AHD-1090

History of Photography

One semester: 3 art history credits

Serving as an introduction to the history of photography, this course will examine the major photographic movements and technological advances of the medium from its invention through the first half of the 20th century. Prominent figures from these periods will be closely studied to provide a foundation for understanding not only the medium’s history but also the limitations of the canonical approach to understanding photography’s democratic reach.

HCD-1020

Writing and Thinking NYC

One semester: 3 humanities and sciences credits

This New York City-themed course helps students become critical and independent writers. To help establish a solid foundation in writing, the course introduces different types of writing using persuasive rhetoric in three writing genres—narration, description, and cause and effect. Course readings are drawn from a variety of New York-based texts, including historical documents, short stories, drama, poetry and essays, which will be used as discussion and writing prompts. By the end of the course, students will have an enhanced understanding of writing as a means to think and better communicate their ideas.

HCD-1025

Writing and Literature

One semester: 3 humanities and sciences credits

This course emphasizes reading, critical thinking and essay writing. Students will build on their skills acquired in HCD-1020, Writing and Thinking NYC, in order to work on more complex essays. Students will learn how to research, use proper citations, and continue to work on their grammar and essay development. Readings are drawn from a selection of literary works, including drama, poetry and the narrative, as well as the critical essay.

PHD-1030

Workshop I

One semester: 3 studio credits

With an emphasis on extensive darkroom work and group critique, this course will cover printing, negative development, spotting and mounting. Assignments will be given and students will submit a portfolio at the end of the semester.

PHD-1035

Workshop II

One semester: 3 studio credits

A continuation of PHD-1030, Workshop I, this course will balance weekly critiques of student work with advanced black-and-white darkroom technique—both traditional and experimental. In the second half of the semester, students will have the opportunity to explore creative practices that address the similarities and differences between analog and digital workflow and processes. Color theory will also be discussed, and student video work will be critiqued as part of a larger conversation about developing one’s visual style. Weekly assignments will be given, and students will submit a portfolio for review at the end of the semester.

PHD-1060

Photography on Assignment

One semester: 3 studio credits

This course in photographic nuts and bolts will include technical demonstrations and assignments concerning the use of meters, filters, lighting and flash, among other topics. Students will be given location assignments, which will imitate those of a commercial or editorial photographer working in the current marketplace. The course emphasizes the practical, and will help students be flexible and resourceful in their problem-solving abilities. Students will receive individual critique of their work.

PHD-1080

From Capture to Triumph I: Digital Imaging

One semester: 3 studio credits

Gaining a fundamental understanding of digital photography equipment, Adobe Bridge and Lightroom applications will be the focus of this course. Topics covered include image size and resolution, flatbed and film scanning, color grading, file formats, masking and editing tools, file management, image adjustments, output options and digital printing. By the end of the semester, students will have a solid understanding of how to work with photographs in a digital environment.

PHD-1085

From Capture to Triumph II: Digital Imaging

One semester: 3 studio credits

The emphasis of this course will be placed on an exploration of the full potential of Adobe Photoshop. Students will apply advanced digital imaging techniques to their work and critically examine the effects that imaging technologies have on the ways we see and make art. A variety of topics will be covered, including advanced selection techniques, shape-and-text tools, channels, layers, blending modes, filters and neural filters color management, monitor calibration, generative AI and large-format digital printing.

PHD-1110

Video I

One semester: 3 studio credits

The goal of this course is to familiarize students with video in its technical form as well as its conceptual possibilities. Various genres of the medium will be explored, and students will articulate their interests in narrative form. Video equipment, editing in Adobe Premiere, storyboarding, sound design, file management, and more, will be covered.

PHD-1280

Picture Symposium

One semester: 3 studio credits

This foundational course unpacks students preexisting and potential relationships with pictures and image, two central elements of contemporary art, commerce, communication and exchange. Striving toward fluency in the making (speaking) and interpreting (reading) of pictures in all contexts, students will work collaboratively to build a foundation for how to create and circulate still and moving images with the necessary agency to distinguish their voices and identities while communicating with one another as well as audiences beyond their classroom. The current relationships between printed pictures and pictures on screens (computers, smartphones, tablets, etc.) will be closely examined, providing students with a stronger understanding of how to navigate their presence as picture makers in both physical and online spaces of the 21st century.

PHD-2040 / PHD-2045

Studio I and II

Two semesters: 3 studio credits per semester

The techniques of shooting still and moving images in the studio are covered in these courses. Working in both a daylight studio and in a studio with incandescent lights, strobe and LED panel lighting will be explored. Exercises in still life, animating still life through video capture, portraiture, and other aspects of studio photography and video will be given; images will be produced using a variety of analog and digital devices.

PHD-2060 / PHD-2065

Critique I and II

Two semesters: 3 studio credits per semester

Critique initiates an in-depth conversation about photography and video as driven by content, and each student’s exploration of subject matter. Intention and articulation will be emphasized.

PHD-2075

Visual Literacy

One semester: 3 studio credits

This course covers the history of photography from the postwar period to present day, articulating movements, tendencies and styles that have positioned the medium as a central visual art as well as a social, cultural, and political currency. We will identify the prominent figures that appear in contemporary photographic canons while addressing the inherent bias of singular histories. By the end of the course, students will not only be literate in naming and recognizing familiar figures in the medium’s recent practice but should also be able to articulate their own needs in deeply understanding specific photographic histories while being aware of others.

PHD-2090

Video II

One semester: 3 studio credits

This course expands upon the technical and conceptual aspects of the medium introduced in PHD-1110, Video I. Its emphasis will be on an enhanced understanding of video through critical discourse. Additionally, students will refine their sequential and narrative techniques; work with collaborators/crews; and establish a workflow for preproduction, production, and postproduction.

PHD-2092

Intermediate Digital Photography: Fashion and Beauty

One semester: 3 studio credits

This course will cover specialized retouching skills needed to attain successful fashion images. Adobe Photoshop will be the primary software. The course will help students gain increased competence in digital manipulation.

PHD-2094

Intermediate Digital Photography: Printmaking and Color Management

One semester: 3 studio credits

The goal of this course is to develop a working understanding of the materials, practices and aesthetics of contemporary fine art digital printmaking, especially the use of digital color management tools. Through lectures, demonstrations, project-based assignments, as well as studio visits and field trips to digital labs and galleries, students will expand their proficiency and confidence in producing a personal artistic vision through various digital printmaking techniques. Included with the practical aspects of the course will be an exploration of historical and contemporary uses of digital imaging in commercial and fine art photography.

PHD-2096

Intermediate Digital Photography: Branding Yourself

One semester: 3 studio credits

Creating a brand identity as a photographer and artist is paramount to professional success. In this course students will produce cohesive projects based on self-promotion, such as business cards, promo cards, photo books, portfolios and websites. The course is designed to further your Adobe Photoshop skills and introduce new skills using Adobe Illustrator and InDesign.

PHD-3040 / PHD-3045

Seminar I and II

Two semesters: 3 studio credits per semester

A continuation of the discourse begun in PHD-2060, Critique I, these seminars will culminate in a body of work that is self-motivated and relates to the student explorations in photography and video to date. A commitment to this process is required, as well as the progression of the students’ understanding of their work and the ability to articulate their ideas visually, verbally and in writing.

HMD-3046

The Critical Eye

One semester: 3 humanities and sciences credits

This course will introduce photography and video students to critical discourse. Its aim is to strengthen their skills in observing, analyzing, and evaluating still as well as moving images while considering their social, political, and cultural contexts. Through in-class dialogue, readings and writing, students will develop their capacity to think critically and communicate effectively in speech and writing about photographic and video works and texts on the subject.

PHD-3066

Digital Studio: Advanced Lighting Techniques

One semester: 3 studio credits

This course will explore the mastery and control of light as well as lighting concepts used for professional and advertising photography. Through visual presentations of printed matter, students will review examples of the direction and quality of light and understand its function in the photograph. Students will acquire a repertoire of lighting techniques to heighten the expressive capacity of their work. Students will shoot tethered with the latest available digital cameras and software in a full digital studio environment.

PHD-3081

Mixed-Reality Filmmaking

One semester: 3 studio credits

This course provides an introduction to compositing video using traditional visual effects (VFX) and real-time pipelines with Unreal Engine, a real-time 3D creation tool. Students will develop cinematics that composite video into a 3D virtual world. Using match-motion tracking, students will integrate the camera movement of footage shot on green screen with CGI. Concepts will be developed using previsualization and virtual production techniques.

PHD-3085

Advanced Video: Projection Mapping and Immersive Art

One semester: 3 studio credits

This course focuses on both technical and artistic aspects of projection mapping, a technique that can make objects and entire environments come alive in light, color and motion by projecting moving images onto them. Students will bring their creative concepts into reality, learning both 2D and 3D projection mapping methods and how to precisely map visual content to any type of surface by using the program MadMapper. Different types of projections will also be covered, such as interactive, mobile, holographic and 360-degree multi-projections. Additional topics will include operating various types of projectors and video outputs, writing a project proposal and tech rider, and producing permanent installations. This course is for students interested in the technical skills required for projection mapping, as well as creating immersive and physical experiences through projectors.

PHD-3091

Advanced Video: Working in the Edges—Using Alternative Techniques to Create a Unique Vision

One semester: 3 studio credits

Many film and video makers have resorted to alternative practices to escape the commercialism of Hollywood. This course will survey and analyze the evolution of the experimental moving image, including its early silent origins, the explosion of video, the dynamics of sound, and the present digital landscape. We will cover a variety of mediums and tools, including small-gauge film, magnetic videotape, cameraless image-making, various animation practices, video synthesizers and Adobe applications. Screenings will include notably rare works alongside texts and audio recordings that build a connection to art-making in other mediums that influence experimental moving images. Many of these themes will be discussed by guest lecturers who are artists at the forefront of their field. This course encourages open collaboration and cultivation of long-term creative projects.

PHD-3092

Advanced Video: Film and Cinematic Narrative

One semester: 3 studio credits

Although video as an art form grows out of television broadcasting, its inherent overlap with film and cinematic narrative is significant, particularly in our increasingly digital age. This course will introduce students to the principles of cinema as technological advancements makes the once cost prohibitive space of movie-making obtainable. The course will assist students in recognizing their photographic advantage to craft visually compelling, narrative films with the tools of video and sound capture already at their disposal. Special attention will be placed on how the camera moves using rigs and on the cinematic and narrative strategies utilized in Hollywood as well as those more commonly found in independent cinema.

PHD-3094

Advanced Video: Experimental Video

One semester: 3 studio credits

With a rich history that parallels mainstream filmmaking and the visual and performing arts, experimental film and video have made a restless and inventive contribution to the medium. We will study the history of experimental video from its nascent origins with the work of Stan Brakhage, Nam June Paik, Jonas Mekas, and Yvonne Rainer, and its emergence as a conventional form via YouTube. Each student will create several videos throughout the semester, and all interpretations will be considered—from lo-fi equipment and material to advanced digital effects, video as installation and experimental audio. Students will be encouraged to create a radical reinvention of the known.

PHD-3098

Introduction to Alternative Process

One semester: 3 studio credits

Do you want to get your hands dirty? Are you looking to go beyond the traditional gelatin silver darkroom? This course is an introduction to analog alternative processes: hand-coated emulsions and non-silver darkroom processes. Students will become self-sufficient in creating works using chemistry and raw material based techniques and processes, including wet-plate collodion, cyanotype, Van Dyke, kallitype, palladium, gum bichromate, and more.

PHD-3101

Advanced Black-and-White Printing

One semester: 3 studio credits

For those who want to extend their printing skills to develop a personal printing style, this course will consist predominantly of work in the darkroom with technical critique of prints by the instructor. Students will explore and refine various advanced printing techniques.

PHD-3104

Analog Color Darkroom and Printing

One semester: 3 studio credits

With an emphasis on color darkroom work as well as group critique, this course will focus on making C-prints from color negatives, color correcting and establishing a strong technical foundation in color. Students will receive technical assignments while pursuing a specific project that develops a personal aesthetic direction in which analog color processes are central. Each student will submit a portfolio at the end of the semester.

PHD-3112

Light Lab

One semester: 3 studio credits

Light Lab will investigate light and the photography of light. Students will experiment with prismatic, iridescent, refracted and programmed light, experimental light sources, smoke and mirrors, and the ways to capture the results of these experiments photographically. We will examine the work of artists who worked with light and photography, including Alvin Langdon Coburn’s vortographs, the photograms of the Bauhaus, the Czech avant-garde, and light-art inventions of pioneers such as Thomas Wilfred’s Lumia and Otto Piene’s light ballets, as well as the innovations of current practitioners. Students will explore the area of their choice to produce still photographs and moving images of light.

PHD-3117

Beyond the Camera: The Hidden (Marketable) Skills of a Photographer

One semester: 3 studio credits

We learn to ask what is a photograph? This course asks the question: What is a photographer? Deconstructing the act of and processes around image making, we identify and illuminate the habits of mind and intellectual activities that are cultivated alongside the act of making a picture and mastering analog and digital processes. Well-trained photographers are among other things excellent technicians and communicators, they are visionaries, plucky and brave, they are truth seekers, and storytellers, project managers and they are idea machines. This course will explore the often under-investigated skill sets and range of academic interests that are naturally developed as we cultivate our craft as photographers. At a time when many trained artists are not only working in specific media but apply their acumen to a myriad of creative fields, it is more important to understand all of the skills cultivated in a photographic education so that students can confidently engage in varied arenas of work that require creative problem solving. Each week students will explore a particular area of expertise that they develop concurrently in their evolution as artists and photographers such as social science, curation, project management, finance, design thinking, brand development, entrepreneurship, trend analysis, taste-making, activism, research and leadership.

PHD-3163

Photo Bookworks: The Handmade Book

One semester: 3 studio credits

What do you do with all those photos you have made that are sitting around in boxes? This is a hands-on approach to the photo book using simple bookbinding methods. We will investigate several handmade book structures, including scroll, scrapbook, pamphlet, Oriental fold and fan, as well as the concepts of series, sequence and pacing of images within the books. Books will be examined from the viewpoint of both object and container. A historical overview of book arts—photography books in particular—will be presented. Students will create works from groups of photographs, bound together in completed form. Six to eight books and a group project will be completed.

PHD-3164

Photo Bookworks: Zines and Monographs

One semester: 3 studio credits

This course will concentrate on the editing and sequencing of photographs to create chapters with narrative structure. Working on individual projects, students will assemble weekly chapters of work. The cultural context for zines and artist books in relation to DIY culture, reproducibility, creative collaboration and activism will also be addressed. Examples of past and current artist books and zines will be presented and discussed, and visits to publishers and libraries will be scheduled.

PHD-3167

Volumes: Art and Photography Books at the SVA Library

One semester: 3 studio credits

This course will firmly establish art book knowledge for students by providing a formal understanding of the design of and content creation for art books, photography books, artist books, and more. We will examine all aspects of art book design, production and publishing: categorization, subject matter, editorial and creative direction, book design, prepress and print production, author/scholar/curator collaborations, publisher relations, distribution channels and institutional structures. Students will gain a comprehensive understanding of the many contexts in which art publications are produced and the ability to pursue interests and artistic research, as well as evaluate a broad range of possibilities for consideration of one’s own work in the realm of publishing projects. This course will meet each week in the SVA Library and, schedules permitting, will include guest lecturers from organizations such as Mack Books; Karma Gallery and Karma Books; Library and Archives, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art; and Dashwood Books. Relevant site visits will be included.

PHD-3177

Fashion Photography and Video: On Assignment

One semester: 3 studio credits

Intended to build an original and informed portfolio of fashion photography and video, this course is structured by assignments that are driven by those in the professional community. Open to students with a strong studio and technical background, as well as those who have a less formal relationship to fashion photography and video, the course will emphasize vigorous competence with the complexity of fashion photography and video, and create insight into its particular demands. Visual intelligence and creative ambition are the prerequisites.

PHD-3207

Location Photography and Video

One semester: 3 studio credits

Providing the technical background necessary for versatility and competence in location photography and video is the aim of this course. The objective is to develop each student’s imagination in order to find visually compelling locations, to study the space and available light, and to determine what additional light to bring to the “set.” This course will be supplemented with individual portfolio projects—both exterior and interior locations—and students will explore areas of their own special interests.

PHD-3208

Business of Photography

One semester: 3 studio credits

Commercial photography requires planning and expertise unrelated to your creative skills. This course will address how to approach and manage the activities necessary to execute projects for commercial clients and operate a successful photography business. Estimates, contracts, releases, insurance, locations, copyright, sourcing specialized equipment and talent, shoot schedules, transportation and logistics will all be covered, demonstrated and discussed. This course will provide the skills necessary to coordinate people, facilities and supplies to produce complex photography assignments with the aim of helping you to retain clients, attract new ones, increase your income and enhance your reputation.

PHD-3223

Fifteen Short Investigations Through Photo-Based Art

One semester: 3 studio credits

This course will investigate aspects of culture as they relate to photography and art. We will explore concepts inherent to photography, such as appropriation, multiples, systems, memory and archives, as a means for generating photo-based projects. Issues around authorship, originality, individuality, social media and technology will be considered in relation to cultural contexts, and short assignments and critique will serve to deepen your understanding of your work in relation to these issues. The objective of this course is to gain agility with a broad range of working methods and a fluency in critical art vocabulary, while fostering a personal engagement with contemporary visual ideas and practice.

PHD-3233 / PHD-3234

Advanced Fashion Studio I and II

Two semesters: 3 studio credits per semester

These courses are designed for students who are seriously interested in fashion. We will cover all aspects of the field: editorial, advertising, beauty and portrait. Both studio (tungsten and strobe lighting), and location (available light augmented by strobe) will be taught. Various camera formats, from 35mm to 4x5", will be used. Emphasis will be on the anatomy of a fashion shoot: working with models, hair and makeup people, editors, art directors, etc. Personal style will be stressed.

PHD-3238

Commercial Careers

One semester: 3 studio credits

For photography students with commercial aspirations, this course is driven by and focuses on building a body of work. Portfolio reviews will be balanced by the discussion of practical aspects of the field, from assisting to postproduction to estimates, invoicing, stock and resale. Guest speakers, including art buyers, photo editors, producers and photo agents, will add information and insight.

PHD-3241

About Face Value

One semester: 3 studio credits

The beauty of self-portraits is that you say whatever you want about yourself in whatever way you want. And you always have subject matter. Wherever you go, there you are. Introverted or extroverted, who you are inside and out becomes your work. You’re in front of and behind the lens—alone or with others—at the same time. You conspire with your camera. It’s your companion and confidante. This course is about exploration and experimentation (and sometimes even enlightenment). Curiosity is encouraged. Courage is endorsed. And intimate, personal work is the result.

PHD-3243

A Survey of Portraiture

One semester: 3 studio credits

This course is both practical discussion and hands-on exploration/survey of portrait photography and camera format (students can work with still images, video, digital and film). Planning or producing a portrait sitting, researching the sitter and coming up with ideas, lighting, composition, location/studio and interaction with the subject will be covered through discussion, demonstration and class sessions with models. The fine art and commercial application of both still and video portraits will also be discussed as an option for students to explore. Review sessions will focus on looking at and critique of the previous week’s in-class assignment, as well as planning and preparation for the following in-class portrait sitting.

PHD-3244

Still Life 4 Real Life

One semester: 3 studio credits

This course examines the form, function and history of still-life imagery as it appears across various disciplines. From modern and contemporary art to advertising and commerce, the still-life photograph occupies an important and complex place in the artistic process. This course provides an overview of the development and construction of the still life and its inherent place as an object, ideology and cultural marker. Students will examine objects, arrangements and lighting techniques as they create their own narrative constructs or aesthetic explorations with diverse and innovative results by bringing the still-life image to life through photographs and GIFs.

PHD-3253

Advertising and Product Photography

One semester: 3 studio credits

This hands-on studio course will introduce students to the demands of working as a photographer in advertising and working with art directors and clients in order to better understand the challenging field of advertising photography. The course will emphasize assignments for shooting advertising photography, such as still-life product ads with a 4x5" view camera and medium-format digital cameras, as well as working with live models to produce ads for fashion, beauty and fragrance clients. Students will craft their own mood boards and design layouts, and invent their own imaginary brands, as well as develop concepts for an existing product and fashion brand already on the market. Developing a creative style in order to enrich a personal vision will be emphasized, and students will create a body of work for inclusion in their portfolio.

PHD-3297

On Photography: On Life

One semester: 3 studio credits

Images condition our way of thinking—they shape, alter and transform our experience of reality. Can we discover who we are through what we see? How do we mold our perception of reality into images that express identity? As we live in a state of overexposure, is all that we perceive and experience real? This course will address these questions and many related ones from a theoretical, existential and experiential point of view. Participants can expect to learn how the visual language at the core of this course reflects on their respective practices and fields of investigation, and how images mirror their lives and identities. Students are encouraged to develop their own creative vision through interdisciplinary prompts, as well as group discussions and critiques.

PHD-3411

Photo Invention

One semester: 3 studio credits

There’s a long tradition in photography of the photographer/inventor. This course will help students to develop skills while they pursue a specific project that aids in the realization of their vision and personal style. Students will construct cameras, lenses and accessories; make modifications to existing equipment, or create a device to help achieve specific photographic results. We will learn to select appropriate materials, develop problem-solving strategies and acquire the necessary skills to see each project from concept to functional device. Projects can be large and complex or small and simple. Class time will be spent on design and construction. As work progresses and projects begin to yield images, they’ll be adjusted and refined to provide superior results. Participants will be taught basic shop safety and will be supervised when using power tools.

PHD-3416

Installation

One semester: 3 studio credits

Focusing on the application of theory and practice, this course will explore the uses of visual information in space. We will concentrate on the implications of the relationships among artist, object and audience. Using photo editing, drawing and drafting, model construction, computer and digital technology, experimental materials and nontraditional approaches in installation, students will explore the formal, spatial, conceptual and political aspects of presentation and installation. Class time will employ discussion, slide and electronic media presentation, guest lectures, gallery and museum visits and student experimentation. Assignments are geared toward an end-of-semester exhibition.

PHD-4080 / PHD-4080

Thesis I and II

Two semesters: 3 studio credits per semester

The function of these courses is two-fold: as a critical seminar of depth and insight, which helps each student to build a coherent body of work; and as an information forum that prepares students for careers in photography and video.

Independent Study

One semester: 3 studio credits

Junior and senior students who wish to pursue a special project not covered by the parameters of their department’s curriculum are eligible to apply for an independent study course. Students must have earned a grade point average above 3.00 at SVA and must submit their study goals as a detailed proposal for approval by the department chair. Proposals for an independent study must be made prior to the course adjustment period for that semester. Please contact the department advisor for specifics.

Internship

One semester: 3 studio credits

Students can gain valuable experience and broaden their professional network through an internship with an employer. Internships-for-credit are available to juniors and seniors who have earned a cumulative grade point average of 3.25 or better. To receive credit, students must apply online during the designated application period, be approved by the Career Development Office, and registered for the internship by their academic advisor. Students need to work 150 hours during the semester (usually 10 to 15 hours per week), participate in a weekly online course with other SVA interns, and complete midterm and final self-evaluations. Elective studio credit is awarded for the successful completion of an internship. For more information go to sva.edu/career.

BFA Photography and Video Curriculum