This course explores the creation of manipulated imagery from the imagination and how new digital tools expand the ways we express stories through current and future media. It traces the origins, development, and practices of manipulated photorealistic imagery, from Man Ray's solarized prints to the evolution of composited and collaged analog photography and motion pictures. The course covers the introduction of Photoshop, digital photographic illustration, and the technological advancements leading to CGI, VR, AR, XR, and AI, which create sophisticated alternate realities for art, advertising, film, and immersive storytelling.

In advertising photography and the film industry, media tools are merging and becoming inseparable. Students from the School of Photographic Arts and Sciences, School of Film and Animation, and School of Design 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. This multi-disciplinary class encourages students from all three schools to form teams and create portfolio-level collaborative artwork. If you are a student in the School of Photographic Arts and Sciences, School of Film and Animation, or 3D Digital Design, have at least 2nd year standing in the program, and want to take this course, please email the instructor for permission.

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.