Photography & Media Lab
Contacts
Melissa Nuñez, Lab Manager
Hours
Undergrad Fall Schedule TBA
6am to 2am (grad students)
Summer Print Access
Faculty and First-Year Grads only, no undergraduate students
Winter Break Print Access
Faculty and Grads only, no undergraduate students
Spring Break Print Access
Faculty and Grads only, no undergraduate students
Lab Rules
The Photo Lab facility is for students currently enrolled in Photography & Media courses and faculty/staff who have been granted access.
Only TAs can checkout equipment for their class during class time.
The Photo Lab is not for commercial purposes.
Students should not leave personal belongings unattended.
No food or drink in any of the labs, only in the seminar room.
Only lab monitors may change paper, ink cartridges or maintenance tanks.
One computer station per person.
Students should not save files on computers as it will delete files after logging off.
Students should not leave prints out in the lab.
Students must allocate 30 minutes for clean up when using wet lab, lab monitors do not clean up for you.
Lab Use Policies
Photography & Media Graduate Students
Graduate students are allowed to work in the lab between 6 am – 2 am. You will get badge access to our area. All graduate students must sign a Conditions of Checkout agreement before checking out any equipment. Graduate students have access to equipment remaining in the equipment cage on weekends only during the semester. Per UT policies, undergraduate students have priority to all equipment. If equipment is left in the cage after the last class session of the week, then graduate students are allowed to check it out. Equipment must be returned before the first class the equipment is reserved for the following week. Failure to return the equipment on time will lead to revoking access to equipment. While in graduate school, it is a good time to take advantage of student discounts and purchase your own equipment.
Equipment can be checked out over winter and summer breaks. If equipment is broken while in your possession, you must let the lab manager know and return the broken equipment to the lab ASAP so it can be repaired before the beginning of the semester. Graduate students must sign an additional form if they want to take equipment out of state. See lab manager for form.
Graduate students must pay for printing in the lab. After each printing session, send the lab manager an email with the size prints you made and if you used the lab paper or your own. The lab manager will send the total due. You can pay via check or cash to the lab manager.
Graduate students can bring their own paper but must still pay for ink. Talk to lab manager about how to track it.
MFA Students (outside of Photography)First Stage — Short-term Use (several sessions, during a week or two) with photo graduate student (unpaid), photo technician, or photo faculty assistance only.
MFA students (outside of Photography) may use the lab during normal hours of operation, as long as they:
Pay for materials in advance.
Not interfere with organized classes or other graduate work. MFA students in photography have priority for using the facilities.
Not co-opt or monopolize the time of a grad TA on duty, whose assignment is helping undergrads and/or participating in an undergrad class.
Not displace other students (graduate or undergraduate) using equipment.
Sign up in advance to work in the facility.
They may not use the lab when closed, unless a graduate student in Photography with after hours access permission is willing to help, though a graduate student must not feel obligated to provide this assistance. Security access, alarm code or name on door will not be granted.
Clean-up any areas of the lab facility used.
Checking-out photo equipment is okay for use in the Art Building ONLY; equipment must not leave the Art Building.
Access privileges will be revoked if lab policies are abused.
Request to and approval from the area head in writing (e-mail).
Second Stage — Multiple-time Use (numerous sessions during a semester or break) with grad assistance (unpaid).
An MFA student, after being granted access for short-term use, who demonstrates independence with the use of equipment and an understanding of the restrictions, may request in writing from the area head further extended use of the facility, after outlining the parameters and timeline for completing his/her project. The rules for Short-term Use above still apply.
After Hours access is limited to (a) Authorized graduate students (first priority) (b) photo faculty and their official research proxy assistants (second priority).
Faculty
First Stage — Short-term Use (several sessions, during a week or two) with photo graduate student (unpaid), photo technician, or photo faculty assistance only.
Studio faculty members (outside of Photography) may use the lab during normal hours of operation, as long as they:
Pay for materials in advance.
Not interfere with organized classes or independent grad work.
Not co-opt or monopolize the time of a grad TA on duty, whose assignment is helping undergrads and/or participating in an undergrad class.
Not displace a student (graduate or undergraduate) using equipment.
Sign up in advance to work in the facility.
They may not use the lab when closed, unless a graduate student is willing to help, though a graduate student must not feel obligated to provide this assistance. Security access, alarm code or name on door will not be granted.
Clean-up any areas of the lab facility used.
Checking-out photo equipment is okay for use in the Art Building ONLY - equipment must not leave the Art Building.
Access privileges will be revoked if lab policies are abused.
Request to and approval from the area head in writing (e-mail).
Second Stage - Multiple-time Use (numerous sessions during a semester or break) with grad assistance (unpaid):
A faculty member, after being granted access for short-term use, which demonstrates independence with the use of equipment and an understanding of the restrictions, may request in writing from the area head further extended use of the facility, after outlining the parameters and timeline for completing his/her project. The rules for Short-term Use above still apply.
After Hours access is limited to (a) Authorized graduate students (first priority) (b) photo faculty and their official research proxy assistants (second priority).
Lab Equipment
Equipment access is limited to:
Undergraduate students enrolled in Photography and Media Area Lab classes
Photography and Media Area faculty and staff
TAs who teach in those classes
Photography and Media Area graduate students
All users must sign and return a copy of the Equipment Liability Agreement prior to checking out any equipment.
Equipment Use – General Rules
Equipment may not be taken out of the State of Texas without prior approval of Lab Manager.
If you plan to take equipment outside of the State of Texas you must:
request and sign out of state agreement form
Equipment air travel must be a carry-on luggage only.
Equipment Use – Limitations
Equipment should not be used in or around settings that may be hazardous to either the operator or the equipment.
Hazardous conditions include:
Around sand or dust
In/on water or highly humid areas
Under extreme temperature conditions
Near fire or explosives
Areas of high humidity
From excessive heights (rooftops, cranes, water towers, etc.)
Mounted on cars, motorcycles or horseback
Around corrosive substances such as solvents, toxic vapors, etc.
If you have questions about whether a situation or location might be hazardous to the operator or the equipment, ask your Professor or Lab Manager.