DOCP201 Documentary Photography
30 ECST credits within arts or media related studies. Documented practical skills of photography, and sufficient mastery of the English language to participate in dialogue lecturing. Admission will be based on study programs and a short letter of application stating your background and reason for applying, along with a portfolio of 12-15 of your own pphotographs: all supplied in PDF-format. Applications are to be handed to the VUC Student Support Office by email: studentsorvis@hivolda.no. Please mark the application DOCP201. Students following media related study programmes will be given priority.
The course involves a series of set photographic assignments through which skills in photography and visual storytelling will be taught through a mixture of plenary sessions and individual tutorials with a professor. Further, there will be a writing, research and academic essay element in the programme which will form part of the final exam. Required equipment: Personal camera fit for documentary photography plus access to digital post-production of images and Internet connection. Some lighting and support equipment (eg tripod) will be available..
In accordance with the National Qualifications Framework the student will have following learning outcome after completing the course:
- The students have developed their own subjective sense of documentary photography within the confines of a specific region or locality.
- Students have developed people skills sufficient to work closely on sensitive subjects allowing them to utilize an approach and style that works for them in a specific context.
- Students have come to terms with seeking access to environments other than their own and build confidence in working closely with people of different ages and cultures.
- The students will also engage in the practice of “environmental portraiture”, photographing people in the context of their daily lives and learning that the resulting photographs are, in part, a result of the quality of their engagement with the subject.
- The students have, through their own experience, acquired a deeper understanding of documentary photography in theory and practice related to the given themes of the course.
- The students have acquired skills in still photography, post-production, editing and layout. Further skills taught on the course are: academic writing in English and critical thinking relating to photography and the media..
The student has acquired suffient knowledge and skills to operate independently as a photographer in a journalistic and documentaristic context.
The taught element of the course is organized over five gatherings during the early part of the autumn semester. Teaching will be offered in the form of seminars and tutorials. Plenary discussions will be held around student submitted presentations of work in progress. Individual guidance, in person or net-based, will be provided between the gatherings. VUC reserves non-commercial user rights to images submitted during the course. Examination will take place at the end of the semester..
Each student must submit a portfolio of 12-15 images for each of the assignments, based on a one page story proposal to be submitted prior to the production of the portfolio, together with captions describing the content according to standard news agency requirements: who, where, what, when.
Grading will be done in accordance with the Regulations governing admission, studies and examinations at Volda University College.
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The course will be evaluated in accordance with the University College’s routines for quality assurance. (http://www.hivolda.no/hivolda/om-hogskulen/kvalitetsarbeid)
| Vurderingsform | Gruppering | Varighet | Karakterskala | Andel | Kommentar | Hjelpemidler | Omfang |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Portfolio | Individual | 1 Semester | A-F, A is the best grade and E is the lowest passing grade | 70 | All assessment and examination work must be done in english. | ||
Rapport | Individual | 1 Semester | A-F, A is the best grade and E is the lowest passing grade | 30 | All assessment and examination work must be done in english. | Final versions of the assignments will be assessed in relation to the story proposal and clear captions describing each picture according to standard news agency requirements: who, where, what, when. An essay of 2500-3000 words on a chosen theme related to a chosen reading list, both to be approved in advance, will also be assessed. |