Grain in the Frame
February 7 – March 21, 2026
Laura Jaeger, Palm Canyon, Nikon FM3A, Kodak Portra 400
Jan Watten, Berkeley Fescue, Holga, Kodak Tri-X
Andrew Chasin, Grazing, Holga 120N, Ilford HP5+
Arvian Heidir, Jessie Square Reflection, Leica M7, Ilford HP5+
Michael Mangus, Ft. McDowell Hospital, Toyo 45CF, Ilford HP5+
Bill Helsel, Empty Factory, Cosina, Kodak TMax 400
Adam Chin, Katsuo, Osaka, Hasselblad 503CW, Ilford HP5+
Aviv Delgadillo, Sale Pending, Rolleiflex MX-EVS, Fujifilm Acros 100
Alex Starfield, Passerby, Pentax 6x7 MLV, Kodak Gold 200
Nadine Defranoux, 0.53' (S8025c0082F), Zenit Quartz, Kodak 50D
Westeigh, Untitled, Mamiya 645 Pro TL, Ilford HP5+
Ken Banks, Mystery Woman, Leica M4, Kodak Tri-X Expired
Jeff Heyman, Stool at Sunset, Hasselblad 500C, Fujifilm Acros II
Rob Hamner, Loney Pierce Point Road, Yashica Mat 124G, Kodak TMax
About
Grain in the Frame celebrates the vitality of contemporary film photography and the enduring practice of working with analog cameras and photographic film. In an era dominated by digital immediacy, these Bay Area photographers choose the slower, more deliberate process of analog image-making—embracing grain, material process, and the irreplaceable quality of light captured on film.
Film photography continues to shape contemporary photographic practice. Working with formats ranging from 35mm film and medium format cameras to large format photography, the artists in this exhibition demonstrate how analog methods remain central to the visual language of photography today. The subtle texture of photographic grain, the tonal depth of film negatives, and the discipline required when every frame counts create images that feel materially connected to the act of seeing.
From black-and-white film photography and traditional silver gelatin prints to color film, darkroom prints, and archival pigment prints made from film negatives, each photographer brings their own vision to the medium. Some artists print entirely in traditional darkrooms, while others translate film negatives through contemporary digital workflows. Together, these works reflect the evolving relationship between analog photography and modern photographic practice.
More than a nostalgic return to older technologies, Grain in the Frame explores why photographers continue to choose film today. Film slows the process of making photographs. It demands attention to light, patience in composition, and a willingness to embrace uncertainty. Each exposure becomes intentional, each frame a decision rather than an endless series of images.
The result is a collection of photographs that reward sustained looking. Grain becomes part of the visual language of the image, not a flaw but a signature of the medium itself. These photographs remind us that film photography remains a living practice—one that continues to shape how photographers see, interpret, and record the world.
Featuring work by:
Adam Chin, Alex Starfield, Alexander Iglesias, Andrew Chasin, Arvian Heidir, Aviv Delgadillo, Bill Helsel, Jan Watten, Jeff Heyman, Jerome Szymczak, Ken Banks, Laura Jaeger, Michael Mangus, Nadine Defranoux, Rob Hamner, and Westeigh.
On view: February 7 – March 21, 2026
Opening Reception: February 7, 2–4 PM
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Adam Chin Alex Starfield Alexander Iglesias Andrew Chasin Arvian Heidir Aviv Delgadillo Bill Helsel Jan Watten Jeff Heyman Jerome Szymczak Ken Banks Laura Jaeger Michael Mangus Nadine Defranoux Rob Hamner Westeigh
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February 7 - March 21, 2026
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Film Photography
35mm, medium format, and large format · Darkroom, pigment, digital prints
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16 photographs