What is Multiple Exposure Photography?

Multiple Exposure of flower buds with a paint overlay

So, it may feel a bit weird to be reading about What Multiple Exposure Photography is after a year’s worth of blogs on how to make these creations with different subjects but I thought it was about time to re examine what I thought it was.

Prograde Digital website give this definition:

In photography, the term “double exposure” refers to a technique where two or more exposures are made on the same piece of film or digital media.

I would agree with this although the idea of more the two layers being referred to as a double exposure doesn’t sit well with my scientific brain! I do think it’s a great definition of multiple exposure though, mainly because it is referring to film and digital media.

With film this refers to the same frame in the camera, and with the Oxford English dictionary listing the first uses of the phrase from the 1910s it is easy to imagine this being done accidentally and on purpose, particularly with wind on film cameras. The digital media I would take as referring to both the exposure on the SD card that is capturing an image - an ‘in camera’ multiple exposure AND an image that has been created digitally through a post processing programme such as Photoshop or Affinity with different exposures blended together.

Multiple Exposure Image of a flower and a texture

I guess the simplest Multiple Exposures that I create are just with the one layer of texture, just to give a little boost to the subject I want to show off. I would still consider those to be multiple exposures as the texture is still an exposure and the combination of the two, whether that is in camera or out of camera, follows the definition. There are so many textures and 21 blend modes (in photoshop, I believe there are more in Affinity) so if I did the maths I would end up at an infinite amount of possibilities for the different look for each of my images. I love this quality of multiple exposure photography, not only can you spend a relaxing evening creating but you can also know you have created something totally unique.

Multiple Exposure Image of a tree in Bushy Park

This was my first type of multiple exposure photography, I loved it, and it got me hooked. This is using the same subject but from slightly different angles and layering them one over the other, lining up one part of the image - in this case the trunk of the tree. I have really enjoyed doing this with lots of different subjects having been inspired by someone I met on a creative photography course (thanks Angelo!) and the introduction to the inspiring Pep Ventosa - whose amazing ‘in the round’ tree series has inspired many a photographer to give this technique a go. Since then I have multiply exposed (yes, yes it is a verb!) flowers, fountains, statues and buildings in this way and for me it still remains one of the most satisfying ways of creating multiple exposures using the camera.

Multiple Exposure Photograph of the Hilltop building at RHS Wisley

Then we have using the same subject but totally changing the orientation which I have had a lot of fun with, particularly over the last 12 months. I like to do this in camera, as, even if later on I decide I need to make the final image out of camera to align a little more perfectly, it gives me a great idea of whether it is a shot that is going to work or not. Much of the time in camera works really well and then I can combine other elements in post processing if I feel so inclined. With this one I added the texture but the 180 degree layers of the building were created in camera.

Woah, I got carried away there! I wanted to show you all the different forms multiple exposure could take -

L-R and top to bottom

To increase the amount of the subject in the frame, give a different to the background of the subject, add squares to add interest.

To make abstract buildings with textures, to mix buildings with the pattern, to use 180 degree buildings and cranes.

To put birds as a layer on different subject, to combine in focus and out of focus images, and to go to town with breakfast pastries!!

I could probably think of another 100 ways I use multiple exposures and I haven’t even started on people or animals yet, so you get the idea. I love this genre and am continually learning more and more about it all the time. I find it makes me feel incredibly creative and relaxed and I so enjoy that feeling of having made a totally unique image. I’ll be back with more techniques of multiple exposure and top tips on how to create them yourself in further blogs - be warned though, it is very addictive!

If you want to see more then do go to my gallery

And if you think that this type of creativity is for you then do check out my courses I would love to meet you and take you through the beginning steps of this amazing genre! Lastly for anything else do get in touch.