Lens Media Lab

The Lens Media Lab holds the world’s largest collection of over 7,500 photographic papers from 1890 to 2010. 

This unique collection supports research on the history, authenticity, and preservation of photographic materials. The lab combines traditional photography methods with advanced data science and AI techniques, offering a comprehensive study of photographic materials. 

In an age where darkroom practices are fading, the Lens Media Lab remains a crucial resource for preserving and understanding photography. 

Through its interdisciplinary approach, the lab deepens our academic and cultural appreciation of this important medium.

Recent News

Research Highlights

Discover Paperbase

An interactive visual platform

Paperbase allows users to explore the key physical and visual attribute of gelatin silver photographic papers. It can be used to analyze material characteristics of photographic papers and can add a new level of context to traditional museum metadata. 

Colorful squares in yellow, pink, blue, and purple making an abstract shape to represent a selection of data.

The View From Here

Engaging with young artists through photography

A collaboration with the Yale Center for British Art, the View From Here is a photography course that provides access to the material history of photography through the cellphone camera for New Haven area high school students.

Four people stand with their arms over each other smiling at the camera.

More Research Tools

  • LML's collection in LUX

    LUX is Yale’s innovative cross collections discovery platform that features the LML’s reference collection of photographic papers.

  • History of Photographic Paper Manufacturers

    A collection of essays on the history of photographic paper manufacturers from the Lens Media Lab at Yale University by Joitree Alam.

  • TIPPs: A Materials-Focused Database

    TIPPs allows users to explore the hundreds of photographic samples tipped into international photography journals and manuals published between 1855 and 1900.

  • The LML Backprinting Project

    A catalogue of manufacturer printing applied to the reverse of photographic papers. This information can sometimes be useful in dating prints and identifying papers.

A row of colorful packages of paper from different companies and time periods.