I've been watching a few Werner Herzog films lately in an effort to expose myself to the German language more, and was wondering a bit about his style. For instance, he seems to be fond of grainy shots of deserted landscapes; is there a reason for the grainnyness? It seems so incongruous with the rest of the film.
Also, sometimes he has the extraneous characters in a scene stand stock still, as if they were pieces of furniture. It draws more attention to them than it would if they acted naturally; why does he do this?

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I know of him but do not think from memory that I have seen any movies. Are there some in particular that you would recommend?

I did find an interesting fact that he came across Joaquin Phoenix in a car accident and helped him out of the wreckage, phoned for an ambulance and then vanished.

He likes grit. He is almost in the same 'club' as Paul Verhoeven. They both like to be visceral and gritty, though Herzog leans more toward gritty than visceral.
I like Herzog's long scenes without cuts, you don't see much of that these days. Hence, people thought 'Rescue Dawn' was not paced quick enough, they are used to quick and rather pointless cuts.
The actors really have to act when its one continuous scene. No cuts, no edits.
I don't find the 'stock still' thing bothers me at all. I can't say I have ever really noticed it. 'Fitzcaraldo', 'Guirre' and so forth are so lush, epic and interesting that something like stagnant extras just doesn't register.
I will have to pay special attention to that next time I watch a Herzog film.
IMO he has quite a lot going on in the background.
The only Herzog so far that I didn't enjoy was 'Nosferatu'. Though Kinsky is great, all scenes sans him are dull and plodding, not like the films I previously mentioned.

Everything Herzog does he does because he's so freakin' awsome. The mans a genius, 'nuff said.

He is often associated with the German New Wave movement.To understand him, you have to be genius.