Inspirations: Multiple Exposure in January….
Multiple Exposure Photography Image of the foggy and cold UK countryside (and some birds, obviously!)
I thought it would be fun to reflect on what I have been working on throughout January and in this most of wet and miserable months (in the UK anyway) what exactly can you get involved in, so here are some suggestions for what you can go ahead and do - if you are in the UK then this is probably applicable for February as well!
Wear lots of layers and embrace the weather
The above image was taken as the snow that had fallen so pretty and white was being washed away by a deluge of freezing rain. I donned my largest raincoat and went out anyway! I did catch some snowy angles but this turned out to be my favourite from my hour long plod in wellies. It was really foggy as it is likely to be at this time of year in Shropshire and I was excited to find all of these birds posing in a tree AND as I put my camera to my eye they landed on the power lines too! So this is a double exposure out of camera with an extra layer to give some atmosphere. I did toy with black and white but my love of colour won through. Sometimes you just have to get out there - and you will be pleasantly surprised with what you find!
An in camera multiple exposure photography image of the Selfridges building in Birmingham
Go into the city and have regular coffee shop stops
I was leading a workshop in Birmingham and normally I don’t take any images on my workshops but I had only one client who braved the weather with me. We had a fabulous time taking great shots and then popping inside for a coffee or a hot chocolate and reviewing our strategies. This is the amazingly fantabulous Selfridges Building which I simply can’t get enough of photographing. I have been to Birmingham on countless occasions and I still find new angles, new light or even new overlays to combine. On this occasion the sun made a brief appearance raising the temperature from a chilly 2 degrees to about 3 for a short while and gave a bit of blue to this in camera double exposure. Again, wrap up warm and buy some photography gloves and go for it, winter light can be amazing to shoot with. If you fancy joining me on a Birmingham in camera multiple exposure workshop then please do click HERE for more details - the next one will be warmer I promise!
An in camera multiple exposure image using the light blend mode.
Photograph inside
Beat the cold and wet entirely by making your venue covered and with heating! I am running a multiple exposure of the photographers online course and one of the photographers we look at is Scarlet Page so I have been invested in having a go at band photography - multiple exposure style of course! I was lucky enough to photograph the wonderful Halcyon Band for a second time and this time I dabbled in the different in camera blend modes. This one was an experimentation with the light mode and is an in camera double exposure one layer is Dan’s face and the other is part of the stage. I like the colours that it produced and the expression on Dan’s face, I had a wonderful evening - even if the more drunk members of the party they were playing at wanted constant protaits! I have really enjoyed shooting this band - if you want more multiple exposure band tips then click HERE and if you are interested in the photographers course then click HERE for more details.
A multiple exposure photography image combining my love of warm places with birds!
Go abroad
Now this is cheating slightly as strictly speaking I did leave St Lucia on the 31st December but I am including it as it is still a great idea! Without the shackles of coats, gloves, warm socks and thermal underwear suddenly photography becomes brighter and more more fun for extended periods of time. You can also make as many pictures of palm trees as you like, and I do. This was an out of camera multiple exposure which I did make on my return in January. It was sunset in the original image but I have added a layer of extra sunset and another layer of birds which, thanks to the wonderful blend modes in photoshop (in this case subtract) I turned white. I thoroughly recommend a top up of vitamin D by finding some warm sunshine for a while!
A multiple exposure photography image showcasing out of camera techniques
Get cosy and use old images to make new ones
If going out really doesn’t appeal then you can spend some time with a glass of wine, nice music and photoshop. It’s nice to use images from warmer times but really these can be any images of a place you want to remember. I decided after my ‘Dawn to Dusk’ collection on instagram to go for Brilliant Blue to continue with the winter pick me up. This is an out of camera image using the layer with the boat and buoy from Ibiza and an ICM seascape from Cyprus. Both places are happy memories and I am having fun revisiting past destinations in the creation of my new work.
If this article has resonated with you or you go and try one of my tips then do let me know in the comments below, I would love to hear from you. If this has inspired you to give this technique a go yourself then do look at my other blogs or alternatively go for a course - have a browse HERE.
