Documentary Portrait Photography
6 WEEK COURSE
Meeting Times: Tuesday Nights, 7:30 – 9:30pm
Location: UC Berkeley
Instructor: Ace Lehner
ace@acelehner.com
_____________________________________________________________________________
COURSE SYLLABUS
This course is designed for photographers who are interested in a deeper understanding of
documentary portrait photography. Class lectures will introduce students to different genres of
documentary portrait photography including street photography, social documentary,
photojournalism, the environmental portrait and the photo essay. Through instruction and
assignments you will develop strategies for getting the pictures you want. This includes learning
techniques for working with subjects, controlling lighting to create mood and using location to
elaborate the story you’re investigating. Students should already be familiar with the
fundamentals of photography.
WEEKLY SCHEDULE__________________________________________________
Class 1:
Introduce myself and the class outcomes and expectations
Student introductions
Hand out syllabus
Intro to documentary portrait photography
For next class:
Bring manuals and back up battery to class
Bring a small journal for taking notes
__________________________________________________
Class 2:
In Class Lecture: Street Photography
Go over class blog/methods of looking at and discussing work
For Next Class: Make work inspired by class lecture and upload 3-5 images to class blog
__________________________________________________
Class 3:
In Class Lecture: Social Documentary and Photojournalism
For Next Class: Make work inspired by class lecture and upload 3-5 images to class blog
__________________________________________________
Class 4:
In Class Lecture: Environmental Portraiture
For Next Class: Make work inspired by class lecture and upload 3-5 images to class blog
__________________________________________________
Class 5:
In Class Lecture: Photo Essay
Final Project Lecture
For Next Class: Make work inspired by class lecture and upload 3-5 images to class blog
For Next Class:
Complete project
__________________________________________________
Class 6: Final class
In Class Critique of Final Projects.
PHOTO SUPPLIES (LOCAL):
Looking Glass Photo & Camera
2848 Telegraph Ave, Berkeley
(510) 548-6888
Hours: M-F 9am-8pm, Sat 10am-6pm, Sun 11am-5pm
Calumet Photographic
2001 Bryant St. (@18th St. San Francisco
(415) 643-9275
Adolph Gasser, Inc.
181 Second St., San Francisco
(415) 495-3853
Pro Camera
1405 Minnesota St. (@ 25th St.
San Francisco
(415) 282-7368
International Camera
1444 Franklin St. Oakland CA (this is the old address, they’ve moved a few stores down)
(510) 763-422
Action Camera
1605 Taraval Street
San Francisco
(415) 564-0699
Camera Heaven
746 Larkin Street
San Francisco
(415) 346-5169
PHOTO SUPPLIES MAIL / ONLINE ORDERING:
B&H Photo-Video, New York, NY
(800) 606-6969
www.bhphotovideo.com
Calumet
(800) 225-8638
www.calumetphoto.com
Freestyle, Los Angeles, CA
(800) 292-6137
www.freestylephoto.biz
Adorama
(800) 223-2500
www.adorama.com
