Grainy images

Shoot film :D

Depends what you want if you want noisy images you can push the ISO but this will just look rubbish. There are filters you can apply to add "film grain" which usually look ok. What exactly are you trying to achieve?
 
steveo_mcg said:
Depends what you want if you want noisy images you can push the ISO but this will just look rubbish.
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thats quite a sweeping statement which I will totally disagree with.. there are pictures that can be enhanced wiht higher iso.. give them a gritty look.. esp if you add black/white to the effect.
 
There are actions to download just do a search based on your current editing software.
 
KIPAX said:
thats quite a sweeping statement which I will totally disagree with.. there are pictures that can be enhanced wiht higher iso.. give them a gritty look.. esp if you add black/white to the effect.
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Surely you are better producing the least noisy image possible in camera then adding digital noise to taste, in a controlled manner, if you are looking for that "gritty" feel?
 
there are various filters is PS to allow you to do this.

It may be worth playing with
Add Noise
Texture > Grain

and various others.


Phil V said:
There are actions to download just do a search based on your current editing software.
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I know everyones different, but I think by just using (paid or free) actions we risk a whole heap of photographers who have no idea how to edit
 
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steveo_mcg said:
Surely you are better producing the least noisy image possible in camera then adding digital noise to taste, in a controlled manner, if you are looking for that "gritty" feel?
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I agree.
 
Use the Grain controls in Lightroom.
 
KIPAX said:
thats quite a sweeping statement which I will totally disagree with.. there are pictures that can be enhanced wiht higher iso.. give them a gritty look.. esp if you add black/white to the effect.
Click to expand...

Shhhhh........ You're giving away my secret photo recovery technique called "arty B&W" ;) :lol:
 
KIPAX said:
thats quite a sweeping statement which I will totally disagree with.. there are pictures that can be enhanced wiht higher iso.. give them a gritty look.. esp if you add black/white to the effect.
Click to expand...

There is a very clear distinction between the grain of film and the noise of high ISO digital images. If you want a grainy image, then high ISO digital isn't the place to start. And very high ISO noise (up into the reals where you have to enable the high ISO settings) is rarely pretty. Although I am sure there are lots of examples that are the exception.
 
When I am after a film grain look for either colour or B&W, I add a real film grain layer in photoshop and then get the exact look I am after by using various blending modes, plus tweaking opacity and adjusting grain size by rescaling. If you would like a digital copy of my genuine file grain, then please send me your details in a PM.

Sam-D
 
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I attempted to get a grainy shot without 'adding' grain pp. The shot below was done using high ISO, B&W conversion and 'aggresive' sharpening:

Exposure 1/640
Aperture f/16.0
Focal Length 75 mm
ISO Speed 12800


iron lady by felix rufus, on Flickr
 
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