courses taught

This advanced course in Photographic Lighting & Studio is a survey of the effects of light on the photographic image, from natural light through studio strobe setups. A wide variety of cameras are considered, from digital to film, 35mm to large format. Students learn to make photographic images, not just take them.

Developed curriculum.

Syllabus: Lighting-and-Studio-Syllabus-Fa08.pdf (128 kB)

Sample Project Descriptions:
Project 1 (44 kB), Project 2 (44 kB), Final Project (56 kB)

Photo I is a silver-based photography course that develops competent skill with a 35mm camera and in the darkroom. Projects include: photograms; learning the camera, its controls, and the processes of negative and print development; understanding motion and depth of field; the challenges of portraiture and photographing "strangers"; and a final project of the students own design, as inspired by works of established artists shown in class.

Syllabus: Photo-I-Syllabus-Fa08.pdf (132 kB)

Sample Project Descriptions:
Project 1 (40 kB), Project 2 (44 kB), Project 3 (84 kB),
Project 4 (36 kB), Final Project (48 kB)

Web Design I is an introduction to page and site design through the use of the Adobe Dreamweaver software. Students learn to incorporate both visual and textual methods to web design as they develop an understanding of the underlying HTML and CSS code. Projects progress from acquired-content to self-guided sites that are about meeting each individual's goals of having exposure on the web.

Developed curriculum.

View Course Site: www.pixelweavers.org

Syllabus: Web-I-Syllabus-Fa08.pdf (128 kB)

Sample Project Descriptions:
Project 1 (44 kB), Project 2 (52 kB), Final Project (56 kB)

The main objective of the Catalyst for Art Making course is to show students new possibilities, ideas, and approaches – to provide them with a catalyst for their art making. The course structure consists of weekly slide lectures, each introducing a different artist and his/her approach to art making, and a film/video series that augments these slide lectures with additional perspectives, both traditional and unconventional.

[As a Teaching Assistant, filling in for Professor Jim Roche who had to take leave mid-semester.]

Syllabus: Catalyst-for-Art-Making-Syllabus-Fa08.pdf (84 kB)
[this syllabus is my direction to the course for the second half of the semester]

The Photographic and Digital Imagemaking course develops the core principles of photography through understanding the methods of the camera and learning the processes of scanning, manipulating, and printing digitally. Emphasis is given to effective use of camera controls, proper exposure, conceptualizing images for future manipulation, solid skills in Adobe PhotoShop, and quality digital printing techniques

[Taught in a lecture/lab format: Professor John Mann presented weekly lectures and an adjunct instructor and I each covered two sections of weekly lab sessions.]

Syllabus: Digital-Photo-syllabus-2941-3-Fa06.pdf (136 kb)

Sample Project Descriptions:
Project 1 (68 kB), Project 2 (32 kB), Project 3 (40 kB),
Final Project (52 kB)

In Survey of Studio Art Practices, students are introduced to the approaches and critical methods of the study of contemporary visual arts. The course looks at the many ways and media that artists use to create their works. An emphasis is also given to visual perception in contemporary art and design and basic art-making skills.

Developed revised curriculum, based on meeting the specific needs and opportunities for teaching this course in Florence, Italy.

Syllabus: Survey-of-Art-Sp09.pdf (84 kB)

Sample Project Description:
Survey-of-Art-Book-Project.pdf (56 kB)

The Photography for Non-Majors course presents the basic and essential skills to using a camera effectively along with the important concepts to creating compelling compositions. Students’ own photographs taken throughout the course are used as the primary teaching tool, complemented by looking at the work of contemporary photographers. An emphasis during the Florence Study Abroad program is given to “travel photography”, so that students go home with an exciting and visually-appealing record of their time abroad.

Developed curriculum.

Syllabus: Photo-NonMajors-Sp09.pdf (76 kB)

During this course, students study how photographic images are used in advertising and publication, both through the review and discussion of current work in the field as well as learning the techniques for creating their own promotional pieces. An additional goal of this workshop is to address social and environmental issues in Taiyuan and the surrounding areas through the use of advertisement.

Developed curriculum, based on my prior experience as a commercial photographer working with designers and marketing firms.

Syllabus: China-Advertising-Photo-syllabus.pdf (188 kB)

The Photographic Composition course covers the important elements to producing effective and compelling composition. Students learn how the elements of composition can make the difference between an average and a great photograph, and to recognize the best composition as they look through the camera’s viewfinder – learning to see through the lens.

Developed curriculum.

Syllabus: China-Composition-Syllabus.pdf (140 kB)

During the EnviroChina program, students explore the city of Taiyuan and the surrounding Shanxi province through digital photography and other imagery, with a focus on the environmental and social issues faced in this large, coal-mining-economy city. Students in the program then create design artworks from their imagery, which are shared through the envirochina.net web site and developed into an exhibit for display at their university gallery and for later exhibition in America.

Developed revised curriculum, based on a prior course taught by Florida State University Professor Scott Groeniger.

Syllabus: EnviroChina-syllabus.pdf (156 kB)

Lighting Techniques
Carrboro ArtsCenter, Carrboro, NC (Winter 2005, Spring 2005)
Durham Arts Council, Durham, NC (Spring 2004, Fall 2004)

Exploring Photographic Composition
Durham Arts Council, Durham, NC (Spring 2004, Fall 2004)

[Both of these courses were part of the Making a Living in Photography certificate program through Durham Technical Community College.]

Workshops led in:
Flash Photography
Studio Lighting
Matting, Mounting, and Framing