What does it mean when someone says "there is a lot of noise in that picture"?

Question

I am trying to teach myself some photography, and I came across a site that was talking about noise in pictures. I would appreciate it if anyone could help me out here.
Thanks in advance

Answer 1

That's a picture that is grainy. Sometimes artistically you might want to put noise ijto a picture so Photshop gives you that option in the Filters menu you can add noise to the pictures...........

Answer 2

Each pixel in a camera sensor contains one or more light sensitive photodiodes which convert the incoming light (photons) into an electrical signal which is processed into the color value of the pixel in the final image. If the same pixel would be exposed several times by the same amount of light, the resulting color values would not be identical but have small statistical variations, called "noise". Even without incoming light, the electrical activity of the sensor itself will generate some signal, the equivalent of the background hiss of audio equipment which is switched on without playing any music. This additional signal is "noisy" because it varies per pixel (and over time) and increases with the temperature, and will add to the overall image noise. It is called the "noise floor". The output of a pixel has to be larger than the noise floor in order to be significant (i.e. to be distinguishable from noise).

Answer 3

'noise' typically refers to the relative sharpness of a photo. Several factors can influence this. In traditional, black and white photography, noise may result from the use of a high ISO film. For example, pictures developed from 800 speed film tends to be 'noisier' than those from 100 speed film because the silver halide crystals that make up the light sensative surface of the film are are larger on higher ISO film. This means that they tend to react more sensatively to light, but it also means that the surface of the film is made up of larger particles. This is what is sometimes referred to as the 'grain' of a fim. The finer the grain, the finer the possible detail and sharpness of the photo. Also, as film is enlarged the final picture gets noisier, again due to the individual particles getting increasingly large. A similar effect can be seen when you try to enlarge digital photos exessively - the photos become pixelated. In color and digital photography, shooting at a high ISO (such as in a low-light situation) can create 'color noise' - this can be seen as seemingly random patterns of pixels that seem to not have color uniformity with surrounding pixels.

Answer 4

Noise refers to grains in a photograph. This happens when photos are taken in low light conditions. Using high ISO settings in cameras creates noise as it offsets for more light capture.

Noise can be good or bad for a photograph. Noise enhances texture of a photograph. Professional photo retouchers add subtle noise overlays to a photograph so that it brings out more depth and texture to a photo composition.

Noise is never good when the grains are very harsh and contrasting against the subject matter or parts of the photograph.

Things to take note, noise generally occurs often in low light environment. Noise is often associated with "moire", "halo", "artifacts"; undesirable flaws in a photo. It is always preferable to use lower ISO setting and longer shutter speeds to reduce significant noise.

Answer 5

Noise is usually associated with digital pictures not film. In film it would be referred to as grain or being grainy. Both are caused by taking pictures with film or settings used in low light mainly. The responsiveness of the film or the digital camera Charged Coupled Device (CCD) to very low light makes the picture sort of speckled. It looks like a TV with "noise" or interference in the signal.

Answer 6

I think a lot of photographers talk about noise they are referring to a number of things. The picture isn't in focus, it's dirty meaning when developed off the negative. The negative was dirty and so the picture will now have particles on it. I tend to think also that noise means that when you are photographing something you want just that subject and nothing else. Too much action in the surroundings can cause confusion as to what/who your picture is about. Very good question.

Answer 7

Noise in a still photograph is most likely referring to no centralized point of focus - such as a group of people walking on a street with a newspaper vender hawking his product and a department store employee dressing the window while a cab is stopping to pick up a fare. Individually they are fine but all in the same picture can cause confusion as to what the photographer was trying to convey.

Answer 8

It means that the picture is grainy, try a lower ISO

Answer 9

Grainy. You can clean it with Photoshop

Answer 10

I think it means that there is a lot going on in the picture...