Taught In English

There is no language prerequisite for courses at this language level.

Course description:
The course offers the acquisition of basic photographic skills as a means of cultural exploration.
Through practice exercises and field trips aiming to apply the information provided through lectures, students will consciously explore Costarrican culture through the creation photographic images in black and white.

Objectives:
By the end of the course students should:
- Have a general knowledge of the history of photography.
- Have a clear knowledge of the basic photographic processes.
- Correctly handle a 35mm single lens reflex photographic camera.
- Make use of composition tools to create clearer and more direct photographic images.
- Correctly enlarge photographic images in black & white to a size of up to 8 x 10 inches.
- Add basic visual effects to an image at the exposure and printing stages.
- Build a personal perspective on Costarican culture.
- Create photographic images to effectively transmit their views on Costarican culture.

Contents:
History of photography
Properties of lighting:
• Intensitiy
• Quality
• Color temperature
• Artificial and natural light sources
The photographic camera:
• The pinhole camera
• Photographic lenses
• Light meter and exposure
• Exposure compensation
• Shutter
• Diaphragm aperture
• Depth of field
• Movement depiction
Black and white printing:
• Black and white film
• Film processing
• Picture enlargement
• Basic darkroom visual effects
Image conception and creation:
• Photographic communication
• Photographic composition
Culture:
• Definition
• Main aspects of Costarican culture

Evaluation:
10% 2 written tests
10% Attendance and participation
50% 8 assignments
30% Final project
The course is graded on a basis of 100 with a minimum passing grade of 80/100.
Partial projects will only be graded on their due date. Any assignment handed in 30 minutes after the beginning of the class will receive a grade of 1/10.
All partial assignments may be corrected and submitted before ***** in order to improve the grade.
If a sudent is unable to attend class, he/she must send his/her due assignment.
Bibliography:
Adams, Ansel. (2003). The Camera. New York: Little, Brown & Company.
Adams, Ansel. (1981). The negative. New York: Little, Brown & Company.
Adams, Ansel. (2003). The print. New York: Little, Brown & Company.
Langford, Michael J. (1990). La fotografía paso a paso, un curso completo. Barcelona: Blume
Langford, Michael J. (1974). Fotografía Básica. Barcelona: Ediciones Omega.
Schaub, G. (2001). Using your camera. A basic guide to 35mm photography. Estados Unidos: Amphoto Books / Watson-Guptill.