AES_705 Using digital photography for documentation of archaeological artefacts

Faculty of Arts
Spring 2025
Extent and Intensity
0/2/0. 3 credit(s). Type of Completion: z (credit).
In-person direct teaching
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Jan Šeiner (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
Mgr. Jan Šeiner
Department of Archaeology and Museology – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: Jitka Šibíčková
Supplier department: Department of Archaeology and Museology – Faculty of Arts
Prerequisites
AEA_26 Documentation Techniques || AEB_A11 Documentation Techniques
Students are required to complete the course AEA_26 Documentation Techniques before enrolling in this course.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.

The capacity limit for the course is 8 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/8, only registered: 0/8
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The aim of this seminar is to teach the students the basics of photography and photo-documentation of artefacts. The course is primarily practical, students should be able to: individually operate a digital camera and its basic and some of the advanced features, prepare a composition with the photographed artefact with regard to the purpose of the photography and to lighting and other conditions, edit the final photographs with editing software and prepare them for publishing in the form of plates with photos.
Learning outcomes
After passing the course, student will be able to:
- operate by oneself a digital camera (DSLR) and potential accessories
- make photographic documentation of archaeological artefacts in a quality sufficient for further research and publication
- adjust exposure and composition according to specific conditions, lighting and available equipment
- edit the acquired photographs in a photo-editing software and compile them into a larger unit (plate with photos)
Syllabus
  • 1. Introduction to photography - basic theory of photography, basic terms, general principles
  • 2. Photography of ceramics I - specifics of photography in archaeology and photography of artefacts, photography of pottery fragments and small ceramic artefacts
  • 3. Photography of ceramics II - photography of ceramic vessels - whole shapes and decoration
  • 4. Photography of stone artefacts - polished and chipped stone industry
  • 5. Photography of metal and glass artefacts - fibulae, coins, corroded iron objects, glass
  • 6. Photography of bones, bone & antler artefacts, and miscellaneous artefacts
  • 7. Specifics of group photography, field photography and representative photography
  • 8. Editing software and its use
  • 9. - 12. Individual student's work with cameras – making the photo-documentation of a set of artefacts and preparation of photographs for publishing or exhibition, elaboration of a protocol in the form of a plate with photos
Literature
    required literature
  • ŠEINER, Jan and Dagmar VACHŮTOVÁ. AEB_140 Digitální fotografická dokumentace artefaktů (AEB_140 Using digital photography for documentation of archaeological artefacts). In e-learningová podpora kurzu. Masarykova univerzita, 2013, 130 pp. e-learningový portál FF MU info
  • MYŠKA, M. 2008: Světlo a osvětlení v digitální fotografii, Brno.
    recommended literature
  • DORRELL, P. G. 1994: Photography in archaeology and conservation, Cambridge.
  • KULHÁNEK, J. 1972: Černobílá fotografie, Praha.
  • NEFF, O. – BŘEZINA, J. – PODHAJSKÝ, P. 2003: Fotografování s digitálním fotoaparátem, Praha.
  • HUNTER, F. – BIVER, S. – FUQUA, P. 2007: Fotografie & světlo. Naučte se techniky fotografického svícení, Brno.
  • KOVAČIČ, V., V. MORAVEC and Jiří SVOBODA. Fotografická dokumentace textilních otisků z lokality Pavlov I. Předběžná zpráva. Archeologické rozhledy 52. 2000, vol. 2000, No 52, p. 303-315. info
  • PETERSON, B. 2004: Naučte se vidět kreativně. Design, barva a kompozice ve fotografii, Brno.
  • WELLS, L. (ed.) 2003: The photography reader, London.
    not specified
  • DAYLEY, L. D. – DAYLEY, B. 2012: Photoshop CS6 bible, Indianopolis.
Teaching methods
practical training in documentation techniques of digital photography, theoretical basics of archaeological documentation and photography
Assessment methods
To successfully complete the course, students have to submit an elaborated protocol in the form of a plate with photos containing at least 6 artefacts (categories: whole vessel, potsherd, metal object, lithic industry, glass, bone & antler industry). Adequate attendance at lessons also is required.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further Comments
The course is taught once in two years.
The course is taught: every week.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2020, Spring 2022.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2025, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/phil/spring2025/AES_705