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Photography in the Environment
NOTE: There is a $75 Lab Fee with this course which covers film developing and chemicals. Course Structure While immersed in the biological diversity of Isla Colon, we will explore our feelings and observations about this environment. Our goal will be to acquire and practice the tools needed to communicate ideas about this complex ecosystem. If Photo Journalism is about being articulate about our world using images, and Art is about expressing our inner landscape, then I hope to blend the two, and come away with an intelligent and emotional story about our adventure in the tropics. We will begin to understand the visual language of the landscape through a variety of tools, both film and digital. The class will involve exploration, demonstration, and Critique. We have a darkroom for contact sheets but will rely on scanning, PhotoShop and computer printing for our day to day examples and work prints. Technical skills developed will include social documentary, macro, animal, landscape, time lapse, flash, underwater, and location/studio photography as well as PhotoShop and printing. Aesthetically, there will be emphasis on the importance of personal exploration and experimentation along with technical ability to produce a complex view of our environment. Because of the small size of the class, the course is open to any level student. What is there, what is the place like? Resources include a lab for film processing, a darkroom for making contact sheets, a computer lab for scanning and printing. All of these and the cabañas that we will live in are 30 feet from the Caribbean Sea. We have a boat and van for field trips, as well as 4 other classes with which to share experience, interact and work. There is a beautiful open thatched roof restaurant area in which we will eat and have classes. At night there is a multimedia classroom complete with video projector. I don’t want to be misleading, this is all a very rustic setting, but we do have all of the equipment and resources to make this a memorable and educational experience. To quote Jill Frazier ( jpf2@lehigh.edu ) from last year, “it was the best adventure I’ve ever been on”. There will be about 10 photo students living together with probably 30 other students. Take a look at the other classes offered and the place itself on line. http://www.itec-edu.org/info.html - station How will the class work?I have included the syllabus from last year below. This is just a starting point, what we really do depends on the students and the direction that their work takes them. I have a group of concepts that I want to get across each week. At the same time I want students to develop their personal vision of their experience in this beautiful place. In the beginning I will be doing a lecture every day and demonstrating concepts important to our work. As the weeks progress, students will have more time to work on their own projects and we will discuss finished work and the next images each student will make. GradingCourse grades are based on participation and projects. Syllabus, Photography and the Environment
What Will I need to bring? Mainly you will need a manual 35mm SLR camera. It can be automatic, but must be able to be used manually. There is a long list of equipment that you should bring if you have it, tripod, lenses, flash, etc. but not much that you would need to buy if you don’t have these things. I have some gear there and plan to bring some more group equipment. I’ve added the list below, look especially at the “Student equipment” section. We can discuss the specifics when we know who and how many students are coming. Panama Photo class Equipment list
Group Photo Class work
Lab
Computer
Software
Doug - Personal
Student Equipment
Clothing and living stuff:
Past Student Recommendations of other gear.
Books
How do I get there? I will arrive on Sunday night in Panama City. I suggest that we all meet at the Hotel Marbella in Panama city. The next morning we will fly to the island on a small plane operated by “Aeroperlas”. From there we will be picked up by boat or Van and taken across the island to Bocas Del Drago. If you are coming from Lehigh or the New York City area, we can go together. How do I get my stuff there? I always carry my film and camera gear. It is important to have lead bags to put your film in because even though the x-ray machines may not damage your film with one pass, in the course of travel these days, with multiple machines, and all of them turned on high. There will be damage. As for your luggage, I like to pack inside plastic garbage bags inside my backpack or suitcase. Then I’ll put a garbage bag or two in an outside pocket for the boat ride once I am on the island. This also makes it more difficult for someone to steal something out of your bag while it is in transit. Always lock up luggage as well. A “dry sack “is and excellent thing to protect your camera bag, and you can get them in most sporting goods stores. Make sure you get one that your camera bag will fit inside. How much
will the trip cost?Room, board and the class costs $1700 for the
month. There is also a $75 lab fee for materials. To receive credit
at your school, you must take an independent study at your College
or University. I can communicate with an instructor there and tell
him or her about the class, but you would probably have to pay for
the credits at your institution. Tuition includes 3 meals a day as
well as a three day trip into the mountains of Panama. All students
participate in this field trip. You may want money for snacks and
drinks. On Friday nights, everyone goes to town together. There will
be a dinner before we go, but some people leave early and go out to
dinner in town. You will need to pay for your own transportation to
and from Bocas. The flight from Panama City costs $110. You may need
to stay in Panama City over night; your hotel will cost about $35
per night. Taxis and food while in Panama City could cost about $
60 each way and there is a $25 airport exit tax to pay on the way
out. We may do a field trip or two that would involve hiring a guide
and a boat; this would cost a little extra and could be optional.
You also may decide to get your dive certification, this course would
meet all day each Saturday (3) and costs $225. It includes 4 open
water dives. In the end you would have your PADI open water dive certification,
and recognized world wide. Your budget will vary depending on your
spending habits:
Who else can I ask about the
trip? How do I get in touch with
Doug? |
