Question About Photography Style

Some people love grain and add it artificially, that's why Potoshop CC offers a filter which adds extra grain. Your image looks cool and different!

Thanks, Elizabeth. Affirmation is so helpful. (I don't use PS,didn't know about that.).........Thanks, also.....'cool and different'.......
I was very unsure whether this style works, or , is even acceptable.

I love grain for certain images: black and white and sepia. The noir effect for B&W and it gives an old world look to sepia.

Thanks Jessica, I appreciate the insight. I've found a few of my ink sketches of Sydney, and am going to try your process......yours are lovely indeed.

I've never put grain in but I've added heavy texture effects to some and am concerned that if they ever did sell they'd be rejected by FAA QA, I wouldn't think so since it's an obviously added artistic effect but you never know....and they'd have to sell first anyway. lol

as long as you can convince the printing staff, it should be fine. film has a grain, mostly you want to avoid noise, mostly blotchy rainbow noise.


----Mike Savad
http://www.MikeSavad.com

I like the grain effect to some photos and when it's obvious that it has been added in purpose can create great artistic images.

Jessica is right: on black and white and "noir" type of photos it creates a nice effect of mystery, photo journalistic from old times - same with monochromatic (sepia included) images.

I also like to play (I used more in the past) a lot in PS with all kind of effects, like you did above :)

I used my own presets too, but I was never sure if it was a good thing to do or not, because of the subjectivity... ;)

Mike, thanks. That helps clarify noise/blotchy vs grain.
David...too right....a tag,perhaps,to indicate 'grainy-by-design"?..lol
Tatiana....exactly....I'm playing,too....which is why I asked. Thanks....
....subjectivity plays a big part in what I explore too.

Viva,

I know that's why you asked :) Keep playing experimenting and exploring - this is "art" in my opinion...

I should go back to my old habits as well, only that my life has changed a little - hey, nothing is static.

I figure there's no going back.........and my future's short, lol, so I'm gung ho to keep on keeping on,playing.....it's all such
a luxury, and change, yes, has affected me, too, hence computer art vs 'smelly/beautiful,receptive,rich,.....oil paint'..........
The nicest thing for me, is to be here, among (mostly) like minds, and to discuss Art......
Thanks everyone.

plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose


..........

Viva;

I think it's great that you are " gung ho to keep on keeping on, playing"... with your style of art.

Digital photography has been around now for so long, that many younger people today may simply not be familiar with the the presence of "grain" in photographs produced from some films and cameras of the past. So perhaps it is not necessary to "focus" on using that term to describe your art.

Just continue being creative and keep on trying new things that you like... then add it to your collections here. Wondering what happens next can be fun.

Best wishes!

In most cases I prefer not to have much grain, but occasionally it can add a softness, and perhaps convey a sense of something old. I have done a few still lifes where I especially like graininess.

Thank you Mel, and Ira.
Appreciate you both, for your helpful,encouragement, and sharing here.

My process for these two experiments was to shoot in pitch dark, flash only. Then I boosted the light to max, in process,
and this is the outcome......Shattered grainy colours...WHAT FUN!

I agree with Ira. A little grain in my scanned film images is ok, but I prefer no grain in my digital work.

Viva, everything goes, everything is aceptable. There are no limits except what you choose. Those who impose limits on others simply aren't open minded.

That said, my personal preference is grain in limited use. I've done it with a few shots, but in general I don't use it.

It looks fine to me, as mentioned, if sold they might delay the sale while the contacted you or the buyer.

Originally grain was something produced in the fil process, especially in hi ISO film. Some have used it artistically while other abhor it. I kind of like it. I had some images produced with hi ISO slide film and they were a hit at shows but never sold.

In the digital age you have what is called noise and sometimes that is called grain. It is to be avoided at all costs and anyone that thinks it is artistic is fooling them selves. And please i don't want to see examples of good noise because I won't look at them.

Now you have filters that add grain. This is neither film grain nor digital noise. It is just an effect.
In any case grain is a red flag for image reviewers after a sale, but you can get past it. Just keep doing what you like.

I think there should be a purpose for grain and if it adds to the mood of the image. There are filters that offer an analog look to images. Like old time photos.

Seems, with thanks, that what I needed to understand is about noise,too. Thanks for that.
Also, the two/mine are not unlike
choosing a filter, but not as subtle !
I like my new-found shattered light from darkness,
and not fearful of criticism now.
Gonna fly with this a while.
Thank you all.
Agree......do what you like.....stylishly, yessssss

I call it texture.....its a matter of taste. Some may like a lot of noise and some may be repulsed by it. In my profession I was taught that learning, knowing and mastering the rules comes first then you can push the envelope and invent/create

... but if you're photographing grapes - never mix the grain with it!!! :)

Here are my two cents.

An added or enhanced grain, like other Photoshop effects, could be good and could be bad. A lot of people are using now Photoshop (and similar tools) effects. And that have changed the balance.

Most viewers now have seen images with those effects many times. We live now in the age, where viewers (educated about Photoshop effects), are everywhere. And what those users see typically? - They see that in most cases those effects are not blended with an original image naturally and they look like an artificial modification. Therefore now - if you want to use such effects - than to stand out you need to do it with a good taste.

"two experiments was to shoot in pitch dark, flash only. Then I boosted the light to max, in process,
and this is the outcome......Shattered grainy colours...WHAT FUN! "

Sounds like "enhanced noise" to me.

In music this would be known as feedback.

Why can't we get the quality control folks here to weigh in on this? They might find noise/grain issues confusing...

Robert, your avatar picture would work well with added grain IMO. I think it has some already... am I wrong?

There was a time when "grain" was used in an image for artistic effect, but you could also tell that it was. Incidental graininess caused simply by inherent "noise" can also be a deterrent or detriment to an image if it's purely a by-product. I guess using "grain" used for artistic means can be acceptable while incidental grain can just be noise which degrades an image. A small amount of inherent grain is generally acceptable in most images while excessive grain caused by too little light or over sharpening is bad for business.

Thanks everyone. Yuri, spot on.
Edward...........exactly what I was worried about.....'enhanced noise'.....it's an anachronism, and blinded me, so I opened this thread,
...........and.........the experiment worked, for my purpose......to see the 'shattered light'.........but, it might also be as you say, among
the mavens of photography.......and yet and yet.........we are living 'today' with enhanced over the top everything........
So
I guess..........it's the Artist's choice ..........to scream or be subtle, no matter the audience of 'today', so used to advertising screaming
at us.
To add.........i reallllllly loved the experience of a)photographing this in the dark as a challenge, and b)the outcome, for better or worse,

I got what I wanted about the light thru my process , thru the shoot in darkness......I'm way past 'perfection'.....prefer experimenting,
which is Not an apology.
Also.............re sales of this sort of thing......I do wonder.........whether 'now' people want to live with this "enhanced noise."! even
if..........I call it............'shattered light'..................
...............................................

Personally I always associate grain with shooting high ISO film in low light situations (esp B&W film), something that was pretty much unavoidable back in those days and could add a lot of atmosphere to shots. Nowadays it's one of those filters that can be added to almost anything with a click of button, personally I'd be careful with adding it to images but if you're looking for an old fashioned / vintage look it would be great to play with

Good advice, James, and thank you, especially, for your thoughts.

What's so interesting to me, apropos your valued input, is that in my case
I went from dark/flash to light, to see the effects of the flash on the
textures,background of my pix......loved them as revelations, visuals that
stand on their own, maybe: that's my 'quest'........we shall see.................

I love the chartreuse green grain as well as the neon colors of other works I've seen of yours. I'm a huge fan! I think "it's time and trend" are on the horizon because it's so nostalgic in fashion and yet completely outside the box of what is trendy for people my age, but the young people are soooooooo very nostalgic and yet trendy. I know you follow your heart and not trends, but damn...keep doing what gives you passion, you are right there where it matters. There seems to be an audience for this art in the store I manage and I would say keep up the effort cause it's amazing.

I can see it working somewhere, but not on MY walls. It's that old "eye of the beholder" thing and my eyes are not beholding. The colors are too jarring, would wake me up at night.

Doug, fair enough, good 'call'......it blinds me too...........it is/was 'just the beginning'.......

Lisa.........it is just the beginning, for me, and am loving the trip....though thanks you so much, b/c,
I'm not thinking beyond my square, as to the audience for this direction/fun,indulgence.........

What thrills me is thIS seems to me secrets of the camera's eye,and that I wanted to see it that way,
so..........
here 'tis............"Shattered - Light"...........revealed, after all the process I mentioned.....what fun!

ABOVE

Shattered - Light....the camera's view......after process....an experiment...