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Certificates and Degrees

Photography – A.A. Degree Major or Certificate of Achievement (18 units or more)

Summary

The Photography Program offers students the opportunity to study photography from beginning to advanced levels. Our courses prepare students in a variety of areas, including fine art, editorial, and commercial photography. The program stresses development of creativity while offering a firm grounding in basic skills. 

Learning Outcome(s):

  1. produce images that demonstrate photography’s visual and expressive elements using standard professional production equipment and processes.
  2. achieve proper exposure by utilizing one of the several exposure mode settings on a digital camera.
  3. demonstrate competency in creating significant and well-designed compositions using aperture, shutter speed and ISO.
  4. Students will create a package of personalized marketing materials to enter the creative workforce
  5. Students will create a personalized marketing strategy for their personal brand as a creative professional
  6. Develop awareness and competency in self-promotion, marketing and the business of photography with strategic and tactical planning for a life-long career

A.A. Degree Major or Certificate of Achievement  

Program Requirements Units (30 units)

  • PHOT 120 Digital Photography 3
  • PHOT 100 Elementary Film and Darkroom Photography 3 
  • PHOT 125 History and Criticism of Photography 3
  • PHOT 130 Digital Darkroom 1 3
  • PHOT 135 Digital Darkroom II 3
  • PHOT/JOUR 140 Photojournalism 3
  • PHOT 160 Photography: Professional Practices 3
  • PHOT 209 Photographic Portfolio 3 
  • PHOT 220 Commercial Photography 3
  • PHOT 225 Photographic Portraiture 3

Electives (Select a minimum of 6 units)

  • PHOT 105 Intermediate Black and White Photography 3
  • PHOT 145 Advanced Photojournalism 3
  • PHOT 171 Landscape and Culture 3
  • PHOT 210 Advanced Black and White Photography 3
  • PHOT 215 Creative Photography 3

TOTAL UNITS 33

Commercial Photography 

This Certificate of Proficiency is designed to provide an avenue for those students interested in pursuing a career as a professional photographer in the areas of advertising
photography, product photography, portrait and wedding photography, photojournalism, editorial and documentary photography and other photo related vocations. Courses address technique, aesthetics, ethics and business practices. See course description for specific topics and prerequisites. 

Program Requirements Units 

  • PHOT 130 Digital Darkroom 1 3
  • PHOT/JOUR 140 Photojournalism 3
  • PHOT 220 Commercial Photography 3
  • PHOT 225 Photographic Portraiture 3
  • PHOT 209 Photographic Portfolio 3

TOTAL UNITS 15

 

Courses

PHOT 105 Intermediate Black and White Photography (3.00)
1.50 hours lecture – 4.50 hours lab
Prerequisite: PHOT 100
Transferability: UC/CSU
Grading: Grade/Pass/No Pass
Continues the study of the art and techniques associated with black and white photography. Problems relating to small and medium format camera systems and optics will be identified and compared. Further refinement in darkroom procedures and aesthetics will be explored.

PHOT 120 Digital Photography (3.00)
1.50 hours lecture – 4.50 hours lab
Transferability: UC/CSU
Grading: Grade/Pass/No Pass
Introduction to theory, mechanics, optics, lighting principles, and practices of photography using Digital Cameras. Explores the history, aesthetics, and the conceptualization of photographic imagery. Photographic seeing is stressed. Includes practices and procedures for image capture, asset management, software developing, printing, finishing and presentation and critique. Students are required to have an adjustable digital camera with manual exposure and RAW format capabilities.

PHOT 100 Black and White Film Photography (3.00)
1.50 hours lecture – 4.50 hours lab
Transferability: UC/CSU
Grading: Grade/Pass/No Pass
Introduction to the mechanics, optics, chemistry, lighting principles, and practices of analog photography using film. Explores the history, aesthetics, and the conceptualization of photographic imagery. Includes darkroom procedures in developing, printing, and finishing black and white photographic materials.

PHOT 125 History and Criticism of Photography (3.00)\
3.00 hours lecture
Transferability: UC/CSU
Grading: Grade/Pass/No Pass
A survey of the history of photography from its invention to modern times and its development as an art and communication medium. Examines important photographers, their lives and works, in order to establish a critical understanding of photography and its place in our culture.

PHOT 130 Digital Darkroom I (3.00)
1.50 hours lecture – 4.50 hours lab
Prerequisite: PHOT 120
Transferability: CSU
Grading: Grade/Pass/No Pass
The technology of digital photography, the computer, and inkjet printers. Emphasis on industry standard image editing software as the primary photographic processing and manipulation tools. Continuing instruction in digital image processing directed toward photographic output. Development of capabilities and use of the digital darkroom.

PHOT 135 Digital Darkroom II (3.00)
1.50 hours lecture – 4.50 hours lab
Prerequisite: PHOT 130
Transferability: CSU
Grading: Grade/Pass/No Pass
A continuing investigation into the technology, theory and aesthetics of digital photography with instruction on advanced digital image processing from a photographic perspective. Emphasis will be on: creating outstanding imagery, perfecting output through the advance use of image editing software, and advancing visual literacy.

PHOT 140 Photojournalism (3.00)
1.50 hours lecture – 4.50 hours lab
Recommended Preparation: PHOT 120
Transferability: CSU
Grading: Grade/Pass/No Pass
CID-C-ID JOUR 160
A study of the history and practice of photojournalism, providing specific application through photographing for The Telescope, Palomar College’s newspaper. Student must provide own camera.

PHOT 145 Advanced Photojournalism (3.00)
1.50 hours lecture – 4.50 hours lab
Prerequisite: PHOT 140
Transferability: CSU
Grading: Grade/Pass/No Pass
Designed to further develop those skills learned in PHOT 140. Provides advanced-level staffing for the college newspaper, magazine, and website. Emphasizes the use of multimedia productions, such as slide shows and DSLR video.

PHOT 160 Photography: Professional Practices (3.00)
1.50 hours lecture – 4.50 hours lab
Transferability: CSU
Grading: Grade/Pass/No Pass
This class is intended to prepare students for success after leaving Palomar by developing the materials and skills necessary to succeed beyond Palomar either in entering the creative workforce or continuing their education. The class will develop the soft skills necessary to succeed in a professional creative environment. The class will guide students through the creation of a customized marketing plan, personal brand, professional best practices, communication strategies, ethics, unique legal issues that creative independents face as well as basic pricing, contracts, and related concerns. This class is designed for students wishing to work as professional photographers but is also applicable to any creative professional.

PHOT 171 Landscape and Culture (3.00)
1.50 hours lecture – 4.50 hours lab
Prerequisite: PHOT 120
Transferability: CSU
Grading: Grade/Pass/No Pass
A photographic exploration of the interaction, influences and impact connecting humans, nature and the landscape.

PHOT 209 Photographic Portfolio (3.00)
1.50 hours lecture – 4.50 hours lab
Prerequisite: PHOT 105, or PHOT 130
Transferability: CSU
Grading: Grade/Pass/No Pass
Study portfolio design and production, goal-setting, and market research. Develop resumes, artist statements, and cover and inquiry letters. Employ self-promotion techniques for a range of career, scholastic and artistic purposes. Develop visual literacy, analytical skills and subjective thought.

PHOT 210 Advanced Black and White Photography (3.00)
1.50 hours lecture – 4.50 hours lab
Prerequisite: PHOT 105
Transferability: UC/CSU
Grading: Grade/Pass/No Pass
An exploration of the creative and technical possibilities of the View Camera through various assignments aimed at developing a personal style and approach to the production of quality black and white photography. A study of the relationship between film exposure and development and its application in the “zone system” is stressed.

PHOT 215 Creative Photography (3.00)
1.50 hours lecture – 4.50 hours lab
Prerequisite: PHOT 100
Transferability: UC/CSU
Grading: Grade/Pass/No Pass
Exploration of photography as an art form using both conventional and non-conventional silver and non-silver processes to permit broad variations and approaches to photographic expression.

PHOT 220 Commercial Photography (3.00)
1.50 hours lecture – 4.50 hours lab
Prerequisite: PHOT 130
Transferability: CSU
Grading: Grade/Pass/No Pass
Considerations of professional technical fundamentals in lighting, camera systems, digital workflow and management as applied in studio and location photography for commercial, advertising, and promotional purposes.

PHOT 225 Photographic Portraiture (3.00)
1.50 hours lecture – 4.50 hours lab
Prerequisite: PHOT 130
Transferability: CSU
Grading: Grade/Pass/No Pass
Techniques and styles of photographic portraiture. Studio and non-studio applications will be explored using black and white and color films or digital capture. Emphasis on lighting equipment and techniques.