How to Take a Multi Exposure Photograph
Taking a multi-exposure photograph will give you very nice translucent effects full of depth and motion in some cases. The best multi-exposure photographs can show an object in motion, create expressive and beautiful collages of color and light, or even show the progression of time, like a moon rising and falling across the sky--all in a single frame. You can take multiple exposures with even a simple film camera that has a self timer, or with a more expensive professional camera that has a multi-exposure setting you can program any way you like. You can create digital multi-exposures with Photoshop or with more expensive digital cameras, but for the beginner with a simple film camera, here's what to do.
Instructions
-
-
1
Decide on a subject to photograph and then set up your camera on a very sturdy tripod, focusing on the subject and making sure every exposure you take (every time you press the shutter button) that subject will be in the frame.
-
2
Attach a remote shutter button, which hooks into your camera and allows you to take a photo without touching the camera itself, to your camera. If you do not have one of these, set the self-timer to a setting of five seconds. This is to reduce camera shake and reduce blur which will occur even with a tripod.
-
-
3
Set your camera exposure to allow for a lighter exposure. A good rule of thumb to start is 1/2 the value of a full exposure for a two-shot double exposure, and 1/4 the value of a full exposure for three or more. If the normal exposure would be 1/8 at F4, try 1/16 at F5. There are several algorithms to determine the proper settings that are too complex to get into here, but you can take several multi-exposures using different combinations of values, to get the effect you desire.
-
4
Turn off your auto film advance, or set the camera to multi-exposure setting. Not all film cameras allow this to be done, so be sure the one you have does.
-
5
Take your first exposure by using the remote shutter button, or pressing the self-timer. Always keep in mind how this image will look when imposed on another, taking into account the lines, shapes colors and overall structure of the image. If you are photographing a moving object, like a car or person, capture it at a point on the frame that allows you to capture another one, and create a relationship of movement between the two.
-
6
Take your second exposure, placing the object in the exact area you like.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Keep in mind that since this is a multi-exposure, the photograph itself will be more translucent and under exposed. You can stop down the aperture to underexpose, or increase shutter speed. If you increase the shutter speed, the photo will have shaper lines and less blur, which you may not want in a multi-exposure. This will also effect the colors produced on the film. Higher shutter speeds tend to create bluer photographs because the blue emulsion exposes faster.
A multi-exposure takes a long time to master because the exposure settings are not always cut and dry. Prepare to experiment and always capture scenes with the most color, crisscrossing shapes and/or movement for more interesting photographs.
