| Introduction to Photographic Image Making |
1001 (001) |
|
Mon
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
In Person
|
|
Description
This foundational course introduces students to photography as a tool for creative expression and critical inquiry. Through hands-on assignments, students develop technical skills in camera operation, composition, and digital printing while exploring photography¿s evolving nature and impact on perception. Readings, screenings, and discussions provide a critical framework for analyzing images¿both personal and cultural. Emphasizing both conceptual growth and practical application, the course encourages experimentation across genres and prepares students for advanced photographic study. Required for all subsequent photo courses.
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Class Number
1516
|
Credits
3
|
Department
Photography
Area of Study
Books and Publishing, Digital Imaging
Location
280 Building Rm 106
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| Introduction to Photographic Image Making |
1001 (002) |
Catherine Gass |
Tues
3:30 PM - 9:15 PM
In Person
|
|
Description
This foundational course introduces students to photography as a tool for creative expression and critical inquiry. Through hands-on assignments, students develop technical skills in camera operation, composition, and digital printing while exploring photography¿s evolving nature and impact on perception. Readings, screenings, and discussions provide a critical framework for analyzing images¿both personal and cultural. Emphasizing both conceptual growth and practical application, the course encourages experimentation across genres and prepares students for advanced photographic study. Required for all subsequent photo courses.
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Class Number
1517
|
Credits
3
|
Department
Photography
Area of Study
Books and Publishing, Digital Imaging
Location
280 Building Rm 106
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| Introduction to Photographic Image Making |
1001 (004) |
Marzena Abrahamik |
Wed
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
In Person
|
|
Description
This foundational course introduces students to photography as a tool for creative expression and critical inquiry. Through hands-on assignments, students develop technical skills in camera operation, composition, and digital printing while exploring photography¿s evolving nature and impact on perception. Readings, screenings, and discussions provide a critical framework for analyzing images¿both personal and cultural. Emphasizing both conceptual growth and practical application, the course encourages experimentation across genres and prepares students for advanced photographic study. Required for all subsequent photo courses.
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Class Number
1519
|
Credits
3
|
Department
Photography
Area of Study
Books and Publishing, Digital Imaging
Location
280 Building Rm 106
|
| Introduction to Photographic Image Making |
1001 (005) |
Kelli Connell |
Thurs
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
In Person
|
|
Description
This foundational course introduces students to photography as a tool for creative expression and critical inquiry. Through hands-on assignments, students develop technical skills in camera operation, composition, and digital printing while exploring photography¿s evolving nature and impact on perception. Readings, screenings, and discussions provide a critical framework for analyzing images¿both personal and cultural. Emphasizing both conceptual growth and practical application, the course encourages experimentation across genres and prepares students for advanced photographic study. Required for all subsequent photo courses.
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Class Number
1528
|
Credits
3
|
Department
Photography
Area of Study
Books and Publishing, Digital Imaging
Location
280 Building Rm 106
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| Slow Photo |
2003 (001) |
Monika Niwelinska |
Fri
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
In Person
|
|
Description
This course invites students with a foundational knowledge of photography to expand their image-making practices through hands-on, experimental techniques. Exploring cyanotype, van dyke brown, collage, reproduction, and transfer methods, students gain a working understanding of graphic arts and print films. The course encourages curiosity, independent research, and creative risk-taking, with opportunities to integrate text, installation, and performance. Emphasizing process and material exploration, Slow Photo fosters a deeper engagement with photography beyond the digital, embracing time-intensive approaches that challenge conventional image-making.
Prerequisites
Prerequisite: PHOTO 1001.
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Class Number
1524
|
Credits
3
|
Department
Photography
Area of Study
Books and Publishing, Digital Imaging
Location
280 Building Rm 206
|
| Color |
2010 (001) |
Cecil McDonald, Jr. |
Mon
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
In Person
|
|
Description
This course explores the intricate concepts and practices of color photography, integrating perception, science, and cultural significance. Students refine their ability to see and interpret color through hands-on projects, peer critique, and historical and theoretical discussions. Technical instruction includes image capture, color correction, light quality, printing across various scales and media, and presentation strategies. Through these explorations, students deepen their understanding of color¿s role in shaping meaning and photographic expression.
Prerequisites
Prerequisite: PHOTO 1001.
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Class Number
1520
|
Credits
3
|
Department
Photography
Area of Study
Books and Publishing, Digital Imaging
Location
280 Building Rm 216
|
| Black and White |
2011 (001) |
Oliver Sann |
Thurs
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
In Person
|
|
Description
This course explores the techniques and aesthetics of black and white photography, from exposure to final prints. Students will develop skills in analog darkroom and inkjet printing, contrast control, lighting techniques, and the impact of scale, paper, and film choices. Hands-on projects and darkroom experimentation will deepen technical abilities and creative expression. An adjustable film camera is required.
Prerequisites
Prerequisite: PHOTO 1001.
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Class Number
1521
|
Credits
3
|
Department
Photography
Area of Study
Books and Publishing, Digital Imaging
Location
280 Building Rm 216
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| Black and White |
2011 (002) |
Robert Clarke-Davis |
Wed
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
In Person
|
|
Description
This course explores the techniques and aesthetics of black and white photography, from exposure to final prints. Students will develop skills in analog darkroom and inkjet printing, contrast control, lighting techniques, and the impact of scale, paper, and film choices. Hands-on projects and darkroom experimentation will deepen technical abilities and creative expression. An adjustable film camera is required.
Prerequisites
Prerequisite: PHOTO 1001.
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Class Number
1522
|
Credits
3
|
Department
Photography
Area of Study
Books and Publishing, Digital Imaging
Location
280 Building Rm 216
|
| Lighting Fundamentals |
2015 (001) |
Sonja Ruth Thomsen |
Mon
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
In Person
|
|
Description
Light is a powerful tool for creative control. In this course, students learn to observe, measure, and manipulate light to enhance their photographic work. Through hands-on practice, they explore the interplay of natural, ambient, and artificial light sources¿including on-camera and hand-held flash¿within existing conditions. By understanding metering and light mixing techniques, students gain the skills to shape mood, depth, and atmosphere in their images. This course provides a strong foundation in lighting, equipping students with practical techniques to elevate their work with confidence and precision.
Prerequisites
Prerequisite: PHOTO 1001.
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Class Number
2136
|
Credits
3
|
Department
Photography
Area of Study
Books and Publishing, Digital Imaging
Location
280 Building Rm 206
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| Lighting Fundamentals |
2015 (002) |
Marzena Abrahamik |
Tues
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
In Person
|
|
Description
Light is a powerful tool for creative control. In this course, students learn to observe, measure, and manipulate light to enhance their photographic work. Through hands-on practice, they explore the interplay of natural, ambient, and artificial light sources¿including on-camera and hand-held flash¿within existing conditions. By understanding metering and light mixing techniques, students gain the skills to shape mood, depth, and atmosphere in their images. This course provides a strong foundation in lighting, equipping students with practical techniques to elevate their work with confidence and precision.
Prerequisites
Prerequisite: PHOTO 1001.
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Class Number
1530
|
Credits
3
|
Department
Photography
Area of Study
Books and Publishing, Digital Imaging
Location
280 Building Rm 206
|
| Documentary Practices |
2025 (001) |
Jonas Becker |
Mon
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
In Person
|
|
Description
This course explores the power, ethics, and evolving role of documentary photography. Students will critically examine the medium's historical claims to truth and objectivity while confronting contemporary debates on identity, representation, and agency - who tells which stories, and how context shapes meaning? Readings from photography theory, sociology, and popular media provide diverse perspectives, fueling critical discussion. Through hands-on assignments and a culminating project, students will bridge theory and practice, refining their documentary approach while navigating the ethical and creative complexities of visual storytelling.
Prerequisites
Prerequisite: 3 credits of PHOTO 1000 level courses.
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Class Number
2134
|
Credits
3
|
Department
Photography
Area of Study
Theory
Location
280 Building Rm 214
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| Sophomore Seminar: Interdisciplinary |
2900 (056) |
Rachel Herman |
Thurs
3:30 PM - 6:15 PM
In Person
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Description
What are the concerns that drive one's creative practice? How does one set the terms for its future development? Sophomore Seminar offers strategies for students to explore, reflect upon, and connect common themes and interests in the development of an emerging creative practice that will serve as the basis of their ongoing studies at SAIC and beyond. Students will examine historical and contemporary influences and contextualize their work in relation to the diverse art-worlds of the 21st Century. Readings, screenings, and field trips will vary each semester. Presentations by visiting artists and guest speakers will provide the opportunity for students to hear unique perspectives on sustaining a creative practice. One-on-one meetings with faculty will provide students with individualized mentorship throughout the semester. During interdisciplinary critiques, students will explore a variety of formats and tools to analyze work and provide peer feedback. The class mid-term project asks students to imagine a plan for their creative life and devise a self-directed course of study for their time at school. The course concludes with an assignment asking students to develop and document a project or body of work demonstrating how the interplay of ideas, technical skills, and formal concerns evolve through iteration, experimentation and revision.
Prerequisite: Must be a sophomore to enroll.
Prerequisites
Prerequisite: Must be a sophomore to enroll.
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Class Number
2042
|
Credits
3
|
Department
Photography
Location
280 Building Rm 214
|
| Large-Format |
3002 (001) |
Sara Condo |
Fri
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
In Person
|
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Description
Large Format Photography introduces students to the concepts and aesthetics of working with a large-format view camera. Students will learn pre-visualization, camera movements, perspective control, large-format optics, and sheet film handling. Through flexible assignments, they are encouraged to develop a personal style while exploring traditional genres such as portraiture, landscape, studio, and architecture. Technical skills include view camera setup, the zone system, large-format scanning, and both analog and digital printing. Each student is assigned a 4x5 studio camera and has access to 8x10 and 4x5 field cameras, along with various optics and accessories.
Prerequisites
Prerequisite: 3 credits of PHOTO 2000 level courses.
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Class Number
1523
|
Credits
3
|
Department
Photography
Area of Study
Books and Publishing, Digital Imaging
Location
280 Building Rm 215
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| Individual Projects |
3004 (001) |
Marzena Abrahamik |
Thurs
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
In Person
|
|
Description
This course fosters the development of self-directed, research-driven projects, challenging students to push beyond traditional photographic approaches and explore interdisciplinary practices. Emphasizing experimentation, students refine their conceptual depth and technical skills while advancing a sustained body of work. Through critiques, discussions, collaborations, workshops, and individual mentoring, the course supports ambitious project development and strategies for exhibition, publication, and public engagement. Designed to complement Senior Capstone projects, it prepares students for the BFA exhibition and professional creative practices. May be repeated for credit.
Prerequisites
Prerequisite: 3 credits of PHOTO 2000 level courses.
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Class Number
1534
|
Credits
3
|
Department
Photography
Location
280 Building Rm 215
|
| Top: Manipulations and Extensions |
3005 (001) |
Robert Clarke-Davis |
Thurs
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
In Person
|
|
Description
This course explores image-making through unconventional cameras, alternative processes, and creative interventions. From plastic lenses to pinhole photography, from cross-processing to digital manipulation, we will embrace and elevate the discarded, the imperfect, and the forgotten in an AI free zone. Using cameras like the Recesky twin-lens reflex, Konstruktor, Big Shot, Sunpet, and key ring cameras, as well as techniques such as zone plate and pinhole photography, students will push the limits of photographic perception. Inspired by figures like Henry Beck, we will champion low-tech and hybrid approaches, finding beauty in limitation and innovation in constraint. Through hands-on experimentation with both analog and digital tools, students will develop a personal approach to image-making that celebrates the unexpected.
Prerequisites
Prerequisite: 6 credits of PHOTO 2000-level courses or PHOTO 3008 or by instructor consent.
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Class Number
1527
|
Credits
3
|
Department
Photography
Location
280 Building Rm 206
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| Top:Fashion Photography |
3005 (002) |
Donald Yoshida, Mayumi Lake |
Thurs
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
In Person
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|
Description
Class objectives are to provide students with an opportunity to work through the process of concept development, pre-production, fashion Styling, hair & markup, set design, location scouting, studio & natural lighting techniques, digital post production, and how to capture the essence of the fashion theme through tested photography techniques. Garment silhouette, cut & construction, color, pattern and texture are key elements given consideration to clearly communicate the fashion design idea using the most up-to-date and effective photographic techniques. Editorial Photography themes are used in collaboration with Fashion students, garments and class photo shoots are used throughout the Fashion Department's annal award-winning 'the Book' publication. Visits to professional fashion photographer studios, exhibition visits, and in-class lectures give students additional opportunities to discuss create and technical topics being used today in fashion photography. This course requires instructor consent and an application. Please do not email the instructor directly. Instead, fill out the form at this link, https://tinyurl.com/mwuhuntx, to submit your portfolio and application before the deadline.
Prerequisites
Prerequisite: 6 credits of PHOTO 2000-level courses or PHOTO 3008 or by instructor consent.
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Class Number
1532
|
Credits
3
|
Department
Photography
Location
280 Building Rm 214
|
| Top:Fashion Photography |
3005 (002) |
Donald Yoshida, Mayumi Lake |
Thurs
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
In Person
|
|
Description
Class objectives are to provide students with an opportunity to work through the process of concept development, pre-production, fashion Styling, hair & markup, set design, location scouting, studio & natural lighting techniques, digital post production, and how to capture the essence of the fashion theme through tested photography techniques. Garment silhouette, cut & construction, color, pattern and texture are key elements given consideration to clearly communicate the fashion design idea using the most up-to-date and effective photographic techniques. Editorial Photography themes are used in collaboration with Fashion students, garments and class photo shoots are used throughout the Fashion Department's annal award-winning 'the Book' publication. Visits to professional fashion photographer studios, exhibition visits, and in-class lectures give students additional opportunities to discuss create and technical topics being used today in fashion photography. This course requires instructor consent and an application. Please do not email the instructor directly. Instead, fill out the form at this link, https://tinyurl.com/mwuhuntx, to submit your portfolio and application before the deadline.
Prerequisites
Prerequisite: 6 credits of PHOTO 2000-level courses or PHOTO 3008 or by instructor consent.
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Class Number
1532
|
Credits
3
|
Department
Photography
Location
280 Building Rm 214
|
| Top: Working with Image and Text |
3005 (004) |
Kelli Connell |
Fri
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
In Person
|
|
Description
This course provides an in-depth exploration of the conceptual and practical issues surrounding works that use image and text as a significant strategy in their communication. A wide range of image and text examples in contemporary practice will be examined. topics including artists who work with text; writers who work with images; strategies for generating thought-provoking image and text relationships; and topics such as time, autobiography, archival research, politics, memory, poetry, performance and interdisciplinary approaches will be discussed. Students complete assignments combining image and text.
Prerequisites
Prerequisite: 6 credits of PHOTO 2000-level courses or PHOTO 3008 or by instructor consent.
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Class Number
1540
|
Credits
3
|
Department
Photography
Location
280 Building Rm 214
|
| Image Editing & Output |
3007 (001) |
Alex Wieder |
Tues
3:30 PM - 9:15 PM
In Person
|
|
Description
Image Editing & Output refines digital imaging skills with a focus on post-production and high-quality printing. Students refine workflows, develop expertise in advanced editing techniques like color management, masking, and compositing, and explore creative post-production methods using Photoshop and other software. Technical assignments and self-directed projects reinforce these skills. Readings and discussions address contemporary issues in digital imaging and evolving output technologies. As digital tools constantly change, students develop research and problem-solving strategies to adapt their workflows and stay current with new advancements. This course balances technical precision with creative exploration, preparing students for the ever-evolving world of digital imaging.
Prerequisites
Prerequisite: PHOTO 1001 and PHOTO 2010.
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Class Number
1538
|
Credits
3
|
Department
Photography
Area of Study
Books and Publishing, Digital Imaging
Location
280 Building Rm 215
|
| Structuring, Sequencing and Series |
3010 (001) |
Aimée Beaubien |
Mon
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
In Person
|
|
Description
Structuring, Sequencing, Series explores how photographic meaning is shaped through sequences and series¿fundamental ways we encounter images in books, exhibitions, installations, and digital spaces. This course examines how structure influences interpretation, considering both narrative and non-narrative approaches across diverse genres. Through hands-on assignments, students will experiment with serial imagery in photobooks, zines, portfolios, web-based projects, installations, video, and projection. By analyzing historical and contemporary examples, students will develop a deeper understanding of photography¿s evolving role and refine their ability to construct compelling visual narratives.
Prerequisites
Prerequisite: 3 credits of PHOTO 2000 level courses.
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Class Number
1531
|
Credits
3
|
Department
Photography
Area of Study
Books and Publishing, Comics and Graphic Novels, Digital Imaging
Location
280 Building Rm 215
|
| Sensitivity & Exposure: Concepts and Techniques in Light Based Printing |
3036 (001) |
Jan Tichy |
Wed, Wed
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM, 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
In Person
|
|
Description
Sensitivity & Exposure explores the intersection of photography and printmaking through concepts and processes activated by pressure and light. Students develop technical skills while considering print as a site-responsive medium¿sensitive to contact, light, time, material, and context. Beginning with embossing and frottage, the course moves through cyanotype and gelatin silver printing to digital fabrication, laser-engraved linoleum blocks, and photogravure, with each process building conceptually and materially on the previous one. Historical and contemporary artists provide critical frameworks for examining indexicality, contact, transfer, exposure, and reproduction. Through projects, experimentation, readings, and critiques, students learn to use these processes in support of their artistic ideas. The summer session focuses intensively on cyanotype and photogravure.
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Class Number
2135
|
Credits
3
|
Department
Photography
Area of Study
Digital Imaging, Art and Science
Location
280 Building Rm 203, 280 Building Rm 215
|
| PHOTO: Junior Seminar: Building a Sustainable Practice |
3922 (001) |
Sonja Ruth Thomsen |
Wed
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
In Person
|
|
Description
Junior Seminar helps students build essential professional skills for life after graduation, focusing on developing a sustainable practice based on their strengths and working style. This five-hour studio seminar offers flexible time for individual mentoring, guest speakers, field trips, extended critiques, and dedicated work time, fostering both professional growth and creative community. Through hands-on projects, students create websites, CVs, grant proposals, and artist statements while learning how to tailor these materials for different opportunities. As one of SAIC's four required Junior Seminars, this course provides structure and support within the school's open, interdisciplinary curriculum, helping students confidently navigate their future careers.
Prerequisites
Prerequisite: Sophomore seminar course
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Class Number
1576
|
Credits
3
|
Department
Photography
Area of Study
Digital Imaging
Location
280 Building Rm 214
|
| Public Light and Space |
4032 (001) |
Jan Tichy |
Thurs
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
In Person
|
|
Description
Public Light and Space explores how artists use light to shape public environments, creating works that invite interaction, alter perception, and transform shared spaces. The course engages with histories and theories of public art while critically examining the dynamic role of light in selected movements and practices. Students will conceptualize and plan site-responsive projects for specific locations across Chicago, with attention to methods such as digital projection, controlled light sources, and light-responsive materials.
The course offers a distinctive opportunity: a collaboration with Public Sound & Space (led by Austen Brown) to produce new large-scale projection and sound works for Art on the Mart, the monumental projection site on the historic Merchandise Mart building. Each student team will design an original artwork to be exhibited nightly for six weeks, reaching an audience of nearly 300,000 viewers.
A sequence of technical workshops supports skill development, while visiting artists, critics, and community members provide feedback throughout the creative process. The semester culminates in the public debut of student works on one of the world's largest projection canvases.
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Class Number
1535
|
Credits
3
|
Department
Photography
Area of Study
Costume Design, Community & Social Engagement, Art and Science
Location
MacLean 414
|
| PHOTO: Senior Studio Seminar |
4913 (001) |
Jonas Becker |
Tues
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
In Person
|
|
Description
This interdisciplinary capstone, with an emphasis on contemporary photography and visual culture, is structured as an intensive critique and mentoring class focused on the development and presentation of culminating work at the end of the BFA and the continued progression of studio work beyond the BFA exhibition. The course supports the production of self-initiated work, a successful BFA show and a road map for a sustainable art practice after graduation. Preparations for the BFA exhibition include workshopping project proposals, budgets, production schedules, the development of new work and an array of possible final presentation forms.
Readings, screenings and discussions will examine useful models of participation in cultural production and a critical framework for analyzing a range of platforms to share work online, in print and exhibition. Studio visits will provide insight into the day-to-day life of artists at various stages in their career ranging from current SAIC grad students to working professionals.
Online and printed portfolios utilizing an ever-evolving archive of work will be refined along with professional supporting materials such as statements, CVs and artist talks necessary for a professional practice beyond graduation.
Prerequisites
Prerequisite: Professional practice course
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Class Number
1141
|
Credits
3
|
Department
Photography
Area of Study
Books and Publishing, Social Media and the Web
Location
280 Building Rm 214
|
| Graduate Photography Seminar |
5006 (001) |
Jonas Becker |
Wed
12:15 PM - 3:00 PM
In Person
|
|
Description
This graduate level studio seminar course is a hybrid of reading, discussion, making and critique, designed to pursue positions in historical and contemporary philosophy, critical analysis, and current thought relevant to photography and visual literacy. Throughout the semester, the course aims to explore the past and future of visual media and to look at its discourse in relation to life as an artist in the greater realm of culture, society and politics. Course programming includes critical readings, short and informal writing assignments, work and research presentations.
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Class Number
1948
|
Credits
3
|
Department
Photography
Location
280 Building Rm 206
|
| Grad Projects:Photography |
6009 (001) |
Kelli Connell |
TBD - TBD
In Person
|
|
Description
Taken every semester, the Graduate Projects courses allow students to focus in private sessions on the development of their work. Students register for 6 hours of Graduate Project credit in each semester of study.
Prerequisites
Open to MFA, MFAW and MAVCS students only
|
Class Number
1950
|
Credits
3
|
Department
Photography
Location
|
| Grad Projects:Photography |
6009 (003) |
Oliver Sann |
TBD - TBD
In Person
|
|
Description
Taken every semester, the Graduate Projects courses allow students to focus in private sessions on the development of their work. Students register for 6 hours of Graduate Project credit in each semester of study.
Prerequisites
Open to MFA, MFAW and MAVCS students only
|
Class Number
1952
|
Credits
3
|
Department
Photography
Location
|
