This course introduces students to the creation of manipulated and imagined imagery, and to the ways digital tools expand visual storytelling. It surveys the history and evolution of photorealistic image manipulation from early experimental techniques such as Man Ray’s solarization to analog compositing and collage in photography and film. The course then examines how contemporary technologies, including Photoshop, digital photographic illustration, CGI, VR, AR, XR, and emerging AI tools, shape modern practices. Through lectures, demonstrations, and critical analysis, students explore how these technologies construct alternate visual realities used in art, advertising, film, and immersive media.

In commercial photography, film and design industries, media tools are merging and becoming inseparable. Students will be introduced to contemporary uses of Computer-Generated Imagery (CGI) for VFX. They will discover the potential of an integrated team approach to creating photorealistic composites for both stills and video. Students who take this class collaborate across the college to simulate real-world, multi-disciplinary teams that prepare them to work in the various creative industries.

This is the first of a sequence of required advertising photography courses that investigates visual problem solving when applied to commercial photography. Studio and other controlled environments will be encountered through assignments. Advertising and editorial solutions and applications will be explored. The skills necessary to photograph people, places, and things will be learned through various assignments.

This course will explore the techniques, tools, practices, and workflows used in retouching industry practices. This course will begin with basic masking, skin retouching, and compositing techniques then apply these skills to creating images. The importance of the collaborative role of the image-maker and the retouch technician will be discussed throughout the course. The primary goals of this course are to teach students how to craft a personal or signature imaging style, and understand retouching as an important skillset for image makers.

Advanced Retouching and Compositing is designed for students to learn the techniques for making a seamless, photorealistic composite, a combined image that follows all the physical laws of a straight photograph. This involves shooting all the photographic elements specifically to composite in Photoshop. Therefore, the students’ time will be split between photography and post-production work. The Lab will include studio time for students to complete photographic requirements of the assignments. The first half of the semester centers on mastery of the techniques of photorealistic compositing and the second half will be focused on using those skills for creative expression and problem solving. We will also explore how the compositing principles explored in still apply to motion compositing and CGI. While there is much emphasis on technical proficiency the true potential of this class is to produce portfolio level work.

Photography Independent Study will provide students with the ability to study in a specialized area with an individual faculty member. Students, with the assistance of a faculty adviser, will propose a course of study. Photography Independent Study students must obtain permission of an instructor and complete the Independent Study Permission Form to enroll.