PHT 100, Basic Photography, is an introduction to the fundamentals of digital and traditional camera operation.  A digital or conventional camera can be used. Students with conventional cameras will use slide film. Exposure techniques and creative approaches will be discussed.  Online lectures and slide presentations will expose students to photographic ideas and images.  Emphasis is on the technical and aesthetic aspects of creating photographs.

If you do well in this course, you will:

• Learn how to be a better photographer
• Learn how to manually operate conventional and digital cameras.
• Competently expose digital or film images in varying lighting conditions
• Understand composition and impact to use photography as a creative medium for artistic expression.
• Gain an appreciation for the history of photography and a knowledge of historic and contemporary photographers.
• Understand the aesthetics of color and black and white photography.

The required textbook for this course is:

• Photography, 9th edition,  Barbara London and John Upton, Prentice Hall, 2008

Additional Equipment:

• Camera(choice):
  • Digital camera, 3 preferably 5 megapixels or more, with manual modes (time value, aperture priority, program/auto)
  • 35mm SLR camera with manual settings. Note: If you use a conventional camera, you must use slide film and have means (i.e. a film scanner) to convert your slides to digital files.
• Personal home computer with Internet access. You may use on-campus computers, but limited availability may interfere with your coursework. Many of the links used in this class go to sites with photographs. These can take a long time to download if you have a slow Internet connection.

Optional Equipment:

• Tripod, manual or automatic flash.

For information on how to order your textbooks, go to http://eli.nvcc.edu/books/

Call before going to a campus bookstore to make sure the materials are in stock. If you don't see what you need, ask for assistance. Each bookstore has a separate section for ELI courses. Print this page and take it with you to avoid confusion.

Your course grade will be determined by assignments and exams, according to the following percentages:

NOTE:  Quizzes are graded assignments and can be taken as often as wanted for review and practice.  The quiz grades are not included in the final grade.

There are two proctored exams in this course. You are expected to take your examinations at one of the NVCC campus Testing Centers. Be sure to allow enough time to complete your exam before the Testing Center closes; Testing Centers have specific policies relating to the administration of ELI exams. You will need to take a photo ID, your NovaConnect empl ID number, and the appropriate Exam Pass when you go to the Testing Center.  

For Testing Center locations, hours of operation and policies, click here.

For information on taking exams outside of the metropolitan area, click here.

We are here to help you succeed in this course. Occasionally questions or problems may arise. Here is how to contact us when they do:

Carl Gunhouse:
E-mail: cgunhouse@nvcc.edu
Since I do not live in the Washington, DC area, please email me to set up a phone or online meeting.

Erik Patten
E-mail: epatten@nvcc.edu
Please email me to set up a phone, online or face-to-face meeting (either at ELI or the campus office in Woodbridge).

1. Use your web browser to connect to http://www.nvcc.edu/bbstart. Follow the directions to determine your email, Blackboard and VIVA account user names and passwords.
2. Access your email account and make sure you know how to use it; you will be required to use this account for all course-related email.
3. Log on to Blackboard at http://learn.vccs.edu.
4. Click on this course under "My Courses." Review the entire course to make sure you understand what will be required of you. Then start completing the assignments.

Please note that account generation takes approximately one week from the time of your paid registration. If you cannot log on after one week, contact the IT Help Desk. If you can log on to Blackboard, but your course isn't listed, please contact ELI or your instructor.