Lighting Studio & Critique Space Policies [pdf]
About: The Lighting Studio is located in room 300 of the Woldenberg Art Center. The space includes a light table for photographing objects, as well as a seamless backdrop system with multiple interchangeable paper backgrounds. An equipment cabinet contains specialized equipment for lighting and photography, including hot lights, a high-resolution digital camera with dedicated prime lenses, and a laptop compatible with it, for students who have been trained and granted access to this equipment. In addition to serving as a lighting studio, room 300 also functions as a supplemental critique space for both undergraduate and graduate students.
Eligibility: Who can use room 300? Room 300 is primarily available to Art Department faculty and to students currently enrolled in a Studio Art course, with priority given to graduate students and declared art majors or minors. Non-major or minor students who have previously taken an Art Department course may use the room with approval from the professor they studied with. Art Department faculty (including MFA students teaching their own course) may book a standing reservation for the room during class times. Out of courtesy, they should cancel any reservations they do not plan to use. Art Department faculty, MFA students, or undergraduate BFA majors may reserve the space for class critiques or departmental reviews (e.g., BFA or MFA reviews).
Room 300 is not currently available for any other person or party other than those listed above.
Lighting Studio Training Students using their own photography equipment may reserve the room only, which includes access to the backdrops, lighting stands, and light table. Students must receive specific training before using any of the additional lighting and photography equipment from the locked cabinet. Please inquire with your professor if you are interested in learning how to use this equipment for your work.
Availability The room is generally available between 9am-4:30 pm on weekdays, and can be reserved for overnight or weekend use if granted special permission by a professor or lab manager. Always reference the Google calendar of confirmed room reservations before requesting a reservation.
Reservation Process: All reservations require at least 24 hour notice. Students should discuss the project they intend to use the room for with their Art Department professor. The professor should approve any student project utilizing room 300. Fill out the request form at https://form.jotform.com/252185754162055. When filling out the form, make sure to specify start and end times that are available in the Google calendar.
Keys must be picked up from Molly in room 210 at the start of the reservation and returned as soon as the reservation is finished. If the reservation is finished after business hours, the keys must be returned promptly the following morning. Failure to promptly return the keys will result in the inability to reserve the room at a later date.
Rules & Expectations
Check-in and Check-out: Users must check in and out with Molly to pick up and return the key.
Training: Students must be trained on the equipment in the cage. If you do not know how to use the available equipment, do not attempt to use. Reach out to your professor, Jason (Reveal Email Address), or Zoe (Reveal Email Address) for additional training with the equipment.
Equipment Care: Users are responsible for handling all equipment with care. Any damage or malfunction must be reported to Molly when returning the key. Students will not be held financially responsible for reasonable accidents. We encourage students to engage with and learn from using this equipment. However, proper training and responsible use are required when working with this costly equipment. This equipment is meant to stay in this room and should not be removed under any circumstances.
Cleanliness: Users are required to leave the studio in the condition they found it, or better. This is a shared space, and if someone else has left a mess, please help clean up. All personal items must be removed, and any waste properly disposed of, including tape used on the floor. Tape that isn’t removed promptly can damage the flooring.
Negligence: If equipment is missing or damaged after a student uses the room, that student may lose the ability to reserve the room unsupervised. They may need to have a staff or faculty member present while they use the space, or they could lose access to the space.
Prohibited Activities: Activities involving hazardous materials, substances, or actions that may damage the studio or equipment are strictly prohibited. No eating is allowed in this space, and only drinks with tightly sealed lids are permitted.