Group Exhibition

Grain in the Frame

February 7 – March 21, 2026

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 embrace a slower, more deliberate process of image-making—one rooted in materiality, craft, and the unique qualities of light captured on film.

Working with formats ranging from 35mm and medium format cameras to large format photography, the artists in this exhibition demonstrate how analog methods continue to shape contemporary photographic practice. The texture of grain, the tonal depth of film negatives, and the discipline required when every frame counts create images that remain deeply 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 a distinct approach to the medium. Some artists work entirely within the darkroom, 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. It demands attention to light, patience in composition, and a willingness to embrace uncertainty. Each exposure becomes intentional, each frame a deliberate decision.

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 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.

Interested in work from this exhibition?

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East of Our Youth, West of Our Future

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Alameda Photographic Society