New Techniques at Cuckmere Haven

I returned to Cuckmere Haven where I first experimented with in camera multiple exposure with the coastline to look at some new techniques and perspectives for multiple exposure but this time in the beautiful hues of the sunset. The above image is the technique I was trying out - a mix of sharp and unfocussed, when this would work with the coastline and whether it could be done in camera and out of camera. It seems that yes in camera worked really well - I like the dreamy feel it gives to this image.

The below are further experiments. Top left was an in camera creation, top right an out of camera mix with an outrageous blend mode! Bottom left is also out of camera but with softer colours and bottom right in camera again. I think the combinations work really well in camera but out of camera you can be more creative and combine more images successfully. It is good to note that this technique can be used in both techniques though, it means it is very versatile and as the results were what I was looking for I would use this again.

The 3 below showed me that even without a large feature this technique can work well. It is harder to find a subject for the image but the out of focus areas work well in the first image. In the third the reflections give it a little extra depth making the image more interesting.

There isn’t an out of focus layer in the middle image but I have included it as I liked the effect that making one layer smaller than the other had on the atmosphere of the picture.

Obviously I couldn’t go down to Cuckmere Haven and only try one technique so I have included an impressionistic image of the seven sisters taking advantage of the lower early evening light and a texture to make the image as dramatic as possible. Below this I have included a little experiment with people on a shingle ridge and an unusual blend mode - sometimes ‘difference’ comes up with the goods!

Both have a texture I really like which adds to the atmosphere of both images and I think really gives a unique view of this iconic location. I think it is lovely to go and take the same image that you have seen somewhere on the internet but it is much more satisfying to create an image that has never been created before. That’s hard with a ‘straight’ image as the angles people tend to use are those which work so finding a new way to portray it which is your own can be really difficult - that’s where I think multiple exposure is so unique.