Syllabus

ASTU 4250 Fall 2011::

Tuesdays and Thursdays 8am - 10:50pm
Class Location: Oak Street Hall #191
Professor: Dornith Doherty
Office Hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays 2pm – 3pm
Office Location: Oak Street Hall #184

Grading Policy
1. Critique #1 20%
2. Critique #2 20%
3. Critique #3 20%
4. Exam 15%
5. Professional Project 15%
6. Final Portfolio/Exhibition 10%

Course Description
This course is an advanced level course with emphasis on developing a
creative body of work, developing your professional practice as an artist, and engaging current
conceptual and theoretical trends in photography. This course requires students to synthesize
concepts, technical skills and knowledge acquired from previous courses and demonstrate that
through the creation of a portfolio of work.

Course Structure
This is a studio class. You will be expected to plan ahead and work during
class time. Generally, class time will be split evenly between lectures and studio time. There
will be three critiques, a professional development project, and an exam. Graduating seniors will
participate in the senior exhibition and non-graduating students will submit a completed portfolio
of 20 images.

Course Readings
The Business of Photography: Principles and Practices, by Mary Virginia Swanson
$45 plus $6 shipping and handling

Course Requirements
Students should have 8-15 prints, or a short projection project (or other lens based media)
forming the beginning or continuation of a project, portfolio, or body of work and a 100-300
word project statement. The project statement should concisely describe the subject matter and
working methods (how and why did you start the project, why are you using the tools and
medium selected for the project). It will be used to help me understand what you are thinking
and doing for each critique. If you have questions about these requirements please ask before the
day of your critique. Critiques will be graded on image content and craft.  

Portfolio Requirements
Non-graduating seniors will turn in a portfolio of 20 prints for your final review. The print
quality and presentation should be professional. It is highly recommended that graduating
seniors prepare a portfolio/portfolios in addition to the show.

Professional Development Project
1. Professional Goals Form: What do you want to do?
DUE Tuesday of WEEK 2
2. Prepare Materials
Due September 13, 2011
a. Portfolio in appropriate format
b. Resume
c. Statement
d. Support Materials
e. Cover letter
3. Identify three professionally appropriate opportunity objectives -
document and describe them
Due September 13, 2011
You will be evaluated on the caliber of your opportunity objectives. You must submit a
copy of your objectives with support materials BEFORE making the marketing call.
Support materials that document and describe the opportunity you’ve selected can be
print-outs of web pages or calls for entry.
Places to research for opportunities
Galleries or commercial studios
Art Institutions ( example: DMA Kimbrough or DeGolyer Awards)
Artist Associations
Professional Photography Organizations: ASMP, SPE, CAA
Magazines
4. Discuss your plan and get approval
5. Make contact with your objective and make an appointment if necessary
6. Make the marketing call-this means you go and meet with the person OR you submit for
a proposal, or whatever is appropriate.
7. Write one page report of the three experiences - What were your results? How did they
help you reach your goals?
DUE Tuesday, 11/8/2011

Calendar
Week 1
Thursday 8/25/2011
-Introduction to the class/Organizational meeting:
-Review the schedule for the class
-Set up critique groups (A, B, C)
-Collect emergency contact information
-Hand out professional goals form
-Hand out Marketing Objectives form
-Hand out BFA exhibition to do list
-Establish student BFA committee
-Resumes and resources for professional opportunities
Announcements:
SPE San Antonio
A Photographic Book Publishing Primer workshop
Parallax events
Lightwell exhibition
Carey Roberson lecture
Rare book room tour (9/15 4pm optional by reservation with me)
Other adobe imagination challenge $10,000 prize
https://students-adobe.com/NA/imaginationchallenge/

Week 2
Tuesday 8/30/2011
Professional Goals - What do you want to do? - Form is due today
Contemporary Photography Presentation: Who's Hot!
Thursday 9/1/2011
How do you proceed to get what you want?
Presentation on Artist Statements, cover letters, and cold calls
Artist Talk: Gallery talk and reception 5-7pm by Carey Roberson
Roberson will be included in a show in the UNT Gallery (his work combines
painting and photography)

Week 3
Tuesday 9/6/2011
Critique #1, group A (8-15 Prints and a 100-300 word project statement)
Thursday 9/8/2011
Professional resources for grants and exhibitions
Framing resources
Discuss Chapter 1 of The Business of Photography: Principles and Practices
-Introducing Your Work to Professionals in the Fine Art Market
9/10/2011
Chema Madoz Opens at Photographs Do Not Bend Gallery 5pm-8pm
This contemporary artist will display surrealist, humorous photographs using
combined objects. www.chemamadoz.com/ingles

Week 4
Tuesday 9/13/2011
Critique #1, group B (8-15 Prints and a 100-300 word project statement)
Due TODAY: (Prof. Project step 3).
1) Opportunity Objectives with documentation. You must develop a plan and
submit a list of at least three things you will do to achieve your long-term
professional goals. You must submit documentation about these three things.
2) resume
3) statement,
4) sample cover letter
5) support materials
Wednesday 9/14/2011
"A Photographic Book Publishing Primer for the 21st Century" lecture by
Melanie McWhorter at 6pm in Art 313.
Thursday 9/15/2011
Workday
Photographic Book Workshop (by prior registration) 9/15 & 9/16 in the Forum in
the Willis Library. Tour of Rare book room at 4pm

Tuesday 9/20/2011
Critique #1, group C (8-15 Prints and a 100-300 word project statement)
Thursday 9/22/2011
How to Navigate in the Fine Art World
Discuss Chapter 2 of The Business of Photography: Principles and Practices
-Insights into the Gallery and Museum World

Tuesday 9/27/2011
Workday - research exhibition frames and work on your professional
development project.
Thursday 9/29/2011
Workday - research exhibition frames and work on your professional
development project.
9/29/2011-10/2/2011 SPE Regional Conference in San Antonio

Week 7
Tuesday 10/4/2011
Critique #2, group A (8-15 Prints and a 100-300 word project statement)
One work must be formally presented
Thursday 10/6/2011
Discuss Chapters 3 & 4 of The Business of Photography: Principles and Practices
-The Business of Your Photography
-Bringing your Work to Market

Week 8
Tuesday 10/11/2011
Critique #2, group B (8-15 Prints and a 100-300 word project statement)
One work must be formally presented
Thursday 10/13/2011
How to get MONEY?
Discuss Chapter 5 of The Business of Photography: Principles and Practices
-Fundraising for Your Personal Photographic Projects

Week 9
Tuesday 10/18/2011
Critique #2, group C (8-15 Prints and a 100-300 word project statement)
One work must be formally presented
Thursday 10/20/2011
Photoshop Selections Demonstration / Considering Graduate School
Touch Base on Exhibition Preparations (Review Card Designs & finalize details)

Week 10
Tuesday 10/25/2011
Trends in contemporary photography
Walk through of Cora Stafford Gallery
Thursday 10/27/2011
Discuss Chapters 6 & 7 of The Business of Photography: Principles and Practices
-Granting Reproduction Rights to Your Photographs
-Publishing a Book of Your Photographs

Week 11
Tuesday 11/1/2011
Critique #3, group A (8-15 Prints and a 100-300 word project statement)
One work must be formally presented
Thursday 11/3/2011
Discuss Chapter 8 of The Business of Photography: Principles and Practices
-Essential On-line and Print Resources for Photographers

Week 12
Tuesday 11/8/2011
Critique #3, group B (8-15 Prints and a 100-300 word project statement)
One work must be formally presented
Thursday 11/10/2011
Lecture: Contemporary Documentary Photography
Professional Project Summary Reports are due today

Week 13
Tuesday 11/15/2011
Critique #3, group C (8-15 Prints and a 100-300 word project statement)
One work must be formally presented
Thursday 11/17/2011
Workday
Saturday, November 19, Dornith Doherty exhibition opening at Holly Johnson Gallery, Dallas

Week 14
Tuesday 11/22/2011
Lecture: Out of the Box Contemporary Photographers
Thursday 11/24/2011
Thanksgiving, no class

Week 15
Tuesday 11/29/2011
Workday
(Possible Field trip to the Amon Carter Museum in Fort Worth:
-Masterworks of American Photography: Landscape
-Feature Photography Exhibition: Work)
Thursday 12/1/2011
EXAM Final copy of resume, artist statements due
(Hang Senior Show this weekend starting @ 2pm Saturday, December 3rd)

Week 16
Tuesday 12/6/2011
Senior exhibition this week - Class meets in the gallery today
Final Portfolios for non-graduating seniors due
Thursday 12/8/2011
BFA Exhibition Closing Reception!!!

Attendance
Regular and punctual attendance is mandatory.
1. More than three unexcused absences will require an official doctor's note to be excused.
2. More than three unexcused absences will lower your final grade by at least one letter.
3. Most lectures, demonstrations, and assignments will occur at the beginning of class periods
and will not be repeated for latecomers. If you are late to class and arrive after attendance has
been taken, you will need to notify me at the end of class period to replace the absence with a
tardy. Three tardies will constitute and absence. A tardy is considered to be arrival 10 minutes
after the beginning of class.
4. Assignments that are turned in late will receive one letter grade lower per day for each day
they are late.
5. Examinations missed may be made up only with an official doctor's excuse.
6. Critiques missed may not be made up and grades will reflect the student's failure to participate
in the discussion of the work.

Drop policy
Please consult the UNT official calendar for the appropriate drop deadlines.

Course requirements:
1. Regular and punctual attendance.
2. Completion of all assigned work.
3. Participation in class discussions and critiques.
All the assignments/critiques must be completed in order to pass the course.
Assignments/critiques must be completed on time as stipulated in the attendance policy.



Please note, due to the challenges inherent in planning 16 weeks ahead of time, I retain the right
to change this syllabus without notice.

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