Introduction to Photography: Photographing Seville

USF Course Code: PGY 2401C

Prerequisite: open to all language levels; taught in English.

Students: ISA students

Contact hours: 45

I. Course Description:
This course consists of theory and practice outside the classroom: taking photos not only of architecture all over Seville but also of distinctive features of the city from a social and anthropological perspective. The course will also include an introduction to the history of photography and to the history of architectural photography in particular.
Retouching programs such as Photoshop or filter apps in App Store and Google Play might also be used throughout the course.
Students will have to choose among the different architectural elements of the city and visit them in order to complete a weekly project. This project, showing the image that better embodies the spirit of the building, will be explained and defended in class. In order to present and defend the images selected, students will have to read assignments for contextualization.
No specific camera is required for this course: any Smartphone camera will be appropriate.

II. Learning outcomes:

-    Learn about origins and evolution of Photography in the XIX and XX centuries.
-    Analyze foundations and elements (light, focus, exposition) when taking a picture with both traditional cameras and mobile phones. 
-    Be familiar with different mobile phones, apps and photographic techniques using practical examples.
-    Learn diverse photographic techniques related to portrait photography, architectural photography, travel photographs, the use of black and white, photographic reportage, the composition of space, urban photography, landscape photography and finally self-portraits. 
-    Relate the physical space (Seville) and its social context (learning about the idiosyncrasies of the city) to photography. 

III. Course Content (order of content may be modified): 
UNIT 1 - Introduction to photography. History of photography and its artistic uses.

UNIT 2 - Photography using cell phones. Retouching and photo apps

UNIT 3 -. Architectural photography. Black and White photographs. Landscape photography. Street photography. Abstract photography. Food photography. Artistic photography, Erwin Olaf and Charlie White

UNIT 4 - Artistic perspective. The Cathedral and the Giralda of Seville and their environment. Royal Tobacco Factory, Plaza de España and the architecture of the early 20th century (abandoned buildings). Metropol Parasol and the contemporary view of space. Abstract architecture.

UNIT 5 - Social and anthropological perspective. The Triana Bridge and Guadalquivir River. Jardines de Murillo and Parque de María Luisa, the traditional professional associations of Seville. Flamenco and Holy Week, day-to-day images of Seville. Food and food photography.

IV. Bibliography:
The class dossier and information about weekly projects could be found in Papelería Porvenir located in Calle San Salvador 18, 41013 Sevilla. 

Please find as a reference the following bibliography: 
Benjamin, Walter Little history of photography http://www.totuusradio.fi/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/benjamin-little-history-of-photography.pdf
Sontag, Susan About photography. Arial 2013
Todd Gustavson Camera: A History of Photography from Daguerreotype to Digital. Paperback 2012.
Miles Orwell, American photography. Oxford University Press, 2003.

V.I. How to succeed in this course:
This course requires many field trips. It is important to make a study plan to submit all the required assingments, specially those related to the field trips, on time. 
Please be ready to complete required readings and videos prior to class and be ready to interact meaningfully in the class discussions. 

VI. Grading scale

La calificación final del curso utilizará la siguiente escala/ Final grades will be calculated according to the following scale:
94 - 100 A
90-93 A -
87 -89 B +
84 - 86 B
80 - 83 B -
77 - 79 C+
74 - 76 C 
70 - 73 C-
67 -69 D+
64 -66 D
60 -63 D-
0-59 F

VII. Course policies

VII.I. Attendance
Class attendance is mandatory and is taken every class day and reflected in the course attendance sheet. 
An 85% attendance rate is required for the successful completion of the course. Perfect attendance will be taken positively into account in the participation section. 
If a student exceeds this limit, 1 point will be taken off of the final grade (Spanish grade). Reaching a 20% of unexcused absences means that the transcript for this subject will show “not attended course”. 
Excused absences: Medical Certificates that will be considered only if issued by a physician (not notes from the family explaining the student’s absence). The certificates must include the exact dates for which a student should be excused for having missed classes. Courses cannot be audited, so attendance is possible only for students enrolled in a specific class. 
Punctuality: Students are expected to arrive on time to class and to return directly to class after class breaks. Arriving 10 minutes late (or more) and/or early class departures are considered unexcused absences and will be taken into account as half an absence. 
 
Attending class is not only the presence in the classroom. The professor will encourage active participation in the course and it will be taken into account as part of the evaluation.  

Auditors: Courses cannot be taken as auditors, thus attendance is possible only for students enrolled in a specific class.

VII.II. Conduct in class
Students who actively participate in classroom activities and who maintain a professional and respectful attitude will be evaluated positively. Students must not eat or use laptops during the class (unless specifically authorized by the teacher).  

VII.III. Late work 
One half point will be taken off (from the learning activities grade) for homework that is submitted late repeatedly. Late assignments will be corrected but will not be graded. 
Missing a class does not release the student from completing the homework assigned or studying the topics covered in class that day.

VII.IV. Make-up Exams
If a student cannot be present for an examination for a valid reason (see V.II.) and approved by the professor and academic direction, a make-up exam will be given.

VII.V. Exam retention
After exams are graded, the teacher will review the examination with the class and collect all exams. The exams will be retained for one semester following the current one, and then they will be destroyed.

VII.VI. Academic Honesty
Students are expected to act in accordance with their university standards of conduct concerning plagiarism and academic dishonesty.

VII.VII. Special accommodations 
Students with special needs who require reasonable accommodations, special assistance or specific aid in this course (either for properly making-up classes, taking exams, etc.) should direct their request to Academic Coordination during the first days of the course.

Teaching staff is required to report any disclosures harassment or violence of any kind.