SUNY ESF
Digital Storytelling Studio
Who We Are
- Dr. Benette Whitmore (Chair, Department of Environmental Studies)
- Tyler Flynn Dorholt (Director and Lecturer: Writing, Rhetoric, and Communications Program)
- Courtney Rile, Digital Support Specialist
- Sophie Brown (Graduate Assistant, Dept. of Environmental Studies)
ESF's Digital Storytelling Studio (DSS) offers free digital storytelling services to both students and faculty.
Our aim is to help identify the most dynamic ways to tell a digital story, and to provide technical assistance and storytelling consultation to visitors as they develop projects. At the DSS, we loan audio and visual equipment to support projects such as podcasts, short films, videos, photomontages, storymaps, and other hybrid digital mediums. The studio also serves as a space where students can work on digital projects, and is equipped with four computers and the appropriate editing software.
We believe that exploring the digital elements of scientific storytelling can help amplify the importance of the work that ESF is doing. By examining and capturing everything from a case study to a microscopic exploration of fungi, we will work with visitors to add to the significance of academic projects and community-collaborative endeavors.
Our aim is to help identify the most dynamic ways to tell a digital story, and to provide individualized technical assistance and storytelling consultation to visitors as they develop projects such as podcasts, short films, videos, photomontages, story maps, and other hybrid digital mediums.
At the DSS, we loan audio and visual equipment to support digital projects. The studio also serves as a space where students can work on digital projects, and is equipped with four computers and the appropriate editing software.
For student or faculty inquiries, contact Tyler Dorholt (tfdorhol@esf.edu)
Hours
The DSS is currently located in Moon Library, 014. We will be open during the fall of 2020 but the hours will vary. Please inquire ahead of time about renting equipment and using the editing software (tfdorhol@esf.edu).
Monday-Thursday: 10am to 5pm
Friday: By appointment
DSS Equipment
Access to Equipment
- Students checking out equipment must be enrolled in an ESF class
- Items checked out from the DSS are on a first-come, first-serve basis
- You can make an equipment reservation, or simply come in to the DSS to check something out
- Staff is available to teach you how to use any equipment you are unfamiliar with
Available equipment
- Canon DSLR cameras for user friendly video and still frame photography
- Yeti Mic for high quality recordings made directly on your computer
- Tascam dual mic, portable digital recorder with 4-channel recording, for interviews with clean, consistent audio
- GoPros for photos and video footage on the go and even under water
- iPads to record footage or access online resources
- Accessories including tripods, lenses, a lighting kit, green screen, and much more! Come into the DSS to see all that we have available.
DSS Tutorial videos
Equipment tutorials
The DSS staff has created tutorial videos that teach students how to use our most popular equipment.
- Yeti Microphone tutorial
- DSLR Camera tutorial
- GoPro tutorial video
- Tascam recorder tutorial video: Coming soon!
We have also curated a number of videos that can teach you more about the equipment and editing software, available in the DSS.
Planet Forward Storyfest
Each year, Planet Forward at George Washington University hosts Storyfest, which welcomes college students from across the country to tell their own stories about environmental challenges and solutions. The DSS will be working to encourage and enable students to enter Storyfest 2021, and beyond. Whether you want to write, capture photography or footage, or create your own audio story, we can help you do it in the DSS. Contact Tyler Dorholt at tfdorhol@esf.edu if you'd like to learn more.