Digital Camera & Computer Requirements

You must bring your own laptop: a MAC laptop is preferred and most of the class will work on Apple computers. If you want to bring a windows computer you will need one of the newer PCs with Windows 8 installed, along with lots of memory.

Course Computer Requirement

The laptop should be capable of working with Photoshop CS6. Please visit the Adobe Products website. If in doubt about the program please send an email to Gerlo Beernink.
There are NO computers capable of working with Photoshop CS6 at the castle.
If you cannot afford to buy the software, you can install a 30-day trial version of Photoshop CS6 AFTER you arrive at Kasteel Well. Please DO NOT INSTALL the trial version on your computer before you leave. It won’t last the length of the program unless you install it after your first week at the castle!
You will get all the necessary software on a USB drive.
Students will work with Photoshop CS6 and the Bridge (part of Photoshop - Please install this.)
Students can buy Photoshop Extended at special prices at Adobe or through Emerson College.
You must bring along a small portable external hard drive that can be easily transported. You will need it as a backup for all your photos. You can buy a 320 GB for around $ 60.
Be sure to have a lot of empty space on your computer hard drive. Students will take a lot of photos during the course. You must have at least 50 GB of free space! Check your hard drive.
There are certain steps you must take prior to your departure in order to ensure your computer is free of viruses and other malware. Once computers are infected with malware, both the security and functionality of the system can be compromised. It’s also difficult to find a reliable fix, and often incredibly time-consuming—the last thing you want to be bothered with while in Europe. So before you go, think about your options for installing a free, or purchasing a reliable antivirus software package.

Digital Camera Requirement

Students must bring their own digital SLR camera with a minimum of 6 Megapixels. The camera should have a zoom lens and manual settings for shutter speed, aperture, and focus. The camera should be able to shoot in RAW mode.
If you can spare the money, buy a larger zoom lens for your camera. See what price you can get on a body with a 18-135mm (18-105mm) instead of the 18-55mm zoom. Students will make a lot of portraits and it would be helpful to have a lens around 80 to 100 mm.

Equipment Needed

A digital SLR camera, minimum of 6 megapixels.
A couple of memory cards of at least 2–4 GB. Have at least 12 GB in cards. While traveling you don’t want to run out of cards. You are going to shoot in RAW. RAW files take up to 25 MB per photo.
External memory card reader – a cable connection is no good.
Enough conversion plugs to charge all your equipment
A UV filter for protection of the lens –a lens without a filter is easily damaged.
Lens hood to protect the lens from damage.
Extra battery for the camera (an empty battery is no excuse for missing an assignment).
If you need a new camera, look at Steve’s Digicams.
For buying equipment, look at the website for B&H Photo in NYC.

Kasteel Well Photo Studio

A fully equipped photo studio will be available for students to work in. In order to work at the studio students will have to pay a security deposit of €150 cash during orientation weekend (in case they cause damage to the equipment in the studio, or the studio itself). If the student has not been responsible for damage to the equipment or the studio, they will receive their deposit back at the end of the course.

Computer Anti-Virus Software

MACs

You will need to install and run a software security suite on your laptop BEFORE you depart for The Netherlands. During orientation weekend the Facilities Manager will check each computer to make sure an anti-virus program has been installed on your MAC. Once the Facilities Manager confirms this, you will receive a network key, which allows you access to the Internet.

A free option is ClamXav. We prefer that Mac users purchase and use a full feature security suite, but in the interest of fairness we will accept the use of the Avast! or ClamXav software.

If you have questions or concerns, or are uncomfortable performing the install on your own, call the I.T Help Desk at x8080 or email helpdesk@emerson.edu.

PCs

You will need to install and run a software security suite on your laptop BEFORE you depart for The Netherlands. During orientation weekend the Facilities Manager will check each computer to make sure an anti-virus program has been installed on your PC. Once he confirms this, you will receive a network key, which allows you access to the Internet.

Emerson College offers free anti-virus software by Symantic Endpoint. Emerson has discontinued all old versions of Symantec Anti-Virus. If you are still using an old version, this update is extremely important. Please install it at your earliest possible convenience.

Symantec Endpoint Protection is available for all students, staff, and faculty in the Emerson community running Microsoft Windows. It is not available for the Macintosh OS X platform. Please view the link above for information on how to install this on your PC. Remember, for your protection and everyone else’s, you won't be allowed access to the castle’s network until your system’s “cleanliness” is up to par.

Once you install the security suite, make sure you download any updates or new definitions for it, and run a full scan of your computer. Security suites are acceptable as long as they include antivirus, firewall, and spyware/malware protection components. Make sure the subscription hasn’t expired and the virus definitions are up to date before you leave for Kasteel Well, or your computer could be exposed to the various maladies of the Internet. To ensure your PC is protected from the latest security threats, be sure you’ve run all Critical Windows Updates.

In addition to security software, you should also check for updates to your operating system and other software. You can get more information at the Help Desk website. If you have questions or concerns, or are uncomfortable performing the install on your own, call the I.T Help Desk at x8080 or email helpdesk@emerson.edu

Other Computing Essentials/Facts

The castle has a wireless Internet network you can access anywhere on campus. If you bring your own laptop, you’ll be able to send and receive emails and surf the Web every day, 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.

The network has been upgraded, but it is very slow during hours when students tend to be online at the same time or uploading films and large files, or sharing documents.
You can go to “De Bunn” in the village Well to use the free wireless service, if necessary.

12-networked PCs are available in the computer lab located in the Voorburcht, or forecastle. In addition to Internet Explorer, the PCs have Microsoft Word, Excel, Power Point, Adobe Photoshop, and FrontPage. The lab may also be used for Internet and email access. The lab is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. However, Internet access in the lab is from 8:00 am to 1:00 am.

Bring your original software disks. If you have a hard drive or software issue while at the castle, you might not be able to fix it if you don’t have the software.
Mac users should bring their own VGA adaptor if they think they might need to hook their laptop to a projector for a class presentation.
There is no networked printer at the castle. To print a document you will need to use one of the computers in the lab. For this reason, each participant should bring some kind of portable data storage, either a memory stick or compact flash drive.
If you bring your laptop computer to Kasteel Well, please be aware that you do so at your own risk. As your Kasteel Well Student Contract states, "7. Emerson College and the European Center are not liable for loss of money or valuables, or for loss of or damage to my personal property […] in the residence halls, dining halls, lounges on campus, or during European Center field classes and activities." Also, you are responsible for the operation of your own equipment. The Kasteel Well staff are not computer experts, and while they may be able to assist with connectivity issues, they cannot repair your computer if it is not running properly. However, you may still consult with the IT desk here in Boston via email at helpdesk@emerson.edu if you are having problems.
If you have any questions, call the IT Help Desk at 617-824-8080 or stop by the office on the 4th floor of 120 Boylston Street before you leave Boston.