Photobook History and Practice

ART/JMS 321: Photobook History and Practice
Roosevelt University: Spring 2022

Mike Ensdorf, Professor of Photography
Department of Communication

How to reach me

E-mail: mensdorf@roosevelt.edu
Main Office: 620, Auditorium building
Phone: 312-341-6458
Office Hours: Wednesdays, Noon-2pm, AUD 364. (Or, email for appointment.)

The best way to reach me is by e-mail. I check it daily.

Course description

History and practice of the photobook. Students will photograph a major subject over the course of the semester, edit the photographs, and layout and publish two photobooks. Basic camera technique, and the history of the photobook will also be covered. Any type of camera can be used for the class, including cameraphones. (3 credit hours)

Time: 2pm-4:30pm, Wednesdays
Place: Aud 362 FACE TO FACE

Evaluation:

  • Shooting assignments: 25%
  • Attendance and participation: 25%
  • Mid-term book project: 25%
  • Final book project: 25%

A/A-
Conceptually and technically excellent work, near-perfect attendance, all assignments completed on-time, strong midterm and final projects.

B+/B/B-
Good, clean work, with only minor technical problems, no more than 2 classes missed over the semester, all assignments completed on-time, good midterm and/or final projects.

C+/C/C-
All of the above, no more than 3 classes missed, most of the assignments completed on-time, a good midterm or final project.

D+/D/D-
Technically poor work, more than 3 classes missed, multiple missed assignments, incomplete final project.

I (incomplete) Policy:  A grade of incomplete may be given only with the consent of the instructor and appropriate notification to the Office of the Registrar and the instructor’s dean or department chair. A student should only receive an Incomplete grade if:

  • The student initiates the request for an incomplete grade before the end of the academic term; and
  • The student is in good standing in the course and has completed a majority of the coursework (usually at least 75% of the coursework); and
  • A medical condition or other serious, non-academic extenuating circumstance (as documented with the Office of the Dean of Students) prevents them from completing a small portion of the coursework required to complete the course prior to the end of the term; and
  • The required work may be reasonably completed in an agreed-upon timeframe with the faculty member (no later than the end of the next semester, excluding summer); and
  • The required work does not require the student to retake any portion of the course.

Withdrawal date: The final date for an official withdrawal from this class (meaning a “W” would appear on your transcript) is March 25, 2022 (see Important Dates at https://www.roosevelt.edu/current-students/academics/deadlines).  You should consult your academic advisor if you are considering withdrawing from a course.  If you receive financial aid, also check with your financial aid counselor to assure that aid isn’t affected by withdrawing from a class.

Be prepared to work in class. Bring all supplies to every class.

Attendance: Mandatory. Lateness and any unexcused absence will affect your final grade. Three absences is considered to be deserving of a failing grade.

Prerequisites: Jour/Comm 201 (for JMS section. No prerequisite for ART section) or consent of instructor.

Face masks are required in all classrooms, during all face to face classes. Anyone refusing to wear a face mask will be asked to leave the classroom.


RU’s Learning Goals:

The University’s three overall learning goals for undergraduate students are:

  • Effective communication
  • Knowledge of discipline-focused content
  • Awareness of social justice and engagement in civic life

Goals and Learning Outcomes of the Class:

  • To introduce the history of the photobook as a medium and relate it to current practices.
  • To photograph a single subject over time in order to produce a substantial body of work.
  • To develop knowledge of discipline-focused content.
  • To create awareness of social justice and issue oriented photography.
  • To learn effective editing techniques.
  • To develop effective ways to communicate/talk about and critique work.
  • To produce two significant book projects combining the techniques and concepts generated in the course.
  • Student demonstrates the ability to apply:  1.) knowledge of tools and technologies of communication fields; 2.) theories and concepts in presentation of images and visual information.

Class Structure:

  • Lecture, slides, and readings related to the technique, theory, history, ethical considerations, and creative process of photobook making.
  • Instruction of photo editing and book layout and design.
  • Critiques of shooting assignments and projects.

Course Organization

Week 1: Introduction and orientation (Jan 19)

  • Introduction to course material
  • Introduction to photobooks

Assignment 1:  “Journey” assignment. (See Blackboard Assignments)

Week 2: Choosing a Subject-Photobook Presentations (Jan 26)

  • Assignment 1 due
  • Photobook examples
  • Choosing a photobook-worthy subject

Assignment 2: Choose one subject and start photographing. Shoot at least another 25 photos of the same subject.

Week 3: The Sum of the Parts–Creating a Series (Feb 2)

  • Assignment 2 due
  • Critique
  • Methods for combining photos into a series
  •  International photobooks

Assignment 3: Shoot another 25 photos of your chosen subject

Week 4: Critique (Feb 9)

  • Assignment 3 due
  •  Critique

Assignment 4: Shoot the final 25 photos of your subject

Week 5: Editing for Mid-term Photobook (Feb 16)

  • Assignment 4 due
  • Publishing with Blurb
  • Start mid-term Photobook

Week 6: Studio Time for Mid-term Photobook (Feb 23)

  • Critique of in-progress mid-term photobook

Week 7: Complete Mid-term Photobook with Blurb (Mar 2)

  • In-class critique of mid-term photobook
  • Send finished mid-term photobook to Blurb by end of class. ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL!
  • START FINAL PROJECT SHOOTING

Week 8: SPRING BREAK!  (Mar 9)

  • CONTINUE SHOOTING FOR FINAL PROJECT

Week 9: Critique of Mid-term Photobook (Mar 16)

  • Viewing and critiquing multiple examples of photobook designs
  • CONTINUE SHOOTING FOR FINAL PROJECT

Week 10: Studio Time for Final Photobook layout (Mar 23)

  • Begin layout of final photobook project

Week 11: Studio Time for Final Photobook layout (Mar 30)

  • Critique of in-progress photobook

Week 12: Studio Time for Final Photobook layout (Apr 6)

  • Critique of in-progress photobook

Week 13:  Final Photobook to Blurb (Apr 13)

Week 14: Printing Session (Apr 20)

Week 15: Printing Session (Apr 27)

Week 16: Final Photobook Sharing/Critique (May 4)

About your instructor

Mike Ensdorf, Associate Dean/Arts & Sciences, Professor of Photography/Journalism & Media Studies, Founder and Director/Gage Gallery at Roosevelt University. Master of Fine Arts, University of Illinois at Chicago.

Ensdorf helped develop the Journalism and Media Studies program at Roosevelt University in Chicago. In Roosevelt’s Department of Communication he teaches: Film and Digital Photography, Photobook History and Practice, and Pinhole to Cameraphone: Photography’s History and Practice. Ensdorf’s photographic work was included in the Iterations exhibition at the International Center of Photography in New York, and in the book of the same name published by MIT Press. His work was also included in the Photography after Photography exhibition, touring museums in Germany, Austria, Denmark, Switzerland, Finland, and finishing at the Institute of Contemporary Art in Philadelphia. His work is represented in the German and English editions of the book, Photography after Photography: Memory and Representation in the Digital Age, published by G+B Arts. Ensdorf’s work is in the permanent collection of the Museum of Contemporary Photography in Chicago. As founding director, Ensdorf has developed the Gage Gallery at Roosevelt University into “Chicago’s premier space for showcasing contemporary critical social photo-documentary work.” (Michael Weinstein, NewCity, Chicago.)