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03/21/2007 11:34:31 AM · #1 |
| In the recent challenge where grain was THE challenge, I wondered...when is grain good? |
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03/21/2007 11:41:05 AM · #2 |
I think that's a good discussion question. I had posted shortly after voting on this challenge that I felt like I needed a visit to the eye doctor after viewing these. It seemed like a lot of people just treated it as a free study, shooting whatever they wanted, and added grain to meet the challenge.
I think there are really very few things that *work* with intentional grain. I think the ones that work best are probably using grain to evoke an emotion, or try to emulate "days gone by." I'd enjoy seeing what others think about this. |
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03/21/2007 11:41:13 AM · #3 |
I think grain works best in simple images, where detail isn't the most importaint factor. Also when going for a journalistic or aged look.
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03/21/2007 11:52:33 AM · #4 |
I feel at least 3 types of pictures can work with grain:
1) nostalgia
2) melancholy
3) minimalism (to add texture to otherwise blank spaces or to enhance gradients)
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03/21/2007 11:58:51 AM · #5 |
I agree with Cindi, I think grain works well with simple images. I like that it can create both a feeling of something not to be touched and something "fluffy" at the same time.
I think the grain makes the adges smooth and hides the details, like here:
I also think it helps to create shapes, not contours.
addin: I agree with the texture thing, it really adds some texture.
Message edited by author 2007-03-21 12:00:36. |
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03/21/2007 12:00:54 PM · #6 |
| I had planned a long response here, but while thinking about it realized the best way to explain when grain works for an image is to understand the effect it has on the image. The grain itself is an erosion or deterioration of an image, therefore it works when you working with images that are of a less than perfect world. Subjects that in themselves have suffered erosion, whether form time, toil, emotional stress, any of the forces that take a toll on people and things. |
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03/21/2007 12:03:04 PM · #7 |
| now I want to make a happy image with colors that would work well with grain:) I believe grain can be used in a "positive" photo, especially when it's role is adding texture. |
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03/21/2007 12:11:22 PM · #8 |
Originally posted by silverfoxx:
now I want to make a happy image with colors that would work well with grain:) I believe grain can be used in a "positive" photo, especially when it's role is adding texture. |
Of course there's always the exception
and
there's always one in every crowd. |
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03/21/2007 12:12:02 PM · #9 |
I have seen images where I liked the grain added to it.
However, everything I tried to add grain to, I REALLY didn't like. (challenge submission included)
The only grainy image that I have done in the past that I liked was a civil war reenactment that added an aged feel to it. To bad that none of those were going on during the challenge. |
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03/21/2007 12:22:46 PM · #10 |
| I think grain works well when it helps to give character to shots, predominantly black and white shots. |
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03/21/2007 01:58:32 PM · #11 |
I keep kicking myself for not entering that one, as the mood that image grain can set in a photograph is a favorite for me. Here are a few examples of my own, that in my opinion, the grain makes the shot.
I mainly use it or enhance it in the backgrounds, to add the character.
    
    
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