com ::. Slow web site with great imagery, well worth a visit if you have a good internet connection.

http://www.maslov.com/photographers/jones/index.html ::. Deborah Jones’ wonderful still-life and food photography can be seen in over two dozen books including the extremely beautiful French Laundry Cookbook.

http://www.charlesschiller.com ::. Clean simple straight well-lit product photography.

http://www.spikerphoto.com/ ::. hmm must i tell you about everyone ...do check his work out, time will be well spent.

http://www.michaelgrecco.com/advertising.php ::. From advertising to editorial, Michael Grecco's work is continually raising the photographic bar. He is known for dynamic portraiture and capturing the essence of his subjects. Grecco works with an unrivaled technical ability and a rare sensitivity. The image he has created for himself is authentic, composed and always striking.

http://www.taylor-photo.com ::. minimalist studio photography at its best.

http://www.dantobinsmith.com/ ::. just when you thought you had seen everything in studio photography.

http://www.fabfoodphotography.com/index.html ::. another great web site to check-out food photography on ... a feast for hungry eyes yummy

http://www.pinhole.nl/index.htm ::. Bethany de Forest (1966) Worlds of Magic.... one of Bethany's main activities was creating settings, which she then photographed. With an ordinary camera the images remained too distant. Her objective was to create a "realistic" imaginary world, in which one can supposedly wander around....Pinhole photography is able to capture this feeling.

http://www.papercams.com/gallery/photos.html ::. Thomas Hudson Reeve takes pinhole photography to another level, since the camera is the final image hmmmm ! sounds silly but before you give a verdict, check out this amazing style of work.

http://www.chrismccaw.com ::. Chris McCaw from San Francisco, CA says:" My work captures those moments in life when you really appreciate the world and how beautiful and strange it can be. By working with the optics of my home made 7"x17" view camera and printing in hand coated platinum/palladium."

http://www.fleminglunsford.com/index.html ::. Fleming Lunsford's photography relies on alternative processes, mainly large format pinhole camera work and Polaroid emulsion lifts.

http://web.mac.com/j.k.schreiber/JKSchreiber/Welcome_.html ::. J Keith Schreiber does photography and print making. The Photographic works have been printed using Platinum and Palladium printing processes.

http://www.andrzejlech.com/default2.asp ::. Andrzej Lech has a refreshing collection of work. Pinhole photography, Polaroid Image Transfer and much more.

http://www.jillskupinburkholder.com/ ::. Bromoil Prints

http://home.earthlink.net/~chernewski/ ::. Anita Chernewski a New York photographer . "When I looked through my first camera, it was love at first sight. I realized I held a magic box."Ms. Chernewski runs the Pinhole Format site and wrote it's booklet on "How to make three Pinhole Cameras". Her photographs (not all are pinhole) are not immediately accessible, but worth a look. Click 'Pinhole Links' from the home page. Then click 'Other Photography and Art Links' and look for Ms. Chernewski's name.

http://www.darrylasher.com ::. Darryl J.Asher: "Through my personal technique with Polaroid transfer photography, I strive to create images that are both unique and familiar at once...

http://www.etheisen.com ::. Ernest J. Theisen has been active in pictorial photography for over twenty years. Ernest makes prints and teaches printmaking in virtually all the pictorialist processes.

http://er3.com/donna ::. Donna Hamil Talman: Combination printing of two processes: Van Dyke & Cyanotype Process.

http://perso.wanadoo.fr/hamish/gumphoto.html ::. Hemish Stewart's Gum Bichromate Photography, Great web site for information on the Gum Process, Also a Good selection of images in Gallery.

http://www.jgiudicelli.com ::. Jacqueline & Jean-Louis are Gummists based in Paris; online we see a small gallery of small images.

http://home.att.net/~jeffrey.d.mathias ::. Jeffrey D. Mathias /Platinum Palladium Photographic Printmaking. An endless image gallery covering various topics.

http://www.xs4all.nl/~moroux/ ::. One of my favorite sites for alternative process images; it is interesting to note that this photographer insists on Kallitype and Van Dyke images being of the same process.

http://www.sx70.com/index.html ::. Her work is in such intense colors that are quite a treat for the eyes.

http://www.sightphoto.com/sightphoto/cutright ::. Paul Grant Cutright Polaroid image transfers and manipulations. These images do what the best ones do: they bypass the rational parts of the brain and stimulate a more basic, emotional response.

http://www.kerik.com ::. Famous Fine Art Photographer Platinum Printer who needs no introduction.

http://www.carlweese.com/ ::. Carl Weese's Photographs in Platinum and Silver; "For the past several years almost all of my work has been large format photographs printed by contact, mainly using hand-coated platinum/palladium papers."

http://www.bostick-sullivan.com/Gallery/Fokos/fokos.htm ::. David Fokos's images of landscapes in platinum and palladium prints made from digital negatives.

http://home.wanadoo.nl/bkarhof ::. space is a multiple experience, not a single framed issue. Since 1993 photographical designer Bob Karhof experiments with multiple and sequential photography.

http://photoarts.com/gallery/lousberg/Index.html ::. haunting pinhole photography ... work well worth a visit

http://www.joachimknill.com/polgal/index.shtml ::. Joachim Knill's most recent work consists of 20" X 30" Polaroid photographs which he photographs with the world's largest portable instant film camera designed and built by himself. The one of a kind photographs depict macro still-lifes and surreal landscapes using fruits, plants, vegetables, flowers, and other materials found in nature.

http://www.alternativephotography.com/ ::. Malin Fabbri's incredible site is full of information on anything to do with Alternative photography and processes. She took an MA in Design studies at St. Martin's School of Design. Her thesis was 'Alternative photography' and that's how this site got started. Malin still lives and works in London.

http://www.silverprint.co.uk/ ::. Silverprint Ltd, 12 Valentine Place, London SE1 8QH Tel 020 7620 0844 - Suppliers of almost any chemical and other stuff related to darkroom work of the traditional and the Alternative kind.


http://www.hahnemuehle.com/ ::. Founded in 1584 we are the oldest German papermakers manufacturing papers for traditional and digital artists as well as industrial papers.

http://www.mikeware.demon.co.uk ::. Mike Ware's Alternative Photography Pages The Science, History and Art of the so-called "Alternative Photographic Processes' Information seems endless but with a lack of images.

http://www.pinhole.com ::. The Pinhole Visions web site provides organized access to all types of information on pinhole photography, and most especially to the work of pinhole photographers. This site is continually updated.

http://www.pinholeformat.com ::. Pinhole photography Gallery. Pinhole photography uses a camera without a lens. A very fine needle hole in a thin brass shim replaces the lens. Light passes through the hole and an image is formed on film in the camera.

http://www.photoarts.com/pac/exhibition/sager/splash2.html ::. Tim Sager's stereo pinhole photographs don't need to seek attention. Their strong graphic elements are a cross between a dream and a reality.

http://www.artic.edu/~fendsley/Endsley_AltProc ::. Notes on how to do various Alt-Processes by Fred Endsley who is a multimedia artist, consultant, and Professor of Photography at The School of The Art Institute of Chicago.

http://www.pacificsites.com/~hdupre ::. On Line Polaroid Image Transfer Book in pdf format (Adobe Acrobat). Tools, Techniques are all well covered by Holly.F.Dupre' also presents a gallery to view.

http://www.fotospeed.com ::. Fotospeed are the world's leading brand in specialist photographic toners, alternative processes, photographic papers, inkjet papers, and more. Argyrotype, Cyanotype, Lith Toner or Lith Developer, Copper, Gold, Selenium Toners, Palette Toner or FotoDyes.

http://photoconservation.com ::. Dedicated to the study of printing and photographic processes. Their history, care and identification-Luis Nadeau.

http://www.alternativephotography.com/books/js_post_factory.html ::. Judy Seigel, Editor of World Journal of Post-Factory Photography. Its the best underground do-it-yourself alternative process photography magazine in the world, and contains information that is very difficult to come by in one convenient location.

http://www.artcraftchemicals.com ::. Since 1990, Artcraft Chemicals has been an industry leader in supplying schools, companies and individuals with photo-chemicals as well as many other chemicals. With double digit growth every year, since its inception, Artcraft has a consistency and proven service record of supplying their clients with products that they need most.

http://www.cartierefabriano.it/ukindex.html ::. For centuries, Fabriano has been famous the world over for its production of exceptionally fine papers for fine arts, printmaking and stationery.

http://www.daylab.com/index.html ::. they specialize in imaging products & supplies for artists who create imagery utilizing the Polaroid Instant™ processing techniques of Image Transfer & Emulsion Transfer™ & SX 70™ Manipulation.

http://www.polaroidwork.com ::. When you press the camera shutter button, the opportunity for creativity has just begun. Using Polaroid films and imaging solutions, an ordinary photograph is just the starting point to great works of art, including image transfers, emulsion lifts, SX-70 photo manipulations, Watergraphs, and hand-painted photographs.

http://www.photoformulary.com/ ::. Classic formulas and printing processes Kits - including PMK Pyro, film developers, paper developers, fixers, toners, holography, reducers, intensifiers Lab ware, books, glass coating rods, contact print frames, liquid emulsion, Acculab scales - Alternative process kits and chemicals, including platinum and palladium.