VA325 Motion Picture Photography
Syllabus | International University of Sarajevo - Last Update on Mar 03, 2026
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Visual Arts and Visual Communications Design
TBA
Course Lecturer
Course Objectives
The Course examines of the role of the Director of photography in motion pictures, television, theater or new media, and his assistants. Students will learn what cinematography brings to the narrative storytelling process and how to identify this while watching a film/television show. Students will work on projects that give them hands on experience at the shooting process solving real world problems with skills they learn in class.
Learning Outcomes
After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
Course Materials
Required Textbook
Cinematography: Theory and Practice: Image Making for Cinematographers and Directors; Brown Blain; Routledge 2015
Additional Literature
Five C's of Cinematography: Motion Picture Filming Techniques, Joseph V Mascelli, 978-1879505414Teaching Methods
Ex cathedra lectures
Class discussions
Practical exercises
Screenings
Weekly Topics
| Week | Topic | Readings / References |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction to Cinematography. Story of self Assignment | disscussion |
| 2 | Creative process, concept | disscussion / Assig. Review |
| 3 | History and precendents. | disscussion / Assig. Review |
| 4 | Concepts of photography. Basic settings. | disscussion / Assig. Review |
| 5 | Exposure control. Assignment | disscussion / Assig. Review |
| 6 | Tonality and contrast. | disscussion / Assig. Review |
| 7 | Focus, depth of field. Assignment | disscussion / Assig. Review |
| 8 | MIDTERM EXAM | exam |
| 9 | Best color | disscussion / Assig. Review |
| 10 | Mastering composition. Assignment | disscussion / Assig. Review |
| 11 | Timing and motion. Rhythm. | disscussion / Assig. Review |
| 12 | Light and shadow. Sources of additional light. Assignment | disscussion / Assig. Review |
| 13 | Postproduction. | disscussion / Assig. Review |
| 14 | Final project discussion | disscussion / Assig. Review |
| 15 | Final project screening | disscussion / Assig. Review |
Course Schedule (All Sections)
| Section | Type | Day 1 | Venue 1 | Day 2 | Venue 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VA325.1 | Course | Tuesday 12:00 - 14:50 | B F1.24 (MAC Studio) | - | - |
Office Hours & Room
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Assessment Components
Final Exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3
Midterm Exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2
Assignments
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1
Tutorials
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1
IUS Grading System
| Grading Scale | IUS Grading System | IUS Coeff. | Letter (B&H) | Numerical (B&H) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 - 44 | F | 0 | F | 5 |
| 45 - 54 | E | 1 | ||
| 55 - 64 | C | 2 | E | 6 |
| 65 - 69 | C+ | 2.3 | D | 7 |
| 70 -74 | B- | 2.7 | ||
| 75 - 79 | B | 3 | C | 8 |
| 80 - 84 | B+ | 3.3 | ||
| 85 - 94 | A- | 3.7 | B | 9 |
| 95 - 100 | A | 4 | A | 10 |
Late Work Policy
Information about late submission policies will be shared during class and posted in this section. Please check back for official guidelines.
ECTS Credit Calculation
📚 Student Workload
This 6 ECTS credit course corresponds to 150 hours of total student workload, distributed as follows:
Lecture Hours
45 hours ⏳ (15 week × 3 h)
Assignments
40 hours ⏳ (8 week × 5 h)
Tutorials
11 hours ⏳ (11 week × 1 h)
Midterm exam
20 hours ⏳ (2 week × 10 h)
Final exam
34 hours ⏳ (2 week × 17 h)
150 Total Workload Hours
6 ECTS Credits
Course Policies
Academic Integrity
All work submitted must be your own. Plagiarism, cheating, or any form of academic dishonesty will result in disciplinary action according to university policies. When in doubt about citation practices, consult the instructor.
Attendance Policy
Students are expected to adhere to the attendance requirements as outlined in the International University of Sarajevo Study Rules and Regulations. Excessive absences, whether excused or unexcused, may impact academic performance and eligibility for assessment. Mandatory sessions (e.g., labs, workshops) require attendance unless formally exempted. For detailed policies on absences, documentation, and penalties, please refer to the official university regulations.
Technology & AI Policy
Laptops/tablets may be used for note-taking only during lectures. Phones should be silenced and put away during all class sessions. Audio/video recording requires prior permission from the instructor.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Usage: The use of AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini) varies by assessment component. Please refer to the AI usage indicator next to each assessment item in the Assessment Methods and Criteria section above. Submitting AI-generated content as your own work, where AI is not explicitly allowed, constitutes an academic integrity violation.
Communication Policy
All course-related communication should occur through official university channels (institutional email or SIS). Emails should include [VA325] in the subject line.
Academic Quality Assurance Policy
Course Academic Quality Assurance is achieved through Semester Student Survey. At the end of each academic year, the institution of higher education is obliged to evaluate work of the academic staff, or the success of realization of the curricula.
Learning Tips
Be prepared to contribute thoughtfully during class discussions, labs, or collaborative work. Active participation deepens understanding and encourages critical thinking.
Complete assigned readings or prep materials before class. Take notes, highlight key ideas, and jot down questions. Aim to grasp core concepts and their applications—not just facts.
Use course frameworks or methodologies to analyze problems, case studies, or projects. Begin early to allow time for reflection and refinement. Seek feedback to improve your work.
Don’t hesitate to reach out when something is unclear. Use office hours, discussion boards, or peer networks to clarify concepts and stay on track.
Syllabus Last Updated on Mar 03, 2026 | International University of Sarajevo
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Referencing Curricula Print this page
| Course Code | Course Title | Weekly Hours* | ECTS | Weekly Class Schedule | ||||||
| T | P | |||||||||
| VA325 | Motion Picture Photography | 1 | 2 | 6 | ||||||
| Prerequisite | Junior Standing | It is a prerequisite to | - | |||||||
| Lecturer | TBA | Office Hours / Room / Phone | ||||||||
| TBA | ||||||||||
| Assistant | Assistant E-mail | |||||||||
| Course Objectives | The Course examines of the role of the Director of photography in motion pictures, television, theater or new media, and his assistants. Students will learn what cinematography brings to the narrative storytelling process and how to identify this while watching a film/television show. Students will work on projects that give them hands on experience at the shooting process solving real world problems with skills they learn in class. |
|||||||||
| Textbook | Cinematography: Theory and Practice: Image Making for Cinematographers and Directors; Brown Blain; Routledge 2015 | |||||||||
| Additional Literature |
|
|||||||||
| Learning Outcomes | After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to: | |||||||||
|
||||||||||
| Teaching Methods | ex cathedra lectures, class discussions, practical exercises, screenings, | |||||||||
| Teaching Method Delivery | Online | Teaching Method Delivery Notes | ||||||||
| WEEK | TOPIC | REFERENCE | ||||||||
| Week 1 | Introduction to Cinematography. Story of self Assignment | disscussion | ||||||||
| Week 2 | Creative process, concept | disscussion / Assig. Review | ||||||||
| Week 3 | History and precendents. | disscussion / Assig. Review | ||||||||
| Week 4 | Concepts of photography. Basic settings. | disscussion / Assig. Review | ||||||||
| Week 5 | Exposure control. Assignment | disscussion / Assig. Review | ||||||||
| Week 6 | Tonality and contrast. | disscussion / Assig. Review | ||||||||
| Week 7 | Focus, depth of field. Assignment | disscussion / Assig. Review | ||||||||
| Week 8 | MIDTERM EXAM | exam | ||||||||
| Week 9 | Best color | disscussion / Assig. Review | ||||||||
| Week 10 | Mastering composition. Assignment | disscussion / Assig. Review | ||||||||
| Week 11 | Timing and motion. Rhythm. | disscussion / Assig. Review | ||||||||
| Week 12 | Light and shadow. Sources of additional light. Assignment | disscussion / Assig. Review | ||||||||
| Week 13 | Postproduction. | disscussion / Assig. Review | ||||||||
| Week 14 | Final project discussion | disscussion / Assig. Review | ||||||||
| Week 15 | Final project screening | disscussion / Assig. Review | ||||||||
| Assessment Methods and Criteria | Evaluation Tool | Quantity | Weight | Alignment with LOs | AI Usage |
| Final Exam | 1 | 30 | 1,2,3 | Not Allowed | |
| Semester Evaluation Components | |||||
| Midterm Exam | 1 | 20 | 1,2 | Not Allowed | |
| Assignments | 1 | 40 | 1 | Not Allowed | |
| Tutorials | 1 | 10 | 1 | Not Allowed | |
| *** ECTS Credit Calculation *** | |||||
| Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | |||
| Lecture Hours | 3 | 15 | 45 | Assignments | 5 | 8 | 40 | |||
| Tutorials | 1 | 11 | 11 | Midterm exam | 10 | 2 | 20 | |||
| Final exam | 17 | 2 | 34 | 0 | ||||||
| Total Workload Hours = | 150 | |||||||||
| *T= Teaching, P= Practice | ECTS Credit = | 6 | ||||||||
| Course Academic Quality Assurance: Semester Student Survey | Last Update Date: 27/03/2026 | |||||||||