Grainy Photographs?

[Jazzyvazzy]

Hello, this is my first post.

I was wondering if someone could help me out. I am wondering how to take grainy photographs. The kind that you sometimes see in photographs from dirty jazz clubs of the 1940s and 50s.

I use a Rolleiflex TLR from 1954. And I use ADOX CHS 100 film (100 ISO).

As I understand, in the 40s/50s, 100 ISO was considered "High Speed" film.

So how could I get grain without uping the ISO?

Thanks alot and I would be greatfull of replys!

Lewis

[olipop]

Difficult to get much grain from an inherently fine grain 100 ISO film. About the only way I know would be to under expose about a stop, over develop in a powerful, course soup like DK-50 or even Dektol paper developer and then greatly enlarge a very small portion of the negative. Even modern high speed films are relatively fine grain, but starting with one of them will give you the desired result more easily. I once got ahold of some old Royal X Pan roll film (rated 1250 ISO), shot it at 3000 ISO and developed in DK-50 and got grainy contact sheets!

[Agnostic]

Get some film that's long past it's use by date. I have some Tri-X that's 25 years past and it gives loads of grain whatever I develop it in.

Alternatively you could try to develop in Rodinal and use higher temps and more agitation than usual.

It would also help if you get some faster film, at least 400 ISO.

The truth is that the Jazz photos you are referring to were probably shot on 35mm film and pushed by several stops. Both of those help create grain.