NMD 341 Documentary Photography & Storytelling
INSTRUCTOR
Joline Blais
Associate Professor of New Media
244 Boardman
Zoom / Slack
Please use Slack direct message to contact me–it’s private and much faster than email
LOGISTICS
Class
T/TH 3:30-4:45 112 IMRC, with field trips once/week
3 credit hours.
Office hours
T/TH 2-3:15 pm 244 Boardman; Wed 4-5 pm ZOOM
Slack anytime bef 9 pm
OVERVIEW
This class will explore the tools and techniques required to produce quality digital photography in the context of telling stories. The skills and strategies you learn will prepare you for work in many digital, online and journalistic fields, and teach you how to use your skill in “visual listening” to draw out the stories that matter to you and that you want to communicate to others. You will also learn basic workflow techniques, as well as publishing and printing techniques, including web, social media, book, and print venues.
You will also learn to deal responsibly with issues of invasion of privacy, subject representation, copyright and fair use and image manipulation.
MATERIALS
Cambridge in Color & materials on class website
DSLR Camera
Smartphone with camera
Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop
Filmic Firstlight App
NMD Portfolio or WordPress.com (for non-NMD students) for publishing
OUTCOMES
- understanding and skill using DSLR camera, and smartphone alternatives
- knowledge of and comfort with exposure, metering, depth of field, lenses, focusing
- practice with basic camera composition: rule of thirds, diagonals, negative spaces, narrative
- ability to conceive and create a story using photos
- confidence with basic workflow techniques from planning, photographing, importing, organizing, editing, and distributing photos
- experience with publishing and printing techniques, including web, social media, book, and print venues.
- familiarity with photo organizing and editing software like Lightroom and Photoshop
- ability to produce composite images: HDR, Panoramas, multiple exposures
- comfort with WordPress publishing tools like carousels, galleries, and flicker integration.
GRADING
- 15% each Project 1, Project 2
- 50% Weekly Tasks
- 20% Quizzes/Participation/Attendance
Final
There will be no final exam for anyone with Quiz average of 90 or greater.
Grading scale
Grades are slightly curved and follow this scale:
- A Outstanding—you have excelled in more than one area in the completion of all assignments
- B Above average—you have exceeded average completion of all assignments
- C Average—you have completed most assignments in an average way
- D Poor—you have work missing, and average results for work turned in
- F Failing—you have work missing and below average achievement
COURSE EXPECTATIONS
Completing work
Complete your assignments on time. Assignments have clear logged due dates on the class website, and you will lose points for late work without a valid excuse (you get 2 of these per semester–use them wisely). Also. you can’t catch up on missed conversation if the group has moved onto another topic.
Any “revisions” are due within a week or original due date, and should be posted with a “revision or revised” category for the post. No late work is accepted without clear cause and prior negotiation.
Attendance
Class participation and contribution (including prep reading & quizzes and giving feedback to peers) counts for 20% of your grade, so do attend all classes except when you are sick, or have a legitimate excuse negotiated by the instructor. Life happens and we can flex around your needs. To accommodate this all students get 2 free absences. Any more absences, unless for critical issues negotiated with instructor will lower your overall grade by 1 point (from total grade) per absence.
In the event of an unavoidable absence, do try to make up the work by talking with me, reviewing schedule, and also discussing with classmates. It’s wise to choose a partner/study buddy at the beginning of class to support each other in cases of absence.
Behavior
Knowledge is created via social interactions. You will get more out of the class if you and your classmates speak up in class to give feedback, ask questions, suggest additional resources or models, or otherwise contribute to the social creating of knowledge in your particular class.
Respect the views of others. Avoid interrupting your fellow students during discussions or presentations, though raising a hand to ask a question or support them is fine. At times, controversy can lead to opening up everyone’s thinking, but beware of emotional or personal attacks, i.e. flaming, as you would in any communication medium.
Feel free to take respectful breaks as you need to restroom, personal emergencies, urgent communications, or just to move the blood in your body. Use scheduled breaks to move your body, get fresh air, and get your blood running.
Personal Constraints
Do contact me if you have an especially difficult personal constraint–such as your own illness, or children or parents you need to care for. I may not be able to help, but I can probably direct you to someone who can. Students with disabilities can also do an end-run around me and go directly to the office of Ann Smith of Services for Students with Disabilities (581-2319).
Don’t wait until these constraints affect your class work, however. I can usually accommodate urgent situation if we discuss a plan.
REGISTER TO VOTE
Voting is one of the key powers you have to shape your future. Don’t give away your power.
For information about voting–how to vote, how to register, absentee ballots, see https://umaine.edu/studentlife/uvote/
COVID 19
COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. The virus is transmitted person-to-person through respiratory droplets that are expelled when breathing, talking, eating, coughing, or sneezing. Additionally, the virus is stable on surfaces and can be transmitted when someone touches a contaminated surface and transfers the virus to their nose or mouth. When someone becomes infected with COVID-19 they may either have no symptoms or symptoms that range from mild to severe and can even be fatal. During this global pandemic, it is imperative that all students, faculty, and staff abide by the safety protocols and guidelines set forth by the University to ensure the safety of our campus. All students are encouraged to make the Black Bear Cares Pact to protect the health of themselves, the health of others, and the College of Our Hearts Always.
Black Bears Care Pact: https://umaine.edu/return/black-bears-care/
More information see: UMaine Covid 19 policy
UNIVERSITY POLICIES
SYLLABUS DISCLAIMER
In order to best accommodate student projects and course goals, the format, schedule or content for this course may be modified. In addition, student input may alter the content and direction of our work, and I will adjust to make the course as relevant to our mutual learning goals as possible. In either event, you will be provided an updated schedule and/or syllabus that will supersede this version.