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Course Description

RISD Advanced Program for High School Students: Documentary Photography course

Photo by Oz Zel

Documentary photography can be defined as the art of capturing historical, cultural, social, or politically significant events and experiences. Dorothea Lange and Walker Evans used their cameras to document the Great Depression, Lewis Hine changed child labor laws with his powerful factory portraits, and LaToya Ruby Frazier showed us the effects of the Flint, Michigan water crisis through the eyes of one family.

For students to create images that tell a vital cultural story, they must first learn the fundamentals of DSLR and smartphone camera techniques, composition, lighting methods, digital image editing and sequence. This course covers essential skills using a variety of media, including capturing and editing photographs digitally. Students maintain a sketchbook to record concepts, exposure logs, thumbnails and inspirational resources. Sensitivity to issues of appropriation, accessibility, safety, consent and when to turn the lens inward or outward are inherent throughout the course.

Notes

In this intensive course, students should expect to spend a minimum of 8 hours per week of engaging in coursework. Students should plan their schedule accordingly to keep up with class.

Prerequisites

This course is a Featured Topic that is part of RISD's Advanced Program for High School Students, a collegiate-level program for students ages 15–18 in grades 10–12. Students must have completed Exploration in Design in the Summer Immersion program or Fall 2020 semester (I and II in the Spring semester) or Experiential Drawing in the Summer Immersion program or Fall 2020 semester (I and II in the Spring semester) to register for this course. This course is part 1 of 2 sessions that complete the course.

Applies Towards the Following Certificates

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Section Schedule
Mar 06, 2021 to Apr 10, 2021
Type
Online, Asynchronous
Dates
Mar 06, 2021 to Apr 10, 2021
Type
Online, Live Sessions
Days
Sa
Time
10:00AM to 1:00PM
Dates
Mar 06, 2021
Type
Online, Live Sessions
Days
Sa
Time
10:00AM to 1:00PM
Dates
Mar 20, 2021
Type
Online, Live Sessions
Days
Sa
Time
10:00AM to 1:00PM
Dates
Apr 10, 2021
Schedule and Location
View Details
Contact Hours
36.0
Delivery Options
Online  
Course Fee(s)
Tuition non-credit $1,300.00 Click here to get more information
Drop Request Deadline
Mar 27, 2021
Transfer Request Deadline
Feb 27, 2021
Withdrawal Request Deadline
Mar 06, 2021 to Apr 10, 2021
Instructors
Required Software/Technology
This course requires access to Adobe Creative Cloud, or some of its creative tools such as Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign. Monthly subscriptions can be purchased from a variety of pricing plans directly from Adobe. This course requires access to a laptop or desktop computer, as well as a digital camera or smartphone.
Necessary Supplies/Text(s)
  • A digital camera (DSLR, Point+Shoot, or Mirrorless) and/or a smart phone with camera
  • A thumb drive for storing files: Sandisk 128GB Thumb Drive (minimum size)*
  • Sketchbook and Drawing Supplies••

*recommended if using a digital camera and laptop/desktop, not necessary for phone capture
** Choose whether you want to use an actual sketchbook and take quick phone photos of the pages to upload for review, or make digital/notes and drawings on your tablet/phone/laptop and upload digital files, whatever works for you and the materials you have available.

Required fields are indicated by .