Photography II: Black and White – Fall 2024

The focus of Photography II: B&W is an expansion of the technical skills gained in Photography I: B&W and a deeper understanding of the aesthetic principles guiding personal work. Emphasis will be on applying sophisticated technical knowledge gained through materials tests to students' personal creative vision. Through exercises and assignments, students gain greater control over variable materials (fiber paper, developers, films) and creative development is encouraged through class critiques of personal projects. Editing for a series, presentation methods and options, as well as professional workflow, are also key components of this course.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

• Understanding the nature of film/developer combinations and their impact
• Control and manipulation of film(s) for better overall exposure and development
• Controlling images through the use of printing filtration and advanced printing concepts (pre-flashing, bleaching, split-filter printing)
• Presentation options for images and bodies of work (matting, framing, portfolio review options)
• Developing a cohesive body of work
• Working with an artist statement for both personal project development and final presentation
• Developing basic critique skills to describe your work and the work of others

COURSE OUTCOMES

• Ability to articulate the aesthetic impact of film/developer/paper/matting choices on the development and presentation of images
• Ability to perform basic film and paper tests to understand the various impacts to film speed, grain, and contrast
• Introductory understanding of how the zone system can be applied to film development and printing
• Necessary skills to be ready for film testing in the Introduction to Zone course
• How to successfully create an archival fiber based print
• How to create a complete body of work including a developed artist statement and archival black and white prints finished/mounted for final presentation

IMPORTANT NOTES FOR STUDENTS

• Weekly attendance is vital to student success in PCNW courses. We require that students attend the first meeting in order to retain their spot in the class. A waiver may be granted if permission is given by, and subsequent arrangements made with, both the PCNW Registrar and Faculty. Please see our Education Policies for details about attendance policies and academic expectations.
• PCNW adheres to a strict payment, cancellation and refund policy. Please review our Payment & Refund Policies prior to registration.
• Intermediate and advanced courses have prerequisites which students must satisfy prior to enrollment. Prerequisites may be waived based on experience or prior courses taken through other institutions. To verify that you meet the prerequisite(s) for a course, contact Jennifer Brendicke, Registrar at jbrendicke@pcnw.org.
• Students are required to provide their own film camera with full manual control (may be 35mm, medium format, or larger). If you have questions about camera equipment or resources, contact us at pcnw@pcnw.org.
• The Materials Fee for the course includes chemicals that will be used for testing and in-class demonstrations. Students will be required to purchase film, paper, and possibly chemicals for personal use / completion of assignments for the course.
• Additional materials and supplies, not covered by a materials fee for a course, are the responsibility of the student. Detailed information about course expectations, required texts and materials will be provided at the start of the quarter. The estimated cost of individual materials/supplies and rental fees required for completing assignments ranges from $300-$400.
• Students should prepare to spend several hours per week completing assignments outside of class, which may require use of the PCNW facilities; view our Rental Rates for details about additional fees. Rental fees for use of PCNW Facilities are a separate cost from tuition.

Image © Ineke de Lange, PCNW Certificate Program Graduate