How to use PS noise (not should I)?

[martcol]

I tried this on critique corner without much success. Here's a B&W baby pic with added noise and without.

http://martcol.fotopic.net/photo.php?id=1391294

http://martcol.fotopic.net/photo.php?id=1382595

Do you think that noise adds anything? More/less? How about a layer mask to reduce the filter in brighter areas? How do you determine how much noise to use. Are these matters of personal taste only?

Martin

[Ikinaa]

martcol wrote:
I tried this on critique corner without much success. Here's a B&W baby pic with added noise and without.

http://martcol.fotopic.net/photo.php?id=1391294

http://martcol.fotopic.net/photo.php?id=1382595

Do you think that noise adds anything? More/less? How about a layer mask to reduce the filter in brighter areas? How do you determine how much noise to use. Are these matters of personal taste only?

Martin

My opinion : I like the pic better without noise
I also think that baby-pics are better with color (I got 2 kids myself, 5 years and 3 months, I only do color)
But again, that's my opinion

[stopbath]

It's extremely personal taste.

Myself, I think noise or grain adds to a photo by creating a mood. Rawness, coursness, boldness, grit and unrefined could be easily exemplified by noise.
On the reverse, a soft filter (glowing highlights, and all around softer feel to the photo) can bring out romance, quietness, and tenderness.

This isn't cut and dried at all as you can still have a grainy romantic photo.

I don't think it works (for me) in your photo example. The picture with noise is blue, but his expression doesn't jive with the coldness of the colour or the grit. He looks more inquisitive but quiet.

The straight black and white is too low key for my tastes. Try raising the hightlights with curves or levels to bring a bit of snap to the photo.

[SemieE]

You should try playing around with the film grain filter in PS.

[martcol]

Thanks for your help. This photo was one of a series I had taken of the baby, it was one of the poorer shots and underexposed. I also confess I forgot my 10D was set to 400 ISO (I wish that was in the viewfinder!)

I had a play with the pic: to B&W then to Add Noise. It's not a photo I'd really keep but I did want to practice the techniques and liked the baby's expression here. I'll definately experiment some more though.

[barnold999]

For this photo, I like it better without grain. The baby has soft features, and the grain takes away from that.