This is the first of a sequence of required advertising photography courses that investigates visual problem solving when applied to commercial photography. Studio and other controlled environments will be encountered through assignments. Advertising and editorial solutions and applications will be explored. The skills necessary to photograph people, places, and things will be learned through various assignments.

The course will provide an opportunity for experimentation with photographic light and its manipulation in a variety of situations both in and out of the studio. Assignments will range from simple portraits and still live set ups in the studio to complex locations, and intricate sets with groups of people. Methods of controlling a variety of lighting devices, both strobe and continuous source, will be demonstrated and discussed.

Photography (and photographic education) is in a perpetual state of flux due to constant changes in practices and technology. Topics in advertising photography will provide students with the opportunity to explore this shifting terrain of photography and imaging. The content taught in this course will change frequently and the course may be repeated for credit, however each particular topic may have limits on repeatability.

This course will explore the techniques, tools, practices, and workflows used in retouching industry practices. This course will begin with basic masking, skin retouching, and compositing techniques then apply these skills to creating images. The importance of the collaborative role of the image-maker and the retouch technician will be discussed throughout the course. The primary goals of this course are to teach students how to craft a personal or signature imaging style, and understand retouching as an important skillset for image makers.

In this course we will begin where the retouching and restoration class left off. Building on the foundation of those techniques, we will delve deeper into the software tools and more advanced workflows used in image restoration, retouching and compositing. Once the retouching and restoration techniques have been mastered, we will transition into collage and montage building. This will include working with multiple images in single or multiple frames. We will expand the discussion of the collaborative roles of the image maker and the retoucher in relation to creating composite images.

Photography Independent Study will provide students with the ability to study in a specialized area with an individual faculty member. Students, with the assistance of a faculty adviser, will propose a course of study. Photography Independent Study students must obtain permission of an instructor and complete the Independent Study Permission Form to enroll.