PSA: A guy at the Tacoma camera swap said my photos looked 'too clean'

He pointed at a shot I took of the old ferry dock and said the shadows were blocked up, that I was scared of grain. I switched from HP5 at box speed to pushing it to 1600 in Rodinal for my next roll. The difference in mood, especially in the rain shots from last month, is huge. Anyone else get pushed to try a rougher look that ended up working for them?

2 comments

2 Comments

juliam401mo ago

Honestly, I used to be all about that clean, perfect shot. Thought grain was just a mistake. But then I tried pushing some Kentmere to 1600 in my basement bathroom. The way it made my shots of the rusted-out factory near my place look, all gritty and real? Totally changed my mind. That rough texture just adds something a clean file never could.

fionarodriguez1mo ago

Wow, that's a cool story @juliam40. So do you now plan for the grain when you shoot, or is it still a happy surprise when you develop? It seems like that texture really connects the photo to the real place.