How to: Use multiple exposure photography with TREES as a subject (part 1)

A multiple Exposure Photography image created out of camera - tree and birds

I started my love affair with photographing trees a long time ago. They have always been a fascination to me as they always seem to have that mystical quality. Whether they are dead with spiky branches or full of leafy life they all convey a story and a sense of wisdom. I love photographing all of them and really enjoy processing them in lots of different ways. If you are a fan of the tree then there are loads of ideas in here for you to try! I am right in the middle of a presentation series for the online photography group Camversation on this very subject (March 2025). The above image is from just behind my house and that’s another beautiful thing about trees - they are steps away!

When I started writing this I was only aiming to add a couple of styles but as I went on I realised that there were so many more that I just had to tell you about so there will be a part 2 to this blog in a couple of weeks!!

1. ‘In the round style’ Trees.

This is the best know technique popularised by the incredible Pep Ventosa and I have written about how I got interested in this look in my blog - How to create Multiple Exposure images ‘In the Round’ style (I like to be a bit ronseal and say what I mean with my titles!!!!) which also more about the technique with hints and tips. However very briefly - you take images all the way or part way around the tree with the focus on the subject and keeping it in approximately the same place in the frame. Once in photoshop as layers I line up the trunk, change the fill of all of them to around about 70% and then choose my blend mode - usually, but not always I go for ‘screen’ It’s a great way to capture blossom which is going to be coming into its’ own over the next month. Here are a couple of my favourites….

Multiple Exposure Photography image of a tree ‘in the round’ style created out of camera

A Multiple Exposure Photography Image of a tree ‘in the round’ style created out of camera

Trees with clouds

I have been a bit obsessed since last summer about using clouds as a a texture and have recently been really pleasantly surprised to see that clouds can go fabulously well with trees too! The sky texture should take up the whole of your frame and there really needs to be some interesting clouds in there to make it work properly. These could be lovely pinks and oranges of a sunset or dark and brooding storm clouds. I like to use them with all sorts of trees, including those that I have already multiply exposed before putting the clouds on.

Here’s one with sunsets showing off a twiggy tree - which, incidentally, I have never managed to get to look right before so this one made me very happy! And then a single layer of tree that I have made look much more vintage with a couple of cloud layers. This tree is very special as it fell over in the storms in January and is sadly no more. It was in such a fabulous setting I had so many plans for it…..I will make the most of the images that I have though.

A multiple Exposure Photography Image of a tree with extra cloud layers made out of camera

A Multiple Exposure Photography Image of a tree with layers of clouds created out of camera.

Infra red

You can spend money on an infra red camera or convert an existing one that you own, however you can also use the different blend modes in Photoshop (or Affinity) to create an infra red effect. Of course with your camera the composition can be created ion camera which is beneficial however for a ‘play’ doing some post processing with trees is so much fun! You will need to use the modes difference, subtract, divide and . Which one is really dependent on the subjects you are putting together and this can take time to play with - but it’s the playing that is fun right!?

The first tree here isn’t all white but has that infra red feel to it. I love this tree, it has a such a great shape to it and I drive past it every day. It is an in camera double exposure tree with the birds (and a layer of white paint) with it. I love the inversion of the colours and I think this gives it something special. The second image contains 2 layers of trees. This time, using the blend modes has created a more subtle overall picture. This really shows off the birds on the top of the tree I think.

A Multiple Exposure Photography Image of a tree with an infra red look created out of camera.

A Multiple Exposure Photography Image of trees using blend modes to give it an infra red feel. Created out of camera.

180 Degrees

Now I have created many many images of buildings with that 180 degree or ‘flipped’ look but never really tried it with trees before until now! This can be done in camera as a double exposure or out of camera by making a virtual copy of the image and turning it 180 degrees in Photoshop. You literally turn the camera upside down in between exposures and get funny looks - one of my friends can do it just by turning her wrist but my wrists clearly aren’t made that way!!!! I have really enjoyed experimenting with landscapes and trees in this way - but I am only at the beginning!

The first image is of 2 trees created with an in camera double exposure and I desaturated the final image. I loved the way they are so entwined - to me it looks like they are hugging! The second is a hedgerow that I caught at sunset. I was really pleased with this one as I was only out for about half an hour and I didn’t think this would work! This is also an in camera multiple exposure with no extra adornments - none were needed as grass makes an excellent texture……more of that in part 2!

A Multiple Exposure Photography image created by using a full 180 turn of the camera in between exposures

In camera Multiple Exposure Photography image rotating the camera 180 degrees in between exposures

I hope you have enjoyed these first ideas and feel inspired to go out and play! Or stay on photoshop and play! If you have then please do let me know in the comments and tag me on social media - I always love to hear what you have been up to, it is great to all inspire each other. If you are interested in pursuing multiple exposure further then do come and join me on one of my courses or workshops - I would love to meet you :)