Inspirations - How to create Multiple Exposure Images from an Aquarium
A Multiple Exposure Photography Image of Jellyfish
Aquariums are treasure troves of photographic inspiration, offering a window into the magical world beneath the waves, without needing to dive in! During a visit to the Monterey Bay Aquarium in California over Easter, I was instantly captivated by the otherworldly beauty of the jellyfish. Their graceful movement and glowing translucence drifting through dark water felt like photographing dreams. I knew right then that I wanted to create a collection centred around these mesmerising creatures. Alongside them, the hypnotic motion of shoals of fish - moving as one in perfect unison - offered a completely different kind of magic. Together, they opened up a world of fluid motion, light, and texture that begged to be explored through the lens. From the start, I knew I wanted to produce fantasy-style images, so I took each photograph with post-processing in mind, already imagining the layers, textures, and painterly effects I’d use to bring this underwater world to life in a creative, expressive way.
The jellyfish image above was created using a blend of post-processing techniques that allowed me to echo the other worldly quality of these incredible creatures. I combined a couple of sky layers to introduce softness and depth, along with an ICM (Intentional Camera Movement) sea layer—the vertical lines you can spot in the background come from this. To bring in a little extra atmosphere and texture, I added a layer of white paint, which, if you're familiar with my style, won’t come as a surprise! It’s one of my favourite ways to add a painterly, expressive touch.
Multiple Exposure Photography Image of Fish
The fish image above is a double exposure of the shoal, although the elements were combined in post-processing. I layered in a couple of sunset skies—ones with only a few wisps of cloud—to create a contrasting background and add a touch more fantasy to the overall feel. I love how the subtle textures and tones work with the fluid movement of the fish, giving the image an almost painted quality. There’s a strong sense of direction and intention in the way they swim together, as if they’re gliding purposefully through an imagined world.
Multiple Exposure Photography Image of Jellyfish
The jellyfish image above appears to have little sparkles floating through it, but in reality, this effect comes from a yellow textured wall (yes yellow!) layered using the ‘divide’ blend mode. It’s a look I’ve only recently discovered, and I love how it can create the illusion of falling snow or shimmering light. In this case, it added just the right amount of texture and a touch of sparkle to complement the ethereal nature of the jellyfish. Unlike some of my other images, I chose to keep the intense blue of the aquarium background here - it felt true to the mood I experienced when watching these creatures drift by in real life.
This next image features a dense shoal of sardines, captured in a clear tunnel that arched above a corridor - giving the incredible sensation of being surrounded as the fish rushed overhead in waves. I started by taking some shots with a high shutter speed to freeze the movement, but quickly switched to a slower shutter to capture more fluidity and motion blur. That change helped convey the energy and flow of the shoal. Later, I added sunset skies in post-processing to shift the colour palette and introduce a stronger leading line through the composition, guiding the viewer’s eye and enhancing the sense of movement within this layered, imaginative world. Which shutter speed do you prefer?
A Multiple Exposure Photography Image of a Jellyfish
Lastly, I wanted to celebrate the beautiful, sculptural form of the jellyfish itself, making it the absolute star of the show. For this image, I layered in a sunset sky and added my signature touch of white paint to soften the overall composition and draw attention to the delicate shape. The colours worked well to enhance the jellyfish’s natural glow. I experimented with flipping the image to have it pointing upwards, but it just didn’t feel right - so I kept it in its original orientation, gently drifting downward through the frame.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this little dive into my creative process! If you get the chance, take an afternoon and find yourself a nearby aquarium—you won’t be disappointed. There’s so much beauty and movement to capture, and it’s the perfect starting point for creating your own fantastical images from the deep.
If you liked this post, feel free to leave a comment below—I’d love to hear your thoughts. You might also enjoy exploring some of my other blogs, sign up to my newsletter or why not take things further and join me on one of my courses or workshops? I'd love to see what you create!
