Spring 2013

Ed Trayes, Professor of Communications
Phone: 215-204-8344 (if there is no answer please leave a message)
E-mail: trayes@astro.temple.edu, jwilliams@knightridder.com
Office: 324 Annenberg Hall
Office Hours: Immediately after class or by appointment

These are upper-level courses where each student is encouraged to work as independently as possible in areas of personal and professional interest. Students are encouraged to consider the following over the course of the semester:

The development of a book-length effort in traditional and on-line versions. Photos and text. Reports and updates are due according to the schedule on the Gmail account. This project is due May 3. This is the last day of class.

Video-based multimedia projects. Audio, video and whatever else. This can be an individual or team effort. If the latter, the team must be comprised of at least one from Psem 1 or at least one from Psem 2. No more than three total. Accompanying the in-class presentation on April 26, will be a detailed rationale statement regarding why you did what you did. In addition, there will be individual video projects due on April 19. Both projects should reflect a full semester of planning, organization and execution. Include a detailed rationale statement here as well.

There will be group projects throughout the semester. There will be at least one class book or similar effort. In the spring of 2011 the photo seminar classes did A Thousand Philadelphia Smokers. This included print, online books, video projects and a physical exhibit complete with more than a thousand portraits. Online there was a clickable component that included audio from each Philadelphia smoker included. This project is still online. Something of this magnitude will be taken on this semester. This project will be due on the last day of class, May 3, or earlier.

Also, it is hoped that we will be exploring other venues as well. This will be decided as the class progresses. We will be blogging. We will be working across media platforms. Video and soundslide shows are in the mix as well. These will include sound bites/clips, ambient sound, and voiceover.

Eyes of the Owl. Each student will research the background and photographic effort of living Temple photojournalism program photographers. An in-class presentation will be prepared and presented that includes a detailed biographical sketch/timeline in hard copy form for distribution to each member of the class at the time of presentation. Everything will be posted on the gmail account as well. These presentations are scheduled for Friday, February 22; Friday, March 22, and Friday, April 12. Selection of photographers will be posted on the gmail account throughout the semester. There will be no duplications. First one to claim an individual shooter gets him or her. Generally the centerpiece of each presentation is a slide show or other presentation of a photographer’s work. An essay discussing the photographer’s work and career path also should is required. Also, a timeline of key events needs to be constructed and included. Updates on this project, including in-class presentations, will be on the Gmail account. A website will be pulled together. The overall effort also will be included on the School of Media and Communication website. This, too, can be discussed in class. Regardless, and at the time of presentation, a disk of same will be turned in to the instructor. If you wish to substitute another photographer instead of one with Temple connections, this is acceptable and we will discuss the guidelines in class.

Exploration of current developments in photography the profession and the science. Internet applications and utilization. Each student is required to have an e-mail address, preferably through Temple. Efforts will be made to develop digital and online skills during the course of the semester. There will be assigned readings from time to time. Writing and editing are essential course components as well.

Each student is encouraged to visit various online venues where photographs are used or otherwise presented. This includes the portfolios of those who make their living(s) as photographers. In addition to websites, students are encouraged to read newspapers and magazines on a daily basis. Examples of best and worst efforts are encouraged to be posted on the gmail account whenever possible … and with appropriate context, discussion.

MagCloud.com and other similar sites are to be explored with the possibility that one or more class projects might be done here online and with an eye toward printing as well. Individual as well as group. Regardless, the effort will blend writing, photography and editing. ISSUU is another option; perhaps a more preferable one.

Personal websites. Due in class April 26; online April 24. This allows for student input as well as appropriate updating prior to Friday, April 26.

Archiving, organization of images. Work up a strategy that works for you. First round of presentations on this will be next week. Online posting of a description and rationale statement will be Wednesday, January 30. In-class discussion will follow on February 1. Include a SWOT analysis of Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Strengths.

Best photography books. Three online and in-class book reviews and presentations. These do not have to have been published in the last year or so. Your call in each case, but it is important to make your case for best and include some treatment of strengths as well as weaknesses. Posting online is the Wednesday before the in-class discussions and presentations scheduled for: February 1, March 1. and April 5. Please be sure to bring the book as part of each in-class presentation. No book; no presentation.

Requirements

All assignments must be on time.

Absences and lateness are tolerated only for matters of emergency. If you do not have an emergency, you are expected in class … on time.

Plagiarism or otherwise presenting work that is not one’s own will result in an automatic failure of the course.

Incompletes are given only under extreme circumstances.

Withdrawal: If you are passing (WP); if not, (WF). No withdrawals after the last day of class.

Eating in class is not permitted.

Cell phones, other electronic devices with activated ringers and alarms. These are not permitted to be in operation during class time. They are disruptive. Please be considerate of others in this regard. All electronic devices must be off and out of sight.

Civility at all times.

Other classroom disruptions. This includes bathroom breaks during class. Please plan ahead, and if you leave, do not come back for the remainder of the class. Take everything with you.

More detail

Please see the university catalog for information on incompletes, withdrawals, plagiarism and cheating.Other information is available in the Journalism Department offices.

If you have a health-related situation or disability that may affect your work in this class, please let me know.

A final word

There will be weekly assignments … all with deadlines. It is your responsibility to do your best in the time available. Most assignments will be posted on the gmail account. We will follow the usual procedure of posting everything to the account and tagging by assignment and name. Each student is strongly encouraged to comment in constructive ways on the posted work of others throughout the semester. This is done by keeping comments in draft. Do not send. Ever. This is important for all concerned. If you are unsure of how all this works, even after discussing it in class, find someone who has been through this before. They will help you. Mentors. Each Photo Seminar II student will mentor one or more from photo seminar one. These are on the gmail account with the appropriate header. It is not an option to not be a mentor.

Aperture Agency, a student run photo business, was started in photo seminar classes four years ago. We will continue to grow this business over the course of this semester and into the future. There are leadership and participation opportunities here for those who are interested.

There also is Aperture, the club. Ian Watson is the current president.

If you would like to sign out a digital camera kit for the semester, you will do this through the equipment office on the main floor of Annenberg Hall opposite the elevator.

Some work from previous photo seminar classes, including photographer websites, is at www.temple.edu/photo