Photography Facilities
Photography students at Purchase work across traditional, experimental, and digital processes in facilities designed to support every stage of a project—from capture and processing to editing, printing, and exhibition.
Analog Darkrooms
Students begin with the fundamentals of film photography and build toward advanced work in formats ranging from 35mm to large format. Group and private darkrooms support film development and silver printing, giving students the time and space to develop a rigorous analog practice.
Non-Silver and Experimental Processes
A dedicated non-silver darkroom expands the possibilities of the photographic print. Students can explore alternative and experimental processes, combine historical methods with contemporary image-making, and create enlarged negatives for non-silver printing.
Digital Lab and Printing
Our digital lab supports high-end scanning, image editing, file preparation, and high-resolution inkjet output. These resources make it possible to move fluidly between analog and digital workflows while developing the technical control needed to produce exhibition-ready work.
A Shooting Studio for Every Student
Photography students at every level have access to a full shooting studio for portraiture, still life, constructed images, and professional lighting practice. The studio is equipped with lights, stands, and modifiers, along with a medium-format camera and high-end digital 35mm cameras. It is a flexible space where students can learn lighting fundamentals, test ambitious ideas, and produce polished work for portfolios and exhibitions.
Individual Senior Studios
During their final year, Photography seniors have their own dedicated studio spaces. These individual studios give each student a place to keep work in progress, experiment over time, meet for critiques, and develop the sustained body of work that culminates in the senior thesis exhibition. Having a studio of one’s own supports the independence, focus, and professional working habits expected of a practicing artist.
Equipment Available Through CTS
Photography students can supplement the department’s facilities through the Campus Technology Services loan pool. Current equipment includes:
Reserved for Art+Design students
- 4 Sony Alpha A7R II still cameras
- 2 50mm lenses, 1 85mm lens, and 1 35mm lens for the Sony A7R II system
- 1 Mamiya 7 II medium-format film camera
Still and specialty cameras in the campus-wide loan pool
- 15 Nikon D90 cameras
- 15 Canon EOS Rebel T7 cameras
- 8 Nikon D3100 cameras
- 8 Nikon D7200 cameras
- 5 Nikon D3500 cameras
- 9 Canon EOS Rebel T6 cameras
- 7 Canon EOS 7D Mark II cameras
- 5 Canon EOS 7D cameras
- 3 Lytro cameras and 5 Ricoh Theta S cameras
- 27 Sony HXR-NX100 camcorders
Lighting and support
- 16 Lowel three-light kits with stands
- 6 Ikan three-light kits with stands
- 62 general-purpose tripods with bags and 5 photo tripods with bags
- LaCie 1 TB rugged portable drives and Anker card readers
CTS equipment is available by reservation and subject to current availability. View the current CTS inventory and loan information.
Together, these facilities give students a continuous place to test ideas, refine their craft, and bring photographs into the world—from the first exposure to the final presentation.