The Photography Center of the Capital District LLC offers to those interested in the photographic arts opportunities to develop skills and knowledge in all aspects of photographic activity. The PhotoCenter is a membership-supported facility offering almost everything photographic under one roof:

• a gallery for exhibiting contemporary images;
• historical exhibits of cameras and images spanning more than 100 years;
• a consignment store selling used equipment;
• a shooting studio;
• computer workstations with a variety of peripherals;
• a media center with projectors and HDTV for viewing photo and video productions;
• a reading/research floor with thousands of books and collections of periodicals past and current;
• equipment for do-it-yourself mounting, matting, Polaroid transfers and copying; and
• space for meetings, workshops, and salon nights.

Troy has become a lively focus for practitioners and consumers of the visual and performing arts. Within a few blocks of the PhotoCenter is the Arts Center of the Capital Region, the Fulton Street Gallery, several other arts venues, Troy Music Hall, three bookstores, numerous ethnic restaurants, and the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and Russell Sage College campuses.

Across the street from the PhotoCenter are five dining establishments, including a micro-brewery, an Irish pub, and a Mexican-Irish restaurant, as well as a notable performance venue, Revolution Hall. Troy artists, galleries, and businesses coordinate exhibitions and receptions for a monthly last Friday “Troy Night Out,” featuring the arts and culture of downtown Troy and drawing enthusiasts from throughout the region.

Back to top

Membership Benefits

Basic Level — $45 Annually

Permits the use of equipment at Basic Level rates, including:

• computer workstations with various photo and video software, with CD and DVD recording;
• ink and laser jet printers up to 8 × 11-inch capability;
• film scanners (Nikon, Polaroid, Minolta);
• flatbed Scanners (Epson, HP);
• Polaroid film and print manipulation equipment, up to 8 × 10 inches (emulsion transfers, etc.);
• photo presentation, including mat cutter, paper cutter, dry-mount, lamination up to 24 inches;
• copy stands (florescent, tungsten, Polaroid);
• announcements and admission for meetings / seminars / special events / exhibitions; and
• reference area with current periodicals and magazines.

Studio Level — $75 Annually

Use of facilities & services at Studio Level rates, plus:

• all benefits of Basic Level;
• studio (shooting area) and available props and lighting;
• larger format Epson printers with up to 13 × 44-inch capability;
• film recorder, which can capture digital output from a computer at 4,000 dpi;
• Jobo and other film processing equipment;
• use of projectors for digital, slide, video or 16 mm movie presentations (photographers can show works);
• Use of a 52-inch HDTV for audio/video presentations to small groups;
• invitations to salon nights with reviews of portfolios by peers;
• invitations to movie night screenings of special films; and
• invitation to exhibit at annual Members Only Exhibition.

Discounts at cooperating merchants:

• camera repair,
• photo finishing,
• arts supplies,
• framing, and
• equipment rental

Supporting Level — $100 Annually

Use of facilities & services at Supporting Level rates, plus:

• access to library of photo and art books;
• access to archives of periodicals and journals;
• online gallery of up to10 images*; and
• invitations to dinner events.

* To participate in the online gallery, submit a CD with your best images resized to 640 pixels at 96 dpi.

Also includes discounts of at least 10% for the following:

• PhotoCenter-sponsored workshops;
• tutorial fees by PhotoCenter specialists; and
• purchases of prints.

Download a PDF membership application!

E-mail us with your name, contact information, and type of membership desired to info@photocentertroy.org to join or renew your membership. Expedite your payment with PayPal — https://www.paypal.com. Recipient is payments@photocentertroy.org.

Alternatively, you may mail your information and payment to the PhotoCenter, 404 River St., Troy, NY 12180.

Services & Equipment

For use or rental of any equipment, members may be asked to show familiarity with or competence to use equipment. Members are expected to use PhotoCenter facilities and equipment responsibly and assume responsibility for damage due to misuse or abuse. Access to most facilities and services will be limited to members. Some services to some levels of membership will have fees; some facilities have rental fees. Prices include 8% sales tax.

Rev. 05/10

Item	Basic	Studio	Supporting	Notes
Equipment Use for Do It Yourself
To ensure availability of equipment , please reserve at least a day in advance.
Wacom tablet	n/a	$5 per hour	$3 per hour	Plus tutorial fee as needed
Polaroid equipment	All levels: $5 per hour			User supplies film materials
Lamination	All levels: $6 per square foot			Includes film
Dry mounting	All levels: $10 per print			Includes dry mount tissue to 16 x 20
Flatbed scanner	All levels: $2 per hour			Plus tutorial fee as needed
Film scanner	$5 per hour	$3 per hour	$2 per hour
Workstation	$5 per hour	$1 per hour	included
Copy stand	$15 per hour	$10 per hour
Film recorder	n/a	Both levels: $5 per hour		User supplies film
Mat cutter	$10 per hour	$7 per hour	$4 per hour	Plus tutorial fee as needed
Wireless Internet Access	Free for all levels
Spaces
To ensure availability of spaces, please reserve at least a day in advance.
Gallery rental	$50 per hour	$30 per hour	$20 per hour	Plus setup and equipment fees, if applicable
Seminar area with 52" HDTV	$65 per hour	$45 per hour	$30 per hour
Studio area	n/a	$15 per hour	$10 per hour	Includes lighting equipment
Library	$10 per hour	$5 per hour	free	Books for use only on the premises
Darkroom	n/a	$15 per hour	$10 per hour	Ask staff about additional details
Prints  (do-it-yourself on Epson 2200)
Photo print up to 8.5 x 11	All levels: $5 per print			Includes ink, photo paper. (add $2 for premium or art papers) Above prices include sales tax
Photo print 11 x 17	All levels: $9 per print
Photo print 13 x 19	All levels: $13 per print
Events
Dinner Night (members only, by contribution, $10 suggested)
Salon Night (members only, by contribution, $5 suggested)
Services
Hourly rates billed in quarter hour increments; rates depend on service, approximately $45 per hour Instructional Tutorials (see course price list in PDF) Personalized Courses (see course price list in PDF) Retouching & Restoration Scanning & Archiving to Digital Printing Curating Portfolio Review Design  (business cards, postcards, flyers, web sites, etc.) Matting and Framing

* Discounts at cooperating merchants, e.g., camera repair, photo finishing, arts supplies, framing, and equipment rentals

Back to top

Hours & Directions for the Photo Center
404 River Street, Troy, NY 12180-2821
Phone 518-273-0100

Hours are 5 to 9 p.m. on weekdays (closed Wednesdays) and noon to 6 p.m. on weekends, and will be expanded to meet demand. Volunteer assistance is welcomed.

From I-787 take Exit 8 “Green Island” to Troy. Bear right at next two lights to cross over Green Island Bridge. Go left at light after bridge onto King Street. The next two lefts will put you on River Street, one way going south. The PhotoCenter is down the block on the left.

From I-87 use Exit 7 for Route 7 East. Continue to exit “Downtown Troy, Hutton Street” and proceed on Hutton Street to River Street. (Hutton ends at River Street.) Go left on River Street two blocks to the PhotoCenter.
Free parking in City of Troy lot behind River Street after 5 p.m. Entrance across the street from the PhotoCenter.

—Courtesy of www.mapquest.com

Back to top

The Photography Museum of the Capital District:

• displays and houses all varieties and generations of photographic equipment and images;
• provides access to educational materials on the history of photography;
• demonstrates the use of early photographic equipment;
• offers workshops in the use of historical processes, from tintypes to argyrotypes; and
• shows linkages between the appearance of early images and the equipment used to produce them.

In the retail section of the gallery, we will be buying and selling better used photographic and imaging gear. Consignments are welcome.

Some gallery services will be outsourced to other providers, including:

• camera repair,
• photo finishing, and
• large format digital printing.

Gallery members may be eligible for discounts for some of these services.

Back to top