MW 8-9:50 a.m.

Instructor: Dan McDonald, communication lecturer

Catalog description: Advanced electronic imaging techniques as applied to newspapers, magazines and public relations (3 credit hours, 2 hours lecture, 2 hours lab). Prerequisite: JOUR 2340 Photojournalism I (basic theory and techniques of photojournalism; introduction to electronic digital photography and editing; professional, technical and aesthetic values).

About the instructor: McDonald is in his second year as a lecturer at UT Arlington. He first attended UT Arlington in 1969, and he received a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice in 1984. He has been a professional photographer for more than 25 years and has been awarded both a Masters Certificate and a Photographic Craftsman Certificate from Professional Photographers of America. He served on the board of directors of the Metroplex Professional Photographers Association for more than 10 years, including two terms as president. He is a past president of the Texas Professional Photographers Association. In addition to teaching two courses, he runs a photography/graphic design business.

Course format: The course is part lecture, part lab, with the students doing camera project work and other hands-on exercises. Enrollment is limited to 20 students due to workstation and camera availability. Students are expected to learn how to photograph images suitable for publication in a newspaper or magazine. They learn how to distinguish the differences between a snapshot and a professional photograph. They learn to shoot action photographs, portraits, candids and other types of assignments they might encounter in real life. Students are assigned a series of projects during the semester, each one treated as a news story, and they must have supporting information to go along with the photographs. Projects include covering public meetings or public events, photographing sporting events, portrait photography, nighttime photography, still life, architectural photography and breaking news. The projects are flexible to allow for current events that may occur during the semester. Students are primarily graded on the quality of their work, as well as a few quizzes.

What the prof says: “The journalism photography department is totally digital. Since all newspapers are currently using digital equipment and software, it is necessary that students become familiar with the advantages and disadvantages of digital. The department has a supply of digital cameras for the students to check out and use, making it unnecessary for them to invest in a better quality camera. Students also become familiar with the basics of Adobe Photoshop, learning how it serves the functions a darkroom used to provide.”

Pop quiz
1. The area in front of and behind the main focus point in an image that is also acceptably sharp is called what?
2. To stop action in a photograph, what type of shutter speed is used?
3. To capture images in low light, what type of ISO (speed) rating film or digital sensor setting is needed?

 

 

Answers
1. depth of field 2. fast 3. high