Darkroom Photography I – Professor Greco

Syllabus

Queens College
Art Department / Photography & Imaging
PHOTO 176-01/ARTS 6203-06/ARTS 7272-06
Darkroom Photography I
Tuesday 10:00am – 1:50pm
Klapper Hall 140
Spring 2022

Instructor: Matt Greco
Office: Klapper 108
Hours: By Appointment
Email: matthew.greco@qc.cuny.edu mfgreco@gmail.com
Course Website: professorgreco.com

Course Description:
Darkroom Photography will emphasize the creative aspects of using a still camera such as subject matter, point of view, natural and artificial light as well as the technical aspects such as SLR operation and basic image processing. In addition to traditional black and white film and print development we will learn alternative printing techniques as well as alternative imaging processes. This course is designed to give you an appreciation for the handcrafted and as such we will be manipulating different materials. Through the close critique of your own images, images taken by your classmates and imagery in the public sphere you will learn how to interpret and understand the avalanche of images we encounter during our day. This course will be as much about how to make good images as it will be about how to look at them.

Course Objectives:
At the close of this course the successful student will have a comprehensive understanding of the operation of a single lens reflex (SLR) camera and black and white film and print development as well as an introduction to alternative imaging equipment and techniques. They will master an image workflow that includes familiarity with BW film, silver gelatin paper, and the equipment/tools used in alternative imaging techniques. They will expand their vocabulary to include the proper terminology for creating and critiquing photographs. They will demonstrate the ability to think creatively, form project ideas, and follow those ideas from conception to realization.

Course Requirements:
Students will be expected to complete all assignments on time and to the best of their ability. Students are expected to attend every class but life does happen so you get 3 absences, after that additional absences will likely result in missed material and thus a lower grade. Be on time please; tardiness is as bad as absences, I will begin class a few minutes late to give everyone time to get settled in – do not abuse this. There will be a paper due (relax, it will be a short paper) and will relate to the film we watch. We will have a final critique; attendance is required.

Reasonable Accommodations for Students with Disabilities: Students with disabilities needing academic accommodation should register with the Special Services Office by emailing QC.SPSV@qc.cuny.edu. For more information about services available to Queens College students, visit the Office of Special Services website: https://www.qc.cuny.edu/studentlife/services/specialserv/Pages/default.aspx.

CUNY Policy on Academic Integrity:
Only your own photos, images and/or writing are permitted for use in projects. The unauthorized use of images and compositions that are not your own is considered plagiarism. Academic Dishonesty is prohibited in The City University of New York and is punishable by penalties, including failing grades, suspension, and expulsion as provided at https://www.cuny.edu/about/administration/offices/legal-affairs/policies-procedures/academic-integrity-policy/.

Course Website:
Please check our course website every week for updates to the syllabus or schedule, links to information and resources, and a student gallery page where we will showcase your work throughout the semester.

Grades:
Projects – 40%
Paper – 20%
Final critique and final portfolio – 40%

Rough Outline of Projects (subject to change):

Black and White Photography (4 rolls of 120 & 3 final prints)

Basics of camera exposure, film development, and print development.

Cellphonography (30 images)

How to shoot with your cell phone, upload your pictures to Adobe Elements (and iPhoto), create a good digital negative

Cyanotypes (3 digital negatives & 3 final prints)

Before there were inkjet prints there were silver gelatin prints. What was before that?

Printing:
We will be creating prints the good old-fashioned way…with our hands. Your M&T Fee will be either cancelled or refunded because of limited access to campus due to COVID, but you will still receive some supplies and you will be expected to purchase some supplies. Keep prints safe and clean; you will show these at final critique.

Paper:
Watch the films and write a 1-2-page, double-spaced response/reaction paper to one or both. Take notes as you watch the film on aspects that strike you as particular interesting, sad, or inspiring. Use those notes to write a 1-2-page paper on the film. This is a response/reaction paper not a research paper. I want your thoughts, feelings, and reactions to the film not a synopsis. The idea is for you to find something that you connect to in the film, something that gives you pause to think and use that as inspiration for your paper. Ask yourself; what is the documentary trying to say? What does the filmmaker want you to think? Do you agree? Have you had any experiences like are portrayed in the film? Do my experiences agree with the filmmaker? How does this documentary make me feel? Does it change the way I think? Does this kind of work by wealthy and famous artists exploit their subjects? Did this project benefit the subjects? Were they better off to have experienced it? Or worse off? Plagiarism of any kind will not be tolerated.

Equipment:
The equipment we will use throughout the semester will vary. Below is a list of items you will need to borrow or buy (subject to change, recommendation links can be found on course website):
-Holga camera
-50 sheets 8×10 RC VC B&W printing paper
-5 rolls 120 film – 400 ASA B&W film
-3-ring Binder
-5 sheets 22×30 hot press watercolor paper

Schedule (subject to change):

Week 1: 2.1
Introductions
course outline, review syllabus, required equipment, recommended reading

Week 2: 2.8
NO CLASS – TUESDAY is a FRIDAY

Week 3: 2.15
History of Photography, Science of Film, Aesthetics of Images
What is exposure? Shutter speeds, F-stops, ISO, Lenses, Depth of Field
What makes a good photograph? Composition, Color, Balance, Subject
Order Holga, film, & paper

Week 4: 2.22
Holga Camera intro
Loading 120 film intro
Film dev 120mm intro
Loading film – practice

Week 5: 3.1
BW Film Dev Demo
Loading film – practice
Loading Holga
Shoot 1 roll on campus – unload/reload Holga

Week 6: 3.8
Load 1 roll 120mm film
Develop 120mm film
Hang to dry
Shoot 1 roll of 120mm film for 3.15

Week 7: 3.15
Cutting/sleeving negs demo
BW Printing Demo – contact printing
Shoot 2 rolls 120mm film for 3.22

Week 8: 3.22
BW Printing Demo – density, contrast filters
Develop film
Make prints

Week 9: 3.29
BW Printing Review
Workday:
Develop film
Make prints

Week 10: 4.5
Workday:
Develop film
Make prints

Week 11: 4.12
Film & Discussion – Waste Land
Discuss requirements of paper
Order cyanotype supplies
Shoot 10 cellphone images for 4.26

Week 12: 4.19
NO CLASS – SPRING BREAK

Week 13: 4.26
Cellphonography – taking pictures with a cell phone
Intro to Adobe Elements
Making digital negatives
Choose final 3 digital images for digital neg
Hand in cellphone images for negs

Week 14: 5.3
Cyanotype 1 – non-silver printing
Mix chemicals
Coat paper – dry paper
Contact printing
Pick up digital negs

Week 15: 5.10
Cyanotype 2 – non-silver printing cont.
Using picture frame as contact printer
Reprint digital negatives

Week 16: 5.17
Workday
Final BW prints finished
Final Cyanotype prints finished

Week 17: 5.24
Final critique
You will show 3 final BW prints and 2 final cyanotypes
Paper due

End of Semester
All work due 5.26 – 9am

PDF of Syllabus

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