Talking to a retired photographer changed how I see film grain

I was at a local camera swap meet in Portland last Saturday and got to chatting with a guy named Frank who shot weddings on 35mm for 40 years. He told me he never pushed Tri-X past 400 because he liked the grain exactly where Kodak designed it, and that hit me different after I'd spent weeks trying to get grainy results from underexposed rolls. Now I'm wondering if I've been chasing the wrong look this whole time, has anyone else had a pro change their mind on something basic like that?

2 comments

2 Comments

bell.taylor19d ago

Wow, that's incredible. I can't believe he never pushed Tri-X past 400 in all those years. I would have figured a wedding shooter would need to push for low light in churches and reception halls all the time. But hearing that he trusted the film's base look that much makes me rethink my own approach. Sometimes we overcomplicate things trying to get a certain result instead of just letting the film do what it was made to do.

terrymitchell19d ago

Not sure it's that deep honestly. One guy did it his way for years and it worked for him. That doesn't mean shooting at 800 or 1600 is wrong or overcomplicating things. Churches can be seriously dark, and a flash isn't always an option or the look you want. Some people like that pushed look, some don't. End of the day it's just film, not some sacred rulebook. Use what works for you where you're shooting, your mileage is gonna vary.