Which term describes the grainy texture that appears in photos, especially at higher ISO?

• A. Noise
• B. White Balance
• C. Exposure
• D. Sharpening

Answer: (A)

Grainy texture that shows up more at higher ISO is noise. When you raise ISO, the camera amplifies the sensor’s signal to look brighter in low light. That amplification also boosts random electronic fluctuations in the sensor and circuitry, which appear as speckles or colored blotches across the image. The effect is most noticeable in shadowed areas or with longer exposures and tends to increase as the sensor’s sensitivity rises. To keep noise down, shoot at the lowest practical ISO, ensure proper exposure so you’re not pushing shadows too hard, and consider noise-reduction options in post or shooting in RAW to preserve more detail. The other terms describe different ideas: white balance adjusts color temperature, exposure controls overall brightness, and sharpening enhances edge contrast and can exaggerate noise if overdone, but they are not the grain itself.