Photo 156 - Photography 2 - Clover Leary

Introduction

Welcome to Photo 156 – Photography 2

Hello!

My name is Clover Leary, and I would like to welcome you to Photo 156 – Photography 2. I have been teaching a range of photography courses for many years, I love teaching, and I look forward to working with you this semester.

Photography 2 is an intermediate-level digital photography course that refines and builds upon the fundamental concepts and techniques of photography and Camera RAW. Throughout the course, you will continue developing your technical photographic skills while placing greater emphasis on concept development, creative decision-making, and the development and execution of photographic ideas through a thematic approach.

This is a fully online, asynchronous course, so there are no scheduled classroom meetings. You can complete the coursework at times that work best for your schedule, provided you keep up with the posted deadlines and course requirements.

Although we do not meet in person, I welcome the opportunity to work with students individually. I encourage you to schedule a Zoom meeting with me during my office hours if you would like to discuss your photographs, project ideas, technical questions, or course progress.

The best way to reach me is through the Canvas Inbox, although you may also email me at clover.leary@canyons.edufrom your COC student email account. I generally respond within 24 hours Monday through Friday while classes are in session.

Teaching Philosophy

My goal is to create a learning environment where every student feels welcome, supported, and encouraged to grow as a photographer. I believe that photography is both a technical skill and a creative form of expression, and that every student can improve through practice, curiosity, experimentation, and constructive feedback.

It is my intent that students from diverse backgrounds and perspectives will be well served by this course and that the diversity of experiences and perspectives students bring to the class will be viewed as a resource, strength, and benefit. I strive to create an inclusive learning environment where everyone is treated with respect and has an equitable opportunity to succeed.

I recognize that students may also face different academic, technical, financial, or personal challenges while attending college. If you encounter difficulties that are affecting your ability to participate in the course, please let me know. College of the Canyons provides a variety of student support services, and I am happy to help connect you with appropriate on-campus or off-campus resources whenever possible.

Photo 156 is designed to help you become more confident and intentional as a photographer while encouraging you to experiment, solve problems, develop ideas, and take creative risks. Mistakes are a natural part of the learning process, and some of the most valuable lessons come from photographs that don't turn out exactly as planned.

At this level, successful photography involves more than simply operating the camera correctly. You will be asked to think carefully about what you want to communicate, why you are making particular visual decisions, and how technique, composition, subject matter, and presentation work together to support your ideas.

I also welcome your feedback. If there are ways I can improve the effectiveness of the course for you personally or for other students, please let me know. I love hearing feedback from students and want the course to provide a productive and supportive environment for learning.

One of the most rewarding parts of teaching is seeing students gain confidence and discover new ways of thinking about photography. My goal is for you to leave Photo 156 with stronger technical and creative skills, a greater ability to develop and communicate your ideas through photographs, and increased confidence in your own photographic approach.

I look forward to working with you and will do my best to help you succeed in this course. If you have questions at any point during the semester, please don't hesitate to contact me.

I hope you enjoy the course, challenge yourself creatively, and use these eight weeks as an opportunity to develop both your technical abilities and your individual approach to photography.

Welcome to Photo 156 – Photography 2!

Course Description

Preparing for Photo 156

One of the challenges of Photo 156 is that students may enter the course after completing either Photo 155 or Photo 160. Although both prerequisite courses cover basic camera control and manual exposure, they otherwise emphasize very different techniques and skills.

If you completed Photo 155, which focuses on digital photography, DSLR or mirrorless camera operation, RAW capture, and digital post-processing, some of the technical content at the beginning of Photo 156 may be review. If you are already fully proficient with manual camera operation, you may skim some of the introductory technical lectures as indicated in the weekly modules. However, I still recommend reviewing this material, particularly if it has been a while since you completed your beginning photography course.

If you completed Photo 160, which focuses on film photography and darkroom processes, some of the digital camera, RAW workflow, and post-processing material may be new to you. Please give yourself sufficient time to work through these materials and contact me if you need additional help.

Although no previous experience with photo-editing software is required, you should be comfortable with basic computer operations such as opening and saving files, file management, downloading and uploading files, and copy/paste functions. Please let me know if you need help getting up to speed, as there are resources available to assist you.

An Intensive 8-Week Course

Photo 156 is a short-term, intensive course. We will cover the equivalent of a full 16-week semester in only 8 weeks, so the course moves very quickly.

Many students enroll in online courses believing they will require less time than traditional classes. Although online courses provide greater flexibility, they also place more responsibility on you to manage your schedule and stay current with the coursework.

Because this is an asynchronous course, we will not meet together at scheduled times through Zoom or participate in live lectures. Instead, you will work through the weekly Canvas Modules at your own pace.

Please review each weekly Canvas Module at the beginning of the week and keep careful track of deadlines using the Course Calendar in the Syllabus Module.

There is a 24-hour grace period for coursework as described in the syllabus. Because assignments, discussions, and critiques include group participation, they need to be completed within the participation window to receive credit. Work submitted more than 24 hours after the deadline will not be accepted for credit.

What to Expect in this Course

Camera Requirements

You must have access to a digital camera with full manual exposure controls. Your camera must be able to photograph using fully manual M exposure mode and must be capable of capturing RAW + JPG files.

A DSLR or comparable mirrorless camera will meet these requirements. Most compact cameras will not.

If you are unsure whether your camera is appropriate for Photo 156, please contact me before beginning the photography assignments so we can discuss your camera and available options.

If you do not have access to an appropriate camera, the COC Photo Lab in Mentry Hall, Room 133 has digital cameras available for student checkout by appointment. You will need a copy of your class schedule and a valid COC student ID and will need to complete the required online assessment before checking out equipment.

RAW Files and Photography Software

We will work with both RAW and JPG files throughout Photo 156, and RAW capture is required.

You will need software capable of reading, processing, and editing the RAW files produced by your camera. Course software demonstrations use Adobe Camera Raw, which is included with Adobe Photoshop. I will also provide information about other suitable RAW-processing software options.

Please make sure you have working software early in the course rather than waiting until an assignment deadline to install or test it.

Photography Assignments

All photographs submitted for assignments must be new photographs created by you specifically for the assigned project during this course.

Photographs taken before the course began or created for another class, client, personal project, or previous photography assignment may not be submitted for credit. This course is about learning to create stronger photographs through practice, experimentation, critique, and the development of new work.

All assignment photographs must be created with a DSLR or comparable mirrorless camera. You will be photographing in RAW + JPG mode and submitting the required original camera files as part of the assignment process.

Please carefully read the instructions and grading rubric for each photography assignment before you begin photographing. Photo 156 places greater emphasis on developing and executing photographic ideas, so planning and concept development will become increasingly important as you progress through the course.

Flickr and Critiques

Flickr is used for sharing photographs and participating in class critiques. Critique is an important part of the course and gives you an opportunity to receive feedback on your photographs while also developing your ability to carefully evaluate the work of other photographers.

Please access Flickr from a desktop or laptop computer when completing critiques whenever possible. Once we are working exclusively with manual exposure, you will need to be able to view camera and exposure information associated with your classmates' photographs. This information may not be easily accessible when viewing Flickr from a mobile device.

Using Canvas and Your COC Email

I strongly recommend accessing the course through a desktop or laptop computer rather than relying exclusively on the Canvas mobile app.

Students sometimes have difficulty seeing all necessary course information when accessing Canvas through a phone or tablet. Important materials such as lectures, documents, assignment instructions, grading comments, rubrics, and deadline information may be difficult to access or may not display completely on a mobile device.

A phone or tablet can be useful for quickly checking Canvas, but it should not be your primary method of completing Photo 156.

COC provides a student email account for college communication. Please check this account regularly, as Canvas announcements and other important course communications will be sent to the email associated with your college account. Also check your spam or junk folder periodically to make sure course communications are not being filtered.

Recommended Textbook

The recommended textbook for this course is:

The Short Course in Digital Photography
Barbara London
4th Edition
ISBN-13: 978-0134525815

The 3rd edition is also acceptable.

If you already used this book in Photo 155 or Photo 150 and still have access to it, you do not need to purchase another copy.

Because this is an intensive 8-week course, please obtain the book promptly if you plan to use it. Used and rental copies are often available at substantially lower prices.

Types of Assessments

Getting Started

Before beginning the course, please:

• Carefully review all materials in the Syllabus Module.
• Complete the Canvas Orientation Module.
• Review the Week 1 Module.
• Read the Course Calendar and become familiar with assignment deadlines.
• Confirm that your camera meets the Photo 156 requirements.
• Make sure you have access to a desktop or laptop computer.
• Confirm that you have appropriate RAW processing and photo-editing software.
• Make sure you can access your COC student email account.

The course website is available through Canvas at coc.instructure.com.

If you need assistance with Canvas, student support information and Canvas guides are available through College of the Canyons. You may also contact Canvas Support at 661-362-3344 or cvsupport@canyons.edu.

Additional Resources

Canvas

This course can be accessed on the first day of class via Canvas at https://coc.instructure.com. Log into Canvas using your CanyonsID single sign-on:

• CanyonsID Username is your COC student email address (Ex: username@my.canyons.edu)
• CanyonsID Password is your COC student email password

Please visit the Get to Know Your Online Classroom page for help logging into Canvas and for tips on using Canvas and Zoom. Canvas Chat Support is also available 24/7 for any Canvas related issues.

Online Education

Check out the Online Education website for more information on a variety of topics that can help you be a successful online student such as: exam proctoring, learning styles, computer skills, and tips for student success. If this is your first online course, feel free to take our online learning readiness assessment to assess your skills.

The Learning Center (TLC)

The TLC provides FREE online tutoring resources to COC students!

Academic Accommodation Center (AAC)

College of the Canyons AAC provides educational services and access for eligible students with documented disabilities who intend to pursue coursework at COC. A variety of programs and services are available which afford eligible students with disabilities the opportunity to participate fully in all aspects of the college programs and activities through appropriate and reasonable accommodations. For more information on their services visit the Academic Accomodation Center website.

Online Counseling

The Counseling Department offers appointments online. You can schedule an appointment by visiting the Online Counseling website. Counselors can help you map out a plan to reach your educational goals as well as advise you on course selection and registration.

Management of Stress and Mental Health

Often the pressure on our students is very strong, involving academic commitments, relationships, outside jobs and family pressure to name a few. The staff and faculty of College of the Canyons are here to see you succeed academically and care about your emotional and physical health. You can learn more about the broad range of confidential student services, including counseling and mental health services available on campus by visiting the Student Health & Wellness Center in the Student Services Building (across from the bookstore). The phone number is 661-362-3259 that you can call 24/7. You can also e mail for an appointment at StudentHealthCenter@canyons.edu. At the Canyon Country Campus the Health Center will be in the new Student Services Building.

Also, the National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline number is now 988. All students at COC are encouraged to enter that phone number in their cells. You can call it when you, or someone you know, is having thoughts of suicide or is in severe distress.

You can also now use the Crisis Text Line: Just text "Courage" to 741741. Someone will get back to you immediately. Its free, 24/7, and confidential.

Veterans Resource Center

The College of the Canyons Veterans Resource Center is a department within the Student Services Division at the college, created to help veterans and veteran dependents with applying to College of the Canyons, enrolling in classes, and requesting VA Education or Vocational Benefits. For more information please visit the Veterans Resource Center website, email veterans@canyons.edu or phone (661) 362-3469.

Library

The Library provides live online and in-person research help, access to a full range of e-resources and physical materials that support the curriculum, individual and group study areas, and much more!

Last updated: 08/17/2026 Sub#: 2075 Sub ID: 218818