Skip to main content
Unit of study_

CAEL2085: Photography and the Lighting Studio

Semester 1, 2022 [Normal day] - Remote

This unit of study offers you an introduction to lighting and its effects in photography. Considering the lighting studio as a site for experimentation and critical exploration, you will learn the fundamentals of lighting while exploring both how it has been historically used and how contemporary artists use it today both in and out of the studio. Through the nexus of photographic portraiture and still life, lighting is explored as a mechanism for both documenting and transforming its subjects/objects. You are encouraged to work in groups to create original photographic work for two major photo assignments. Please note this unit of study is for students who have had little or no experience in high-end digital photography, software and lighting. The unit of study introduces you to photo editing software, file management and the fundamentals of digital printing.

Unit details and rules

Unit code CAEL2085
Academic unit Sydney College of the Arts
Credit points 6
Prohibitions
? 
None
Prerequisites
? 
12 credit points at 1000 level in Visual Arts or 12 credit points at 1000 level in Studio Foundation
Corequisites
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Isobel Markus Dunworth, isobel.markus-dunworth@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Isobel Markus Dunworth, isobel.markus-dunworth@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Presentation Project 2 major work
n/a
40% Formal exam period
Due date: 10 Jun 2022 at 13:00
n/a
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8
Presentation Project 1
n/a
40% Week 07
Due date: 08 Apr 2022 at 13:00
n/a
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO8 LO7 LO6 LO5 LO4 LO3
Presentation Project 2 research presentation
Oral presentation
20% Week 10
Due date: 06 May 2022 at 13:00
10 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO5 LO3 LO1 LO8 LO7

Assessment summary

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

 

Distinction

75 - 84

 

Credit

65 - 74

 

Pass

50 - 64

 

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see sydney.edu.au/students/guide-to-grades.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website  provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.  

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

You may only use artificial intelligence and writing assistance tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator, and if you do use them, you must also acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section.

Studiosity is permitted for postgraduate units unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Formal exam period Project 2 Assessment Studio (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8
STUVAC Project 2 preparation period Independent study (3 hr)  
Week 01 Introduction to the course & weekly frameworks. Lecture - the history of the still-life genre. Studio (3 hr)  
Week 02 The camera - an introduction. In-class practical exercises & technical workshop. Studio (3 hr) LO1 LO2
Week 03 Photo Editing & Digital Workflow Studio (3 hr) LO1 LO5
Week 04 Research Presentations Due In-Class Studio (3 hr) LO1 LO2
Week 05 Still Life exercises Studio (3 hr) LO3 LO5
Week 06 Work in Progress Review and Feedback – Project 1 Studio (3 hr) LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 07 Project 1 - The Still Life due in-class Studio (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 08 Review Week - Independent Studio work - consultations by appointment Studio (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4 LO5 LO7
Week 09 Introduction to Project 2 - The Portrait. Lecture - conceptual approaches to portrait making Studio (3 hr) LO4 LO5 LO7
Week 10 Research Presentations due in-class Studio (3 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 11 Lighting for Portraiture Studio (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO8
Week 12 Retouching, Colour Correction and Print/Digital Display File preparation Studio (3 hr) LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 13 Work in Progress Review and Feedback – Project 2 Studio (3 hr) LO3 LO4 LO5 LO7

Attendance and class requirements

  • Attendance: According to Faculty Board Resolutions, students in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences are expected to attend 90% of their classes. If you attend less than 50% of classes, regardless of the reasons, you may be referred to the Examiner’s Board. The Examiner’s Board will decide whether you should pass or fail the unit of study if your attendance falls below this threshold.
  • Lecture recording: Most lectures (in recording-equipped venues) will be recorded and may be made available to students on the LMS. However, you should not rely on lecture recording to substitute your classroom learning experience.
  • Preparation: Students should commit to spend approximately three hours’ preparation time (reading, studying, homework, essays, etc.) for every hour of scheduled instruction.

Additional requirements from Sydney College of the Arts

  • Students are expected to attend a minimum of 90% of timetabled activities for this unit of study, unless granted exemption by the Unit Coordinator or relevant delegate.
  • All assignments are compulsory and must be attempted. 
  • You must attend scheduled assessments to be eligible to pass. Non-attendance at assessment on any grounds insufficient to claim special consideration will result in the forfeiture of marks associated with the assessment. 

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. Demonstrate competencies in the skills, systems, and approaches to contemporary art practice
  • LO2. The application of skills in the generation of art objects, and engagements relative to visual art. Showing evidence of development in skills and technologies, and the capacity to reflect on the art-making process as it relates to the demands of the unit.
  • LO3. Demonstrate the strategies requisite to a critical awareness within art-making: the appropriate application of concepts, a willingness to explore unfamiliar approaches, and the development of the appropriate means of applying them
  • LO4. Demonstrate a commitment to art practice, deploying qualities of regularity, consistency and openness with the objective of shaping a dedicated art practice.
  • LO5. Confidently adopt an experimental and imaginative approach to the creative process to pursue idiosyncratic, innovative outcomes.
  • LO6. Demonstrated willingness and ability to work in groups collaboratively, reflectively and consultatively
  • LO7. Show awareness, sensitivity and empathy to subjective, cultural and racial differences
  • LO8. Apply Workplace Health & Safety (WHS) to all aspects of studio practice

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

No changes have been made since this unit was last offered

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.