Scott Klumb has made a significant impact in the world of filmmaking, blending creativity and purpose to tell powerful stories. Specializing in action sports and documentaries on neurodiversity, he is the founder of SMK Media, based in Boulder, Colorado. Over the years, Klumb has built a reputation for innovation and excellence, collaborating with major media outlets like ESPN and establishing himself as a respected filmmaker. A cornerstone of his career is his unwavering commitment to autism advocacy. Drawing from his own experiences as an individual on the autism spectrum, he creates deeply personal and inspiring documentaries, including Autism: One Man’s Journey and Autism Ability. These films, recognized globally and featured in multiple festivals, have earned him prestigious accolades such as the Warner Entertainment Best Editor Award. Beyond his documentaries, Klumb’s expertise in action sports cinematography, photography, live event streaming, and public speaking showcase his versatility across creative platforms. Through his work, Klumb not only entertains audiences but also fosters understanding and awareness of vital social issues, cementing his role as a visionary voice in the industry. With his extensive background in visual storytelling, Klumb brings a unique perspective to the role of film speed in shaping creative styles.
Film speed or ISO in photography represents a film’s sensitivity to light. The higher the number, the higher the sensitivity. ISO has also become a stylistic tool that shapes the mood, texture, and emotional resonance of an image.
ISO determines the picture’s contrast profile, including exposure possibilities and grain structure. Although digital photography allows photographers to change the ISO from shot to shot, film photography remains more rigid, locking them into the ISO for the entire roll. It makes choosing an ISO a deliberate effort during artistic planning and a commitment to a specific visual language for the next couple of frames.
Film speed comes from the size and composition of its light-sensitive materials, such as silver halide crystals in black-and-white film or dye couplers in color film. High-speed films contain larger crystals that capture light quickly, making them well-suited for low-light conditions. The speed produces a coarser and more textured image, giving photos a raw, expressive quality.
Low-speed films use much smaller, tightly packed crystals that create ultra-smooth images with refined detail, but they require more light to achieve proper exposure. The resulting grain interacts with light and contrast in subtle ways, often making high-ISO film appear more alive and tactile than its digital counterpart. The organic irregularities in the grain add a sense of depth and presence that digital noise cannot perfectly replicate.
The importance of ISO extends beyond adjusting brightness; it also influences the mood and storytelling attributes of pictures. A low ISO setting, between 50 and 100, produces negatives with exceptionally fine grain and smooth tonal gradation, ideal for scenes that require maximum clarity and subtle detail, as in the case of sweeping landscapes, carefully lit studio portraits, or precise architectural compositions. Low ISO settings lead to polished and refined images.
Medium ISO, between 200 and 400, offers a more versatile option that allows a balanced blend of manageable grain and adaptability. The ISO setting suits travel photography, events with unstable lighting conditions, and environmental portraits. ISO settings between 800 and 3200 typically have a noticeable grain structure and add realism and grit to regular photographs.
Further, ISO serves as one corner of the exposure triangle, working alongside aperture and shutter speed to shape technical and creative choices. Shooting with a low ISO requires photographers to open the aperture wide or use a slower shutter speed. It leads to intentional artistic effects, such as shallow depth of field or motion blur, which adds mood to an image. In contrast, high ISO allows faster shutter speeds, which can freeze motion even in dim light. While this comes with a grainier look, that grain becomes part of the visual style, adding character and texture.
Many iconic films have specific speeds that define their style and applications. For example, Kodak Tri-X 400 offers flexibility, bold grain, and deep contrast, making it a favorite for documentary and street photography. Kodak Portra 400 delivers smooth results with fine grain and beautiful skin tones, ideal for portraits and versatile enough for varied lighting.