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Multiple Exposures
I'm not a great fan of special effect
photography. I used to be when I started taking pictures. I still have dozens of special
effect filters. You name the filter and I have it. I haven't used them in a long time but
must admit, they are fun to play with. I prefer to photograph thing as they are. I use
polarizing or graduated filters to balance exposure or boost colors, but see no reason to
add a rainbow filter to create a fake rainbow. Even when I scan my images, I don't spend
hours manipulating them by cutting and pasting objects that were not there when I took the
shot. I try to make my images match the original as closely as I possibly can. Don't get
me wrong. I have nothing against digital, darkroom, or camera special effects. Actually,
if you can be creative and artistic, by all means do whatever you can with your pictures
to make them even better.
Multiple exposure is another way to create some unusual effects without filters. I haven't
used this technique in a long time and when I did, I didn't do a good job. Making multiple
images is easy. What is difficult is being creative. I have used this technique to add the
moon to a moonless landscape or city skyline. You can use multiple exposure to do much
more. You must keep in mind one important factor when making multiple exposures. You must
adjust exposure for each shot or you will overexpose. For two exposures, you need to
underexpose each shots by one full stop. You can either set ISO to one faster setting or
dial -1 stop of exposure compensation. If you want to use the ISO setting with ISO 100 for
example, you would set the ISO dial to ISO 200 to take each shot. Make sure to reset the
ISO back to original setting or if using the compensation dial, zero the dial or you will
underexpose remaining frames.
If you like to make more than two exposures, you must reduce exposure more than one stop.
For three shots, reduce exposure by 1 2/3 stops, for four exposure 2 stops, for six
exposure 2 2/3 stops, for eight exposures 3 stops and so on. You can use exposure
compensation or ISO setting for multiple exposures as well. If you want to make eight
exposures, set compensation dial to -3 setting. If you prefer to use the ISO setting,
multiply the ISO number times the number of exposures you want to make. To make four
exposures on ISO 100 film, set ISO dial to 400: 100 x 4= 400. Metering is done as usual.
Meter the scene and adjust settings and then underexpose shots depending on the number of
exposures you want to make. By the way, if background is black such as night sky, no
exposure compensation is necessary.
You can also make double exposures by using double exposure filters. These are half black
and half clear. Place the filter over the lens and cover half the frame. Take the first
shot then rotate the filter and take the second shot. No exposure compensation is needed
for this technique since the dark half won't allow the light to expose the film.
Most current SLRs have multiple exposure capability with some even adjusting exposure
automatically. If you are using an older manual focus camera, you can take multiple
exposures by pressing the rewind button and advancing the shutter while holding the rewind
knob down to prevent it from turning.
I looked through my files to find a good example of multiple exposure to place it on this
page. Since I don't use this technique often, I couldn't find a good example. The ones I
have are from the first days of my photography and believe me, you don't want to see them!
Cokin Creative Filter A346
Double Exposure
Cokin's double
exposure filter is composed of a black mask which covers half of the surface of
the lens, permitting two successive exposures & allowing you to place the same
subject in your picture twice (or insert another subject)
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