Photography Workshops

Digital technologies dominate many industry practices and whilst we ensure that you are competent of current craft, we still retain traditional darkrooms for both black/white and colour, allowing students to ‘discover’ a niche for different ways of working. We provide students with the very best in facilities and equipment which incorporates state of the art Apple Mac computer suites, studio areas, studio lighting equipment (studio and location) and a full range of digital and analogue cameras and accessories.

Although over the past few years traditional areas of photographic production – black and white/colour film and chemical processes - have declined in usage as digital methods increase, we still consider it important that students continue to have the opportunity to work with the diversity of photographic processes. In the traditional workshop areas therefore you will be able to process black and white film, print in black and white and colour and work with alternative printing processes.

We have three fully equipped shoot studios, and two state of the art Macintosh computer suites; see below for specifications. There is also an equipment store where students can borrow a wide range of equipment, including film and digital Nikon kits, large format Sinar cameras, Bowens studio lighting equipment, Mamiya and Hasselblad medium format cameras.

Digital Imaging
For manipulating images there are two Macintosh computer suites, each with a variety of Epson film and flatbed scanners and high-end Imacon scanners. There are also a range of Epson printers from A4 to A2. The A2 printer allows for banner printing up to any length.

Small Tank Processing
A dedicated area for black and white film processing, with developing tanks and sinks. There are procedures about the safe handling of these chemicals, detailed in the Photography workshop guide.

Black and White Print Darkroom
You will be able to print from 35mm, 120mm and 5” x 4” negatives on a variety of Durst and Devere enlargers.

Processes Area
Within this area there is provision to tone and wash prints, using large washing sinks with fume extraction and cascade wash.

Colour Darkrooms
You will be able to print colour photographs from 35mm, 120mm and 5” x 4” negatives using eight enlarger booths with a Kreonite PM2 processing machine for prints.

Three Lighting Shoot Studios
A bookable facility for studio photography that can be used as day light studios, or with tungsten and flash lighting equipment. One studio is built with an infinity curve. Various backdrops, boom arms, lighting tables, cocoons and softboxes are available. Each studio has an iMac computer allowing the student to shoot digitally straight to the computer or to use as an image download station.

Images
(By Dave Mullany)

1. Shoot Studio 1

2. Shoot Studio 2

3. Dark Rooms

4. Computer Room

5. Finishing Room