DMS Programming
What is DMS Programming? Here is a view into some of the curricular and extracurricular opportunities we provide to the campus:
Digital Media Services offers several stand-alone and integrated learning workshops that teach multimedia theory and production skills, and enhance students’ visual literacy. When offered as stand-alone, these workshops are often offered during off-peak times for ease of student scheduling. Some topics include:
- Digital Filmmaking
- Digital Photography
- Lighting
- Sound
Examples of spring 2013 classes that are integrating aspects of these DMS workshops into their syllabi include:
-
BIO 394 – Special Topics: Neurobiology with Lab
SP 2013 - 1/30/2013
As part of their Neurobiology lab, students dissected dogfish sharks to examine the anatomy (nervous system) and compare their findings to that of mammalian anatomy. 16 Students photographed their sharks and used their images in the creation of atlases that diagram parts of the nervous system, and later presented them to the class.
Digital Media Services provided DSLR cameras with studio lighting and a brief lighting and photography overview to allow students to best capture their images with ideal lighting and consistency of quality. DMS staff was available to answer imaging questions and assist in technique during the photographic process.
-
DRA 394 / ENG 394 – King Lear: Text and Performance
SP 2013 - 1/30, 2/6, 4/4, 4/5, 4/6
The Drama and English departments are coming together for a unique approach to teaching the text and production of Shakespeare’ King Lear. Of the 40 students in this class, 32 are directly involved in the Drama production in some way. DMS will be working with the remaining 8 students to tackle the production of King Lear inspired short films, a contemporary approach to interpreting a 400 year old classic.
DMS staff will provide workshops that teach filmmaking, from pre-production, to production, to post-production. These students will also collaborate with DMS in the pre-production and production of the King Lear play performances, providing additional camera angles and footage to be used in the post-production editing process. -
ART 394 – Special Topics: Video Art and Theory
SP13 - 2/12, 2/19, 4/11, 4/16
Digital Media Services will be integrating several very niche topics with the Video Art and Theory students. These workshops will expose students to a combination of photography and video theory, professional techniques, and DIY low budget options.
2/12 - One of the most important aspects of visual composition is lighting. Understanding the multitude of properties of light, and how to best produce, alter, and control light in cinematography is crucial. Additionally, understanding the limitations of the equipment to be used, and knowing how to adapt lighting situations to give best results with equipment of various types will equip student artists with the tools needed to sculpt their visual creations.
2/19 - Students will learn to use professional DSLR and amateur devices to create unique time lapse imagery. Multi-axis motion control hardware will be utilized to compose precision results. Students will explore single location capture techniques as well as moving hyper-lapse methods.
4/11 - Gaining a fresh perspective on a common subject offers an artist exponential variations to interpreting their surroundings. One such method is to greatly vary the physical perspective in capturing their subject. Enter Kite Aerial Photography, or KAP as it is known. Kite Aerial Photography provides a low cost way to allow low to medium altitude visual interpretations of an outdoor landscape. Utilizing a remote controlled hanging chasis, students are able to fly a camera above campus and surrounding areas, with the control to rotate and tilt the camera for rough framing before triggering the shutter. In the event the weather is not cooperative, low altitude methods will be explored, using GoPro cameras on extension poles, allowing the additional freedom of working in closer quarters with the built and natural landscape.
4/16 - Capturing an image, whether a photo or video, offers a certain level of challenge and creative freedom. Moving the process underwater opens a 3rd dimension of motion that is much more challenging, but can be very rewarding visually. Virtually floating in space, imagery takes on an etherial weightless property. Students will learn to use professional DSLR equipment as well as GoPro and specialty remotely operated video equipment in this visual exploration.
-
ART 495 – Junior Seminar: Contemporary Practices and Methods in Studio Art
SP13 - 4/17
Required of all majors in Studio Art, this Junior Seminar provides a practical and theoretical framework for students to develop their visual practice of choice. Studio practice will include elements of advanced drawing, digital photography, video, sound, and installation art. Methodology will include writing an artist statement, CV, project and grant proposal, professional portfolio development and exhibition design.
In developing a portfolio and preparing for an exhibit, high quality digital images of students’ art is essential. DMS will be discussing methods of photographing various mediums of art, including approaches to 2D and 3D singular pieces as well as representing a space such as a complete gallery installation. Students will learn to produce accurate images, with attention to color, contrast, and appropriate lighting.
Instruction will include use of professional tool as well as budget minded DIY approaches.
-
ART 394 / ILC 305 – Introduction to the Film
SP 13 - 3/22, 3/29
Students of Introduction to the Film will be studying film as an artform. Special attention will be given to the various dimensions of film structure and criticism. Participants will be learning digital filmmaking techniques, enabling them to emulate techniques observed en-route to better understanding them.
Digital Media Services staff will lecture on the role sound and light play in filmmaking. Students will learn to collect, emulate, generate and edit audio using a variety of hardware and techniques. Lighting discussions will include identifying properties of light, hardware limitations related to capture devices, and using various professional and DIY light sources to achieve a desired look.
When augmented, modified and/or combined, these topics can offer students multimedia related independent study to earn credits in specialized areas that Washington College doesn’t currently support with our regular catalog of courses.
Additionally, DMS offers experiential learning excursions and trips that blend a combination of topics into exploratory environmentally engaging sessions that last from ½ to 7 days. Some of these offerings have included:
- Chester River Nature Photography (Various, ½ day)
- Southwest USA Photography Trip (Spring Break, 7 days)
- Annapolis and Baltimore Photo Walk (Weekend, 1 day each)
- New York City Photo Walk (Weekend, 2 days)
