Course Information
SemesterCourse Unit CodeCourse Unit TitleT+P+LCreditNumber of ECTS CreditsLast Updated Date
6İF004Documentary Photography2+2+03516.10.2026
Course Details
Language of Instruction Turkish
Level of Course Unit Bachelor's Degree
Department / Program Radio, Television and Cinema
Type of Program Formal Education
Type of Course Unit Elective
Course Delivery Method Face To Face
Objectives of the Course It is the practice of conveying a message about any subject through photography, utilizing photographic techniques and theories while taking societal and social life into account.
Course Content Beyond the fundamentals of photography, the course focuses on creating and documenting photographic series that tell stories through the sophisticated application of photographic techniques, enabling individuals to reflect their own perspectives and emotions in their work. It aims to produce documentary-style photography capable of provoking thought, inspiring action, or informing the audience.
Course Methods and Techniques
Prerequisites and co-requisities None
Course Coordinator None
Name of Lecturers Asist Prof.Dr. Mehmet Fatih EMİNOĞLU
Assistants None
Work Placement(s) No

Recommended or Required Reading
Resources Yurdalan, Ö. (2015). Documentary Photography and Photo Reportage. Agora.
Berger, J. (2015). Understanding a Photograph. Metis.
Seven, M. (2014). Street Photography. İnkılap.
Berger, J. (2014). Ways of Seeing. Metis.

Course Category
Field %100

Planned Learning Activities and Teaching Methods
Activities are given in detail in the section of "Assessment Methods and Criteria" and "Workload Calculation"

Assessment Methods and Criteria
In-Term Studies Quantity Percentage
Mid-terms 1 % 40
Final examination 1 % 60
Total
2
% 100

 
ECTS Allocated Based on Student Workload
Activities Quantity Duration Total Work Load
Course Duration 14 4 56
Hours for off-the-c.r.stud 14 6 84
Mid-terms 1 1 1
Final examination 1 2 2
Total Work Load   Number of ECTS Credits 5 143

 
Course Learning Outcomes: Upon the successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
NoLearning Outcomes
1 Examine the historical development and changes in documentary photography and photographic art up to the present; apply basic photography skills to documentary photography and produce high-quality documentary photographs.
2 Use photography as a storytelling medium and apply technical and practical knowledge to convey narratives through still images.
3 Use documentary photography as a mass communication medium to present diverse approaches and perspectives in different settings.
4 Create visually compelling images through appropriate structuring and an aesthetic approach in documentary photography production; evaluate documentary photographs in terms of structure, aesthetics, and visual impact.

 
Weekly Detailed Course Contents
WeekTopicsStudy MaterialsMaterials
1 What Is Photography? The Photographic Perspective Researching the course subject. Course Resources
2 Light; Image on a Surface Completing theoretical readings and practical work related to the topics. Course Resources
3 Defining Characteristics of Photography; The Concept of a Good Photograph Completing theoretical readings and practical work related to the topics. Course Resources
4 Exposure; ISO (Light Sensitivity); Aperture System; Shutter System Completing theoretical readings and practical work related to the topics. Course Resources
5 The Relationship Between Aperture, Shutter Speed, and ISO Completing theoretical readings and practical work related to the topics. Course Resources
6 Light Metering for Exposure; Focusing System; Depth of Field Completing theoretical readings and practical work related to the topics. Course Resources
7 Ways of Changing the Viewpoint; The Contribution of the Lens to the Viewpoint Completing theoretical readings and practical work related to the topics. Course Resources
8 Midterm Exam Preparation for the Midterm Exam Course Resources
9 Controlling the Image; Optical Perspective; Aesthetic Energy; Image Aesthetics Completing theoretical readings and practical work related to the topics. Course Resources
10 Flat Lighting; Chiaroscuro Lighting; Cameo Lighting; Rembrandt Lighting; Silhouette Techniques Completing theoretical readings and practical work related to the topics. Course Resources
11 Composition and Aesthetics in Documentary Photography Completing theoretical readings and practical work related to the topics. Course Resources
12 Visual Aesthetics in Documentary Photography; Use of Fibonacci and the Golden Ratio Completing theoretical readings and practical work related to the topics. Course Resources
13 Photo Critique Completing theoretical readings and practical work related to the topics. Course Resources
14 Key Considerations in Documentary Photography Projects Completing theoretical readings and practical work related to the topics. Course Resources
15 Semester Evaluation Reviewing the topics and photography work completed throughout the semester. Course Resources

 
Contribution of Learning Outcomes to Programme Outcomes
P1 P2 P3 P4 P5 P6 P7 P8 P9 P10 P11 P12 P13 P14 P15
C1 1 3 3 5 5 5 5 3 5 5 3 5 3 5 5
C2 1 3 3 5 5 5 5 3 5 5 3 5 3 5 5
C3 1 3 3 5 5 5 5 3 5 5 3 5 3 5 5
C4 1 3 3 5 5 5 5 3 5 5 3 5 3 5 5

  Contribution: 1: Very Slight 2:Slight 3:Moderate 4:Significant 5:Very Significant