Grain (41)

Requirement

• 1 or more images

Purpose

• To practice the technique of introducing grain into images
• To explore the creative use of grain in photography

Technical learning

• Grain is a by-product of prints from film photography, especially in monochrome and the larger the image 
• It lends a textural effect, particularly in tonally flat areas (e.g. sky)
• Some see grain as attractive in its own right. Others use it for effect: e.g. Bill Brandt (see below)
• Creating grain in film depends on film type but can be created by underexposing by 2 stops and then push processing by the same amount
• Creating grain (noise) in digital photography van be created by using a high ISO or adding in post-production using specialist software

Top Withens, Bill Brandt, 1945

Exercise instructions

• Produce one or more grainy images

Images and Review

Hay fields in Somerset

Processing removes colour but adds 

• Drama to flat image, especially the sky
• Impression of being shot 50 years+ ago

Converted to BW and Grain added
using Nik Silver Efex Pro 2

Original