Information

CS 8803 PHO (3-0-3): Advanced Computational Photography – (Instructor: Irfan Essa, Grant Schindler) – This class explores perceptual and technical aspects of pictures, and more precisely the capture and depiction of reality on a 2D medium. The scientific, perceptual, and artistic principles behind image-making will be emphasized. Topics include the relationship between pictorial techniques and the human visual system; intrinsic limitations of 2D representations and their possible compensations; and technical issues involving depiction. Technical aspects of image capture and rendering, and exploration of how such a medium can be used to its maximum potential, will be examined. Students are strongly encouraged (not required) to bring their digital cameras and a laptop to facilitate experiments.

For more information, see the slides (link).

Instructor

• Professor Irfan Essa (Email is the BEST (and ONLY) option: irfan at cc dot gatech dot edu, please use CS8803PHO: as the first words in the subject line)
• Dr. Grant Schindler (Email is the BEST (and ONLY) option: schindler at cc dot gatech dot edu, please use CS8803PHO: as the first words in the subject line)
• Office Hours: After class OR schedule via email appointment

Class Time/Location:

• Location: KACB 2456
• Monday – Wednesday 4:35p – 5:55p.

Learning Objectives

In this class. you will learn about:

• The Medium of Photography (History to Modern Technologies)
• Digital Imaging (Sensors to Software)
• Computational Processes associated with Imaging and Photography
• Computation as applied to Digital Media.
• Image Analysis and Synthesis
• Images and Photography on the Web/Internet
• Storytelling with images (and computation).

Text & Reading Material.

1. [RS] Computer Vision: Algorithms and Applications; by Richard Szeliski (see link for a draft of this book available online)
2. Other material available online or on T-square (See Resources/Readings/ on T-Square site for this class).

Assignments and Grading

• Class Attendance & Participation (15 %)
• Assignments / Homeworks (20 %) [There will be 2-3 Assignments]
• In Class Presentation (15%)
• Reviews of Assigned Readings (15%)
• Final Project (35%)
  • Includes:  Proposal/Teaming(5%), Updates (7%), In class presentation and demo (15%), Final Report and Self Evaluation (8%).
• All of the above subject to slight modifications as needed, which will be announced in class.

Policies

• Class attendance is required. Late by 15 minutes, counts as an absence. Legitimate reasons for being excused from class include, personal issues, health (keep those germs away from class), interview, conference travel, etc.  Travelling and exploring, assignments due in other classes, out to pick up friends, and other such excuses not accepted. Please inform Instructor of a planned absence via email before class.
• Grading. Usually a score of 90 is considered an “A” and 100 an “A+” (but a 100 is given to only artifacts that are exceptional and beyond what was expected!). 80, 70 are “B” and “C” respectively.
• Homeworks Assignments will be graded on a list of criteria (specified on the assignment) such as quality of work, completeness, insight into technical issues, insight into other relevant issues, etc. Assignments are due at the start of class on the day they are due.
• Late Assignments: Everything is DUE before the class session.  NO extensions.  In most circumstance, students will be asked to discuss their assignment in class.
• Laptops use in class: Use of laptops in class room for purposes of note-taking and work related to the class is allowed, but ONLY and ONLY for that purpose.  If a student is seen surfing the web during class, or chatting with someone, or emailing, then points will be deducted from the class attendance and participation portions of the grade (3% for each infraction, with a total of 3 max, after that the student looses the whole class participation score).
• Cellphones in class: Please turn your cellphone and other mobile devices to “silent” mode during class.  Thanks.
• This class abides by the Georgia Tech Honor Code. All assigned work is expected to be individual, except where explicitly written otherwise. You are encouraged to discuss the assignments with your classmates; however, what you hand in should be your own work. If any work product was produced based on discussions with someone else (in the class OR outside), please specify clearly in the final turn-in.

Acknowledgments

Assignments and ideas on this syllabus build on those from everyone who has taught this material before.