Friday, November 27, 2009

Hallmark Institute of Photography




I thought perhaps it was time to give a plug to my alma mater. Hallmark Institute of Photography located in the western Massachusetts town of Turners Falls has become one of the preeminent photography schools in the country. I am proud to be a graduate of the class of 1979.

HIP has grown considerably since my days around campus. The facilities are state of the art and Hallmark graduates continue to be among the top working pros in the business. I encourage anyone interested in a career in photography to take a look at attending Hallmark Institute of Photography.


“Not only has the Institute made the necessary investment to continually update their state-of-the art facilities, but they constantly review and keep their curriculum at the forefront of this exciting industry — as demonstrated by the quality of student they graduate.”

PAUL ARESU
Paul Aresu Photography
New York, NY



“The warm reception when lecturing at Hallmark makes it feel like being welcomed home to find amazing cutting edge resources and facilities, supported by a great staff and faculty teaching a thoroughly comprehensive curriculum to a broad range of students of all ages and career levels.”

BARBARA BORDNICK
New York, NY




As a student at Hallmark, you will work in facilities and with equipment that rivals what's being used in today's high-end photography studios. You'll learn workflow on one of one hundred and sixty professional imaging workstations equipped with Apple computers and monitors. You'll learn to make beautiful black & white and color inkjet prints using Epson professional printers. You will shoot in some of the finest and well-equipped portrait and commercial studio space seen anywhere. Each of the twenty-five shooting bays is equipped with Profoto Acute or Compact studio flash systems, and include all the necessary light modification tools and studio props a shooting pro would need.

In September of 2002, we unveiled our Educational Center, featuring 40,000 sq. ft. of new classroom studio and lab space, and faculty offices. During the summer of 2004 we added another 10,000 sq. ft. to make room for our new Imaging Theater, featuring 80 fully equipped digital imaging workstations. In 2006, recognizing the changes in the industry, Hallmark purchased Leaf Aptus 22-megapixel digital backs to issue to each student for their use throughout their 10-month journey. This represents the biggest acquisition of high-end digital camera backs ever.

Our state-of-the-art teaching facilities are highlighted by our factory-like open-air environment, specifically designed to teach contemporary and digital photography to only those in most serious pursuit of a career in professional photography and imaging.

This premier facility is highlighted by our new Imaging Theater, the big brother to the already impressive Design Lab. Together they contain 160 professional imaging workstations comfortably laid out over 10,000 sq. ft. of space and specifically designed with student and instructor comfort in mind.

An enormous commercial shooting area is divided into sixteen commercial bays and three large portrait rooms subdivide into nine individual portrait studios. Each bay and studio is fully equipped for 4x5 large-format traditional and digital capture and/or medium-format traditional and digital capture with professional electronic lighting systems, modification and experiment with to enhance any photographic assignment.

A bright, open and airy 6,000 square foot Student Lounge with vending machines, student lockers, and an Internet Café, equipped with on-line computers, (WiFi available throughout the facility) is located on the second floor overlooking the Design Lab and the building's main entrance.

Adjoining the Student Lounge is the School Store, containing a retail student boutique with many treasures and essential photographic supplies for students and visitors. Our fully equipped research library, containing hundreds of books relating to the technique, art, and business of photography, is also located off the Student Lounge.

Our comfortable and spacious Auditorium features impressive audio/video equipment while playing host to Guest Lecturer Series, featuring over 30 of today's most influential photographers, artists and business people.





http://hallmark.edu/