the Photography Section

The Photography Section comprises the photography studio and workspace, digital printing facilities, photographic, video and sound recording equipment, black & white darkroom and processing facilities, and the Fine Arts Computer Lab. These facilities are managed by the Photography Technician, and are located on the Ground Floor of the WSOA building.

Equipment and some materials are purchased and maintained from the annual Redirected/ Lab budget.

Students may borrow equipment from the equipment store. You will be introduced to the booking

system, please note that equipment is issued at specific times only (see notice boards in the photography section). A list of equipment, including cameras and data projectors, that you have access to is available from the Photography Technician. Loan periods vary according to demand, but generally equipment is loaned out for a week at a time. Late returns will be fined. In cases where equipment is long overdue, the Department of Fine Arts may impose further penalties and restrictions on further loans.

The Fine Arts Computer Lab is equipped with iMacs for teaching programs and for fine art students for their undergraduate and postgraduate Fine Arts work. The computers run Adobe CC Suite, including Photoshop, Lightroom, AdobeBridge, Adobe Premiere. You are asked to sign and adhere to the Computer Lab Code of Conduct at all times. Access to the Lab is controlled by access card.

The Digital Printing Facility is available for specialised photographic printing. A limited amount of printing is allocated per undergraduate student for free, and students wishing to exceed this may pay for their printing. These payments are made directly into the photography account and cash is not accepted.

The darkroom is equipped with enlargers and all the requirements for black and white film processing. A basic amount of chemistry is available to students.

Equipment booking and queries: Jodie Pather, jodie.pather@wits.ac.za and cc to photo.finearts@wits. ac.za | 011 717 4625 Photography Academic Staff: natasha Christopher, natasha.christopher@wits.ac.za I 011 717 4629

The Print Studio is located on the south side of the ground floor of the WSOA building and managed by Thabiso Kholobeng. The studio is equipped with professional facilities for intaglio processes, relief printing, silkscreening and lithography. Relief printing is included in the First Year program. Intaglio processes, including drypoint, etching, and aquatint are taught in the Second Year, followed by silkscreening and lithography to enable students to gain advanced skills in printmaking processes. The Print Studio is open for senior students’ independent work and collaborative printing projects, in consultation with the academic staff and the Printmaking Technician.

As in the workshop and photography sections, all of the equipment, tools and stock are Wits School

of Arts assets. Print-making involves specialised inks, handling of hazardous chemicals, plates, stones, tools and presses, all of which require safe, correct and respectful work. It is imperative that you know how to work with the material and equipment and observe studio protocols, with consideration to everyone using the studio.

Use of Professional Facilities

• Monitor the correct use of the presses at all times • Release the drum and press bed at the end of the day • Avoid wastage of materials at all times • Follow the standards and instructions set by the Printmaking Technician/ Studio Manager • Ensure that hot plates are switched off at all times when not in use • Switch off lights at the end of each day • Maintain a clean studio space throughout out the week, including the cleaning of rollers, brayer and surfaces • Clean the sink at the end of every day • Take care of inks and ensure that they are packed away at the end of the day • Wear protective clothing / safety gear: students are not allowed to use the Acid Room and associated materials without protective clothing, mask, PVC apron and gloves • Refrain from using C4 (Liquid/ paste) to clean silk screens • Work with care

Printmaking Technician / Print Studio Manager: thabiso Kholobeng thabiso.kholobeng@wits.ac.za | 011 717 4634 Printmaking Academic Staff: Prof David Andrew david.andrew@wits.ac.za I 011 717 4636