A Student’s Perspective: A Beginner’s Guide to the RIT Photo Cage
So, what is this magical place photo geeks refer to as the School’s cage? The cage is the camera gear heaven students visit to check out (borrow) all sorts of equipment. This includes cameras, lenses, flashes and lighting equipment, tripods, and many other camera accessories. CAD and Photo students are allowed to check out equipment for 24 hours for whatever purpose they may need it for. This includes class projects or simply to test something if they have never used it before. Hands down, the photo cage is a vital part of the photo school’s culture and it is here to support the student success and not intimidate them.
The cage is primarily staffed by students who work in the photo school. Cagers are the individuals who check the equipment in and out and inspect it to make sure there is no damage. When I visited the cage to research this post, Cheyenne Boone, a third photojournalism major and Jordan Hundelt, a third-year advertising photography major were working. I asked them a few questions about their experiences working at the cage. Jordan stated she enjoys working at the cage because she is able to see the new equipment that she has not used before. This helps her before she checks it out in the future. Cheyenne stated her favorite part is interacting with the students who come to the cage. She always asks what people are shooting and loves seeing the students get excited about what they are creating with the equipment the cage provides for them.
I also sat down the Julia Samuels, one of the managers. Julia, an alumna of the photo school, further shared the cage is wishes to create an environment that provides support to our students and not an experience that is scary. She stated that when she attended school here she was nervous about checking items out of the cage. She found the easiest way to get over that fear was to ask questions! She and those working at the cage are always there to help. “The biggest thing is, to be honest, and tell us that you are new. We will 100% walk you through the process and we will never think anything less of you.”
Julia also reminded me of the NEW event they are hosting this fall semester “What’s Up Wednesdays”. Students are encouraged to come and learn about a specific pieces of equipment available at the cage and how they operate.
She also gave me some camera recommendations for those who may not know where to start. If you are a Canon lover, she recommends any of the Rebel cameras as a good place to start or the Canon 6D. For Nikon users, the cage has D810’s and D750’s available for checkout to first year photography students (which are also full frame!) First year students are considered level 1 in the system, which means there is only certain pieces equipment that can be checked out. But don’t fret, this just means there will be more to look forward to in the coming years!
From one photo student to another, here are some tips I recommend for checking out different kinds of lenses. Having a nice camera is only a fraction of what it takes to make a good picture. The rest comes from you and the lens! My favorite lens at the moment is the 24-70mm f/2.8 for Canon, but I also love all The Sigma Art Lenses.
As Julia shared, it is important to ask questions. I personally enjoy hearing what the cagers recommend for good lighting equipment or cameras for a specific purpose. This allows you to get to know your peers a little more and also find some potential favorite gear!
Lastly, one important question students need to know the answer to is “What if we break the equipment?” Accidents can happen and most of the photo students have been there. That is why it is recommended to get insurance! If anything ever happens, insurance has your back and will help you worry less. Julia encourages students to ask about insurance at any time. She would be happy to help.
Some helpful links:
Equipment guide: https://cias-checkout.rit.edu/ckfinder/userfiles/files/SPAS%20Facilities/CageCatalogue_2019_2020_RD5.pdf
SPAS Facilities information: https://inside.cad.rit.edu/facilties/facilities/spas/
Cage insurance: Pamphlets are available at the third-floor cage.
BIO: Mia Guariano is a third-year Imaging and Photographic Technology student from Syracuse, New York. In her free time, she enjoys painting, baking, and hanging out with her family, especially her grandparents.
