Photography: Theory and Technique

INTRODUCTION
This unit combines a theoretical and practical approach to contemporary photography, paying
special attention to Spanish photography.
Using slide presentations and group discussion, we will outline an itinerary throughout the main
movements in the history of the medium and its evolution until today.
There will be practical exercises about each of the genres discussed. The tutor will supervise and co-edit
during the course every single student final project.

AIMS
- Develop technical and photographic skills.
- Foster an analytic approach to contemporary images
- Understand the possibilities of photography as a way of expression and information.
- Develop the student knowledge of photography’s history.
- Improve social and workgroup skills.

METHODOLOGY
The classes are based in a participative method which fosters a proactive role among students, through
activities such as debates and group analysis on a number of subjects such as history, aesthetic principles,
main authors, etc...

COURSE CONTENTS
1. - INTRODUCTION. THE WORLD IN PICTURES. PHOTOGRAPHY APPLICATIONS AND USES
- Revisiting the invention of photography
- Politics of representation. Photography’s "true-effect"
- Information vs. communication vs. knowledge
- Telling stories through photography. Framing up reality.
- History of Photography I. From 1839 to the Brownie Cameras.
Practice: First Photo-walk (creative use of camera controls)
2. - TECNICAL FOUNDATIONS AND DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY I
- The eye and the camera
- The "camera obscura" and the latent picture
- Understanding light
- Differences and similarities between analogical and photography
- How does digital photography work?
- Images files (Raw, Tiff, Jpg, etc)
- Workflow
- Developing Raw archives
- Picture optimization and retouching
- Size of images
- Digital Black and White
Practice: Introduction to GIMP
3. - FORMATS AND OPTICS
- Cameras: small, medium and large format
- Different types of lenses and its meaning
Practice: Street Photography / Snapshot
Practice: Introduction to GIMP II
4. - HISTORY OF PHOTOGRAPHY (II)
- From the early 20th century to the 1960s.
Practise:
5. - PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY
Practice: Me, myself and I
6. - LANDSCAPE AND ARCHITECTURE PHOTOGRAPHY
Practice: Communication/ Leisure time
7. - HISTORY OF PHOTOGRAPHY (III)
- From the 1960´s to the present day.
Practice: Fiction
8. - DOCUMENTARY PHOTOGRAPHY
- Truth as appearance
- The document as witness
9. - PHOTOGRAPHY AND MEDIA
- Multimedia as an still picture based language
- Still and moving image. Photography and film language.
Case Study: Chris Marker La Jetée.
- Photography and Social Networks
11. - CONTEMPORARY SPANISH PHOTOGRAPHY
- From the revolts against Francoism to mass culture after the political Transition.
- Democracy and Postmodernism in Spain
- Present context
Practice: Student presentations
12. - PHOTOGRAPHIC ESSAY
- The editing process
- Final photo project
Practice: Student presentations and conclusion.