Southern Utah University

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Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2025

Photography Principles: Black and White / Darkroom (Face-to-Face)

ART 1800-04

Course: ART 1800-04
Credits: 3
Term: Fall Semester 2025
Department: ARTD
CRN: 30679

Course Description

An introduction to the fundamentals of photographic practice within the darkroom. Students learn basic darkroom techniques, including black-and-white film development, making contact sheets, and printing with an enlarger as they explore and respond to the visual qualities of the medium. Film cameras will be provided.

This course is designed to give the student a physical and historical connection to the photographic medium through hand-made cameras and processes. Students will experience the joy of success and learn to overcome the sting of failures associated with working on images that develop over time, literally and metaphorically. 

Required Texts

Course Materials

Students will have access to the darkroom and must follow class safety protocols. They will still be introduced to darkroom techniques while exploring and responding to the medium's visual qualities. You will need paper and film by the third week of school. Purchase Supplies.
  • Ilford Black & White Photo Paper* / 25 sheets (5x7 in.) = $20
  • Ilford Black & White Photo Paper* / 25 sheets (8x10 in.) = $45
  • Ilford Black and White, HP5 120 film (4 rolls) = $10 per roll
  • Lineco Storage Box = $16
  • DSLR or Camera Phone for Digital Capture + Submission

Holga Film Camera Rental 

The SUU Film, Art + Design Department will provide each student with a Holga film camera to borrow for the semester.

DSLR Camera Rental 

The SUU Library offers DSLR Kits for student check-out. Available on the 1st floor, Check Out Desk (Circulation Desk).

Learning Outcomes

After the course, students will be able to:

  1. Recognize the subtle nuances of vision through the negotiation of technique, composition, and concept
  2. Demonstrate the fine-tuned relationship between their mind’s eye and that of the vision of their camera
  3. Understand the role of photography and the photographer in contemporary society
  4. Assess and critique images based on aesthetics, content, and technical quality
  5. Use professional vocabulary when analyzing photographic ideas and forms
  6. Apply a mechanical mastery of exposure, development and image manipulation, and printing

Course Requirements

Quizzes

You will have 9 quizzes to evaluate your knowledge with critiquing, darkroom procedures, and technical methods/processes. Each quiz will consist of 5 multiple-choice questions. There is no time limit, and you will have two attempts to complete each quiz. Quizzes must be submitted by the assigned due date. 5 points each

Discussion Boards

Students will learn the fundamentals of photographic practice within the darkroom through text(s), videos, lectures, and hands-on demonstrations. You will have 7 Discussion Board participation activities in this course. Each Discussion Board will have its criteria and questions. Submit an initial post(s) responding to the prompt before 11:59 pm on the designated due date and post your reflections on at least two other classmates' before the due date. You will not be able to see others' postings until you have posted something of your own. 6 points each

In-Class Participation Activities

Students will learn the fundamentals of photographic practice within the darkroom through hands-on demonstrations and applications. You will have 8 In-Class participation activities in this course. 5 points each

Peer Reviews

For each creative project, we will have a critique, where you will share your thoughts and ideas regarding the creative/technical progress of your peers while offering constructive suggestions for improvements. You will have 6 Peer Review activities in this course. Virtual Critique = Peer Reviews to be completed via Canvas. We will use the general comment or media comment to provide feedback on photographic imagery. Student peer reviews will be considered complete when students have commented at least once on the page and filled out the rubric (if provided) for the assignment for each assigned peer. 5 points each

Assignments

You will have 3 photographic assignments: Photogram "Shadow Play," Pinhole Camera "Allegory of the Cave," and Holga "Time and Narrative," each will focus on specific criteria and skills learned in this course. Assignments must be submitted by the assigned due date. 20 points each

The following grading standards will be used in this class:

GradeRange
A100 % to 94.0%
A-< 94.0 % to 90.0%
B+< 90.0 % to 87.0%
B< 87.0 % to 84.0%
B-< 84.0 % to 80.0%
C+< 80.0 % to 77.0%
C< 77.0 % to 74.0%
C-< 74.0 % to 70.0%
D+< 70.0 % to 67.0%
D< 67.0 % to 64.0%
D-< 64.0 % to 61.0%
F< 61.0 % to 0.0%

Course Outline

Week 1: Welcome & Getting Started

  • Course overview, syllabus, and supply list

  • Quiz #1: Syllabus

  • Order photography supplies assignment

  • Discussion Board expectations

Week 2: The Camera Obscura – “A Room with a View”

  • History and contemporary artists

  • In-class Camera Obscura activity

  • Discussion: Camera Obscura

  • Quiz #2: The Camera Obscura

Week 3: Cyanotype – “Into the Light”

  • History and toning process

  • In-class Cyanotype assignment

  • Discussion: Cyanotype Experimentation

  • Quiz #3: Cyanotype

Week 4: The Darkroom

  • Rules, equipment, and chemistry setup

  • Enlarger demonstration and video

  • Quiz #4: The Darkroom

Week 5: Photogram – “Shadow Play”

  • History, contemporary artists, and process

  • In-class Photogram assignment

  • Assignment: Shadow Play final submission

  • Discussion: Photogram Experimentation

  • Peer Review: Shadow Play critique

  • Quiz #5: The Photogram

Week 6: Evaluating Art & Critique

  • Principles of critique, self-reflection

  • Quiz #6: Evaluating Art

Week 7–8: Pinhole Camera – “Allegory of the Cave”

  • History and contemporary artists

  • Building and using a pinhole camera

  • In-class pinhole shoot and positive print

  • Discussion: Pinhole Camera + Negative to Positive

  • Assignment: Pinhole Camera “Allegory of the Cave”

  • Peer Review: Allegory of the Cave critique

  • Quiz #7: The Pinhole Camera

Week 9: Holga – The Basics

  • Loading film, 120mm reel practice

  • Film development demo + troubleshooting

  • In-class Holga film development assignment

  • Discussion: Holga Film Development

  • Quiz #8: Film Development

Week 10–11: The Print

  • Making contact sheets and enlargements

  • Using contrast filters, burning & dodging

  • In-class Holga contact sheet and enlargement

  • Quiz #9: The Print

Week 12: Holga Multiple Exposures

  • Techniques, tips, and student examples

  • Assignment: Holga Multiple Exposures

Week 13: Holga “Time & Narrative” Proposal

  • Discussion: Project proposal & peer feedback

Week 14: Final Project – Holga “Time & Narrative”

  • Final project due

  • Peer Review: Final critique

Extra Credit (Optional, ongoing)

  • Virtual Museum Exhibition Responses (up to 3 opportunities)

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

Instructor's Response Time & Feedback

The BEST way to contact me is to send a message through Canvas! I check my email and the course space at least once a day, often more than that. I will generally respond to messages within 24 hours, often sooner. Expect to receive a message by Monday if you contact me during the weekend. Feedback is an important part of learning; please look for feedback on each assignment. To find feedback, look at this tutorial How do I view assignment comments from my Instructor Links to an external site.? If you are experiencing technical camera or darkroom issues during the semester, please get in touch with me immediately to set up a meeting. 

It is my goal to:

  • Respond to student messages within 1 business day
  • Provide grades within 2 - 3 days from the due date

Student Responsibilities

Everything due for an assignment is listed on each assignment page, along with the due date. It is the student's responsibility to keep track of what is expected and when it is due. 

  • No late work will be accepted.
  • All work submitted for credit must be new work made THIS semester for this class and made personally by the student. The student is fully responsible for the technical and aesthetic quality of all the work submitted for credit in this class.

Darkroom Groups

Work groups will be assigned to allow for the appropriate working space within the darkroom and during demonstrations. Students will be given a designated group (A or B) within their class time, where they will have priority for enlargers. Groups will be announced in the second week of instruction.

Equipment Usage Terms

The student is responsible for the care and safety of all equipment Southern Utah University provides and for notifying the professor immediately of any damage to the equipment. If the student is found to be mishandling equipment in any way or form, at the discretion of the professor, they will receive a “0” on the current assignment.

  • The responsible parties will incur the costs of repairing major damages to the equipment.
  • Equipment failure does not account for leniency on due dates for assignments.

Note-Taking Policy

Students are responsible for all materials covered in class, and note-taking is highly encouraged. However, the professor is not accountable for re-teaching missed or neglected material (see attendance policy) but instead will review the student's notes with the student to clarify misconceptions.

AI Usage Policy

For this course, no AI platform or software may be used for the creation, editing, or submission of photographs. This includes, but is not limited to, AI tools for image generation, enhancement, or manipulation. Students must rely on their own skills and knowledge to produce and present their photographic work.

However, AI tools for writing and research, such as language models for generating text, can be utilized for written assignments, project descriptions, and other non-visual tasks. Examples include using AI to draft essays, artist statements, or project proposals, provided the work is properly cited and meets academic integrity standards.

Attendance Policy

Attendance

Success in this course depends on active participation and engagement throughout. Students must complete all assignments by the due date and actively participate in class discussions.

Additionally, students are expected to:

  • Log on at least three times a week – on different days to complete weekly assignments, assessments, discussions, and/or other weekly deliverables as directed by the professor and outlined in the syllabus;
  • Participate in the weekly threaded discussions; this means that, in addition to posting a response to the thread topic presented, students are expected to respond to each other with comments or questions.

If you cannot meet the class' minimum discussion requirements due to such a circumstance, please get in touch with your instructor as soon as possible. 

Course Fees

Program and Course FeesLinks to an external site.

Canvas Information

Canvas is where course content, grades, and communication will reside for this course.

SUU has several resources and services available to support you during your time here at SUU; please review this list of SUU Campus Resources and Services and the Student Handbook. For more information on Canvas and other technologies and their statements on Accessibility and Privacy statements, please review our Vendor Resources page.

Finances are an integral part of maintaining your well-being. If you are struggling financially or wish to know more about budgeting, please visit the Financial Wellness Center in room 201C in the Sharwan Smith Center, contact Ashleigh Zimmerman at (435) 865-8436, or text the Financial Wellness line at 435-708-1952.  

You may need to travel for photography in this course; you are responsible for your safety and equipment. Therefore, take necessary precautions when traveling. 

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.