Black & White Darkroom Photography

Effective: Fall 2022
Certificate of Achievement Program Map
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This program map from the 2024-2025 catalog year represents one possible pathway to complete this program. Your pathway may vary depending on your transfer plans and also previous college credit, including AP Test scores, concurrent enrollment courses and high school articulated courses.

I'm ready to get started. What do I do next?

  1. Review this program map to get an overview of the required courses
  2. Meet with a counselor to develop your customized student education plan www.chabotcollege.edu/counseling
  3. Use DegreeWorks, an online student education planning tool, to track your progress toward graduation www.chabotcollege.edu / admissions / degreeworks
Program Description

The Certificate of Achievement in Black & White Darkroom Photography emphasizes black and white darkroom processes providing students with the knowledge and skills to work with traditional gelatin silver methods and alternative processes. The core program courses provide a foundational knowledge using film based cameras including 35mm, medium format and large format. Along with advanced developing, processing, and printing techniques in a traditional darkroom to produce photographic works with a fine art aesthetic. Throughout the program students will have the opportunity to participate in photography exhibitions and develop a portfolio of black and white photographs.


What can I do with this major?

Upon successful completion of the program students will develop film based photography skills, professional competencies, and portfolio of work required to enter the art industry. Including the following career opportunities:

  • Fine Art Photographer
  • Portrait Photographer
  • Landscape Photographer
  • Still Life Photographer
  • Photography Curator
  • Art Gallery Worker
  • Studio Artist

Learning and Career Pathway
  • Arts and Design

Icon Key

= Critical Course = Prerequisite for Other Courses = Prerequisite Required = Required for Major GE = General Education

Semester 1

6 units

PHOT 2A
Black and White Darkroom Photography

3 units
Introduction to the processes, principles, and tools of black and white darkroom photography. Course provides an overview of 35mm cameras and materials for exposure and development of black and white film. Traditional darkroom techniques will be used for the exploration and refinement of gelatin silver processes for printing and toning photographs. Topics include the development of technical and aesthetic skills, elements of design and composition, film cameras, materials and equipment, and contemporary trends in film photography. May not receive credit if PHOT 60 has been completed successfully.
Course Details:
  • Transfers to CSU
    • Terms Offered: Fall, Spring

    Major Elective #1

    3 units
    Choose one course from the list of major electives below
    See the full list: (Click here)

    Semester 2

    6 units

    PHOT 2B
    Advanced Black and White Darkroom Photography

    3 units
    Advanced exploration of traditional black and white darkroom photography processes. Students will practice advanced methods for exposure, development and printing of photographs using archival fiber based techniques. 35mm and medium format film based cameras will be used for creating photographic works unique to gelatin silver based processes.
    Course Details:
    1. Prerequisite: PHOT 2A
      2. or
    2. Prerequisite: PHOT 60
    Terms Offered: Spring, Fall

    Major Elective #2

    3 units
    Choose one course from the list of major electives below
    See the full list: (Click here)

    Semester 3

    3 units

    PHOT 2C
    Alternative Process Photography

    3 units
    The course provides students with the opportunity to explore alternative processes and non-silver based photography in a darkroom environment. Students will practice historical, handmade photographic printing processes which allow for creative expression beyond the traditional black and white photograph. Lensless cameras, cyanotype and van dyke brown printing processes will be incorporated with digital technologies and contact printing techniques.
    Course Details:
    1. Prerequisite: PHOT 2A
      2. or
    2. Prerequisite: PHOT 60
    3. Strongly Recommended: PHOT 2B
    Terms Offered: Spring, Fall

    Semester 4

    3 units

    PHOT 2D
    Large Format Photography

    3 units
    Advanced darkroom photography course emphasizing the use of large format processes. Students will use view cameras with full movements and advanced Zone System techniques for exposure and development of sheet film. Advanced printing methods will be used for contacts and large scale works. Along with high resolution scanning techniques for large scale negatives.
    Course Details:
    1. Prerequisite: PHOT 2A
      2. or
    2. Prerequisite: PHOT 60
    3. Strongly Recommended: PHOT 2B
    4. Strongly Recommended: PHOT 2C
    Terms Offered: Fall, Spring

    Major Electives

    PHOT 1A
    Digital Photography I

    3 units
    Introduction to the processes, principles, and tools of digital photography. Course provides an overview of digital camera functions for automatic and manual exposure, image creation and capture, file management, and image editing. Students may use any appropriate digital camera including; DSLR, mirrorless, point & shoot or smartphone. Topics include the development of technical and aesthetic skills, elements of design and composition, camera technology, materials and equipment, and contemporary trends in digital photography. May not receive credit if PHOT 50 has been completed successfully.
    Course Details:
  • Transfers to CSU
    • Terms Offered: Summer, Fall, Spring

    PHOT 3A
    Introduction to Studio Lighting

    3 units
    Introduction to basic studio lighting skills using electronic flash, static, and strobe applications. Course will familiarize students with lighting techniques for portraiture, product and still-life photography, in a studio setting with specialized equipment and digital cameras. Digital production techniques and processes including basics of shooting, editing and output for digital photographs. Professional setups and standard practices, as well as alternative lighting solutions will be covered. May not receive credit if PHOT 64A has been completed successfully.
    Course Details:
    1. Strongly Recommended: PHOT 1A
      2. or
    2. Strongly Recommended: PHOT 50
    Terms Offered: Rotating

    PHOT 4A
    Color Theory for Photographers

    3 units
    This course will cover the basics of color science, color theory, language of color, color primaries and color relationships, applied using digital photography techniques. Students will study the principles, theories and applications of additive and subtractive color in photography. These concepts will be framed in a way that is relevant for photographers in composition, control of mood, emotional content, and image processing. Topics will include major historical and contemporary color systems, production of projects using applied color and the elements of color and design as they apply to photography. May not receive credit if PHOT 61 has been completed successfully.
    Course Details:
    1. Strongly Recommended: PHOT 1A
      2. or
    2. Strongly Recommended: PHOT 50
  • Transfers to CSU
    • Terms Offered: Rotating

    PHOT 5A
    Photography Portfolio

    3 units
    Photography Portfolio is a capstone course for students to create a body of work that reflects their individual style. Students enrolling in the course should be experienced photographers comfortable working with advanced camera and photo editing techniques. Students may work with any photographic medium of their choice. They will print and display photos as part of a class exhibition at the end of the course. Emphasis will be on developing a cohesive portfolio of photographs that can be used to further a photographic career. May not receive credit if PHOT 62 has been completed successfully.
    Course Details:
    1. Strongly Recommended: PHOT 1A
      2. or
    2. Strongly Recommended: PHOT 50
    Terms Offered: Rotating

    Photoshop course (Choose PHOT 6A or DIGM 6A)

    3 units
    Terms Offered: Spring, Fall, Summer

    PHOT 6A
    Photoshop

    3 units
    Introduction to the use of Adobe Photoshop for retouching, editing, and compositing digital images. Students take their original photography and artistically adjust contrast, exposure and color balance to create enhanced compositions. Students also take a number of photos and composite the images into an artistically balanced and well-designed composition.
    Course Details:
    1. Strongly Recommended: DIGM 1
    2. Strongly Recommended: PHOT 1A
      3. or
    3. Strongly Recommended: PHOT 50
    Terms Offered: Spring, Fall, Summer
    or

    DIGM 6A
    Photoshop

    3 units
    Introduction to the use of Adobe Photoshop for retouching, editing, and compositing digital images. Students take their original photography and artistically adjust contrast, exposure, color balance, to create enhanced compositions. Students also take a number of images and composite images into an artistically balanced and well-designed composition.
    Course Details:
    1. Strongly Recommended: PHOT 1A
    Terms Offered: Summer, Fall, Spring

    History of Photography (Choose PHOT 20 or ARTH 20)

    3 units
    Terms Offered: Rotating

    PHOT 20
    History of Photography

    3 units
    A broad chronological survey of photography from its invention to the present. Considers the medium's dual role as technology and art. Addresses a multiplicity of photographic themes and purposes. Considers the intersections of photography and technology, history, art, and everyday life.
    Course Details:
    Terms Offered: Rotating
    or

    ARTH 20
    History of Photography

    3 units
    A broad chronological survey of photography from its invention to the present. Considers the medium's dual role as technology and art. Addresses a multiplicity of photographic themes and purposes. Considers the intersections of photography and technology, history, art, and everyday life.
    Course Details:
    Terms Offered: Rotating

    ART 2A
    Introduction to Drawing

    3 units
    This course provides direct experience in exploring basic drawing concepts, including the expressive use of contour, value, perspective and composition while using a variety of media. Assigned projects may include still life, landscape, portraiture and figure. Focus on perceptually based drawing, observational skills, technical abilities, and creative responses to materials and subject matter.
    Course Details:
  • Transfers to CSU
    • Terms Offered: Spring, Fall, Summer

    ART 23
    2-D Foundations

    3 units
    Introduction to the concepts and applications of two-dimensional art from various cultures, historical periods, and aesthetic sensibilities. The course covers fundamental theoretical concepts and terminology common to all two-dimensional art activities, including the study and analysis of the basic principles of organization and elements of line, shape, value, texture, color, spatial illusion. Designed to develop a visual vocabulary for creative expression through lecture presentations, studio projects, problem solving and written assignments. (May not receive credit if ART 10 has been completed)
    Course Details:
    Terms Offered: Fall, Spring
    Total Units: 18 units
    This program map is not a guarantee of course availability or financial aid applicability.