Photography has expanded to encompass every context for the
expression of ideas made through the lens, for the screen, and over
time. The Lens Media studios support experimental and traditional work
in photography, video, animation, and electronic art. The basement and
first floor of Taylor Hall houses a black and white darkroom, lighting
studio, sound recording room, equipment cage, individual project areas,
and a flexible electronic project space for media arts, digital imaging,
physical computing, analog electronics, and kinetic work.
One traditional black and white chemical-based lab, remodeled in
2010, has fifteen enlarging stations and supports investigations of
traditional black and white processing, alternative and non-silver
processes, and analog/digital combinations.
The electronics project space, conveniently located next to the
darkroom, is equipped with computer stations (Macintosh and PC) with a
full array of software dedicated to motion graphics, digital
photography, sound editing, and non-linear digital video editing (Final
Cut Pro, Adobe Creative Suite, Soundtrack Pro and open source software),
a large format flatbed scanner, medium format printer, animation
stands, professional audio/video viewing space, and electronic kits and
workbenches for physical computing.
Our lighting studio is constructed with flexibility in mind and
allows students to use natural light and/or controlled lighting
situations. The prop room and dedicated equipment includes various
paper and cloth backdrops, Arri Fresnel tungsten light kits, strobe
lights, Smith Victor scoop lights, portable green screen, and basic gels
and grip gear such as light stands, softboxes, diffusors, c-stands, and
portable boom pole.
The equipment cage is the one-stop location for students to
access all video and photo gear including Canon HV40 HDV Camcorders,
Canon GL2 Camcorder, Canon XH-A1s HDV Camcorder, Panasonic AG-HMC-150,
Fluid Head tripods, Poorboy SteadyCam, Digital Projectors, Headphones, 4
X 5 format camera kits, Holga Cameras, Digital SLRs and lenses, Smith
Victor hot light kits, Lowel Light Kits, and Novatron Strobe Light Kits.
The recording room provides students an opportunity to experiment
with recording sound effects, and voice over in a sound enhanced space
with access to Zoom Digital Audio Recorders, Audio-Technica Lavaliere
Microphones, RE50 Dynamic Omni-directional Microphones, and Rode
Directional Condenser Microphones.
