Photography 1A offers a comprehensive introduction to photography as an art form. The course introduces students to the fundamental concepts and techniques of photography through the study of its history and major practitioners. Students will explore various approaches to black-and-white photography, beginning with photograms and continuing with pinhole photography and 35mm film cameras. They will create their own photograms, use pinhole cameras to produce negatives and positive prints, and learn how to process black-and-white film and make enlargements.
Portrait photography is a major focus of the course. The work of renowned portrait photographers such as Arnold Newman, Irving Penn, Richard Avedon, Annie Leibovitz, and Yousuf Karsh will be studied and discussed. By the end of the semester, students will complete a final project centered on either a portrait or self-portrait.