Studio, Darkrooms and Reprographics/Digital Darkroom T&Cs

Index

• General
• Read this
• Opening times and Contact details
• Care/Health and Safety
• Booking the facility/opening hours
• Suspension guidelines
• Data Privacy
• Feedback and complaints

General

All bookings and use of the area are subject to these terms and conditions. By requesting the loan of equipment, studios and darkrooms from the photography facility, you are agreeing to be bound by the terms and conditions that follow.

These terms and conditions cover all hire of equipment and, where appropriate, booking of rooms available to staff and students from Middlesex University’s photographic facility.

The online booking system and all equipment loans and room bookings are managed and operated by employees of the University. All bookings are issued at their discretion.

Middlesex University staff have the right to work without abuse, threats or unreasonable demands being made of them. Any behaviour they consider unacceptable will result in the immediate suspension of all access to equipment and

facilities within the faculty prior to an appeal hearing. It is therefore in the user’s interest to behave with courtesy at all times.

The University will not be liable to you or to any third party for any loss or damage (of any type and howsoever arising – including lost production and loss of profits) arising out of this Agreement, including for the unavailability of equipment or/and studio, darkroom or film processing facility save in respect of personal injury or death caused by our negligence.

This agreement is covered by the laws of England and is subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the English Courts.

If you do nothing else, read this

• In an emergency call 0208 411 6200
• You are responsible for your own safety and ensure any visitors you bring on to campus are well informed about safety procedures by a member of staff.
• If your shoot or traditional printing process involves something out of the ordinary you may need to do a risk assessment.
• You will be suspended from using the photography facilities if you don’t show up to your booking/workshop
• Your booking will be offered to someone else if you are more than half an hour late.
• Leave the area tidy when you leave regardless of how you found it.
• You are liable to replace or/and pay for any repairs to broken or stolen equipment.
• You are not permitted to use any of the photographic facilities without an induction.
• If you’re unsure about how to use something, ask a member of staff.
• By accepting these terms and conditions it will be assumed that you have read them in their entirety and understood them.

Opening times and contact details

Please note some areas close 1-2pm for lunch

Studios, darkrooms and Reprographics, Digital Darkroom opening times

Studios: 10am – 1pm and 2pm - 5pm

Darkrooms: 9.30am – 1pm and 2pm – 5pm

Reprographics, Digital Darkroom – 9.30am – 5pm

(this area may close for lunch due to staffing)

Contact details

Studios, Darkrooms and Reprographics/Digital Darkroom

Generic, all studio and darkroom staff – photodept@mdx.ac.uk

Tel: 0208 411 4531

Generic all Reprographics/Digital Darkroom staff - digitalprint@mdx.ac.uk

Individual technical staff:

William Gillingham-Sutton – w.gillingham-sutton@mdx.ac.uk

Caroline Rooke – c.rooke@mdx.ac.uk

Nadia Radjabi - n.radjabi@mdx.ac.uk

Care and fair use/Health and Safety

In an emergency contact security/first aid on: 0208 411 6200 or 6200 from any landline within the university campus

You are responsible for your own safety and are expected to pay due care and attention while using any facilities here at Middlesex University

You must exercise all reasonable care and attention in the use of university equipment and facilities.

You must not leave equipment unattended at any time. Always return all equipment directly back to a member of the photography team before you leave. You are liable for any lost or damaged equipment.

You should report any lost / damage equipment to a member of the photography staff immediately. In the event of theft of any item, you must report the incident to a member of staff who will take appropriate action. You must not use equipment in ways or areas for which it is not intended.

• Risk assessments may be required for the use of equipment / resources or studios. Please consult with the photography staff if you for more information. E.g. if you plan to work with chemicals we don’t already supply, if you intend on working height or hang anything, if you intend on using liquids, bring in an animal or use electrical equipment you have brought in.

• You are responsible for tidying up the area that you use. If areas are found to be untidy after use, you will be liable to a suspension from the photographic facilities.
• You must start to pack up half an hour an hour to fifteen minutes before the end of your booking to allow time to copy files across and to tidy the studio.
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• All equipment that was provided to you at the start of your booking should be returned at the end of your booking.

• You are responsible for all equipment within the immediate area that you are using and the equipment provided to you to supplement your work within that area.
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• Any damage to any equipment that you have been using needs to be brought to the attention of a photography technician.

• All effort should be made to be aware of your surrounds taking note of trip hazards, hot surfaces, risk of injury due to hanging equipment etc. Please make a note of the information outlined in the inductions for the area you are working in and follow the H&S guidelines.
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• All visitors need to be aware of the evacuation procedures and what to do in an emergency – Please introduce your visitor to a member of staff so they can do this for you.

• No food or drink in any of the darkrooms.

• No food in the finishing area, however drinks are permitted provided they have a sealable lid, and the lid is kept on while you’re not drinking it.
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• No food or Drink by the film processing area.
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• Food and drink (within reason) is permitted in the studios providing you clean everything up at the end of your shoot and you engage in sensible working practices i.e. make sure you have an area away from the equipment and backdrops where you can consume your food and drink preferable using a table.
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• If you are unsure or don’t know how to use a piece of equipment please ask a member of staff for assistance rather than trying to use it alone.
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• The backdrop hoists should only be operated by a member of staff. If you would like a backdrop change, please ask a member of staff.
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• Painted backdrop must only be erected and taken down by the photography staff
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• If you no longer need a facility or workshop booking, please cancel it. Failure to attend a facility booking or workshop without prior warning will result in a suspension.

• You are not permitted to use any of the photography facility without an induction. You will have to watch inductions videos and answer a set of questions on-line before you are able to book the studios.       All darkrooms and film processing require an in person induction, please speak to a member of staff to organise a place on a workshop to become inducted.

Booking the facility/opening hours

Studios are bookable in 3 x hour slots – 10am – 1pm and 2pm – 5pm

If you would like to book a studio for a full day, please speak to a member of staff to make special arrangements.

Darkrooms have a minimum booking period of 1.5 hours. You can book a booth in either the colour or B&W darkroom for as long as is needed providing they are available.

Darkrooms open at 9.30am – 5pm, 1-2pmclosed for Lunch

All Photography facilities are on a request basis and are not considered booked until a member of staff has confirmed your request. When a studio request has been confirmed you should receive an email confirming your booking. Please check your junk folder if you have not received a confirmation email. Please contact us on 0208 411 4531 or by email: photodept@mdx.ac.uk if you cannot find your email. Please allow at least 24 hours for your request to be confirmed. If you request a photography facility over the weekend it may not be confirmed until the end of Monday or by Tuesday Morning.

It is worth noting that particularly for the studios or the specialist darkroom your request will be rejected if you have left the notes section of the request form empty. To speed up the booking process and to avoid your request being rejected please write a short description of what you plan to do in the facility e.g. let us know what exactly you plan to do in the specialist darkroom i.e. liquid light/cyanotypes and in the studios outline a description of your shoot i.e. What is the nature of the shoot? Will you be using multiple props? Is it a standard shoot with not much other than a model and one light? Is there anything unusual about your shoot? If you do plan to use liquids, water or bring in an animal, what are you doing to mitigate any problems?

Visitors

You are responsible for the people you bring on to campus. You are welcome to bring models/photography who are not associated with Middlesex, however, please make us aware of this in you notes at the facility request stage or/and on the day that you come in with them. They will need to be made aware of some of the basic health and safety procedures.

Animals

You may bring animals in to photograph however this MUST be discussed and approved by a member of staff prior to the animal being brought on to campus. Animals can have adverse reactions to bright lights or/and flashes/strobes or/and loud noises or/and lots of people, please ensure you have the animal’s welfare in mind. You are responsible for the safety of the animal, for containing it safely and to clean up any mess it might make.

Smoke machines etc.

Unfortunately, due to our highly sensitive and effective fire alarm system smoke bombs/machines, E-cigarettes, Candles or any device that makes smoke or fire are not allowed in the studios at all.

Suspension from using the photography facilities

You will be suspended from using the photography facilities if:

• You abuse, threaten or make unreasonable demands on the photography staff or/and your piers or/and visitors
• You have prebooked a photographic facility and fail to attend.
• If at the last minute you cannot make your booking or think you are going to more than half an hour late then you can contact us directly by phone on: 0208 411 4531 or email photodept@mdx.ac.uk
• Please be aware if you are more than half an hour late for your booking without contacting us, the facility you reserved will be made available for another student to use.
• You have prebooked a workshop and fail to attend without any prior warning.
• You, your crew or friends/family leave the facility in an unacceptable mess, especially if this is a reoccurring event.

Suspension for failing to attend a facility booking or workshop:

2 x weeks – first offence

3 x weeks – second offence

4 x weeks – third offence and a consultation with your tutor to address issue.

Suspension for abuse, threatening behaviour or making unreasonable demands:

This will be looked at on a case-by-case basis along with consultations with your tutor and the university student support team.

If you feel that you have been suspended unfairly or do not understand why you have been suspended, please speak to a member of staff or contact us using the contacts provided on this document and a member of staff will be made available for you to speak to.

If you do not understand any of the above terms and conditions or would like any part explained to you further, please contact one of the photography team who will organise a time to address your concern.

Data Privacy

• Users should not leave personal or confidential data on shared computer.

• It is of the users discretion for any sensitive material to be deleted from shared computers.

• All users must log out of any online accounts to maintain security

Feedback and complaints

We welcome constructive feedback and would be happy to address any complaints you might have. Any feedback or complaints should be reported via email: Photodept@mdx.ac.uk and we will aim to get back to you within 72 hours.