Dramatic Photography with Double Exposures
This is a photo I had fun with! Actually, it’s two photographs of a single tulip merged together in-camera as a double exposure. In the past, it was great to do this with film for creative effects, but much harder (and more expensive to experiment with). Multiple exposures can be accomplished digitally with a variety of cameras such as the Nikon D3, no Photoshop needed!
Multiple exposures create an interesting and beautiful interpretation of a single flower, try it! Set your camera for two exposures using the multiple exposure option, or just use the image overlay feature. I find it’s easier to use image overlay, and choose which photos to merge from the camera display. If your camera doesn’t have these options, you can use Photoshop to blend the images (experiment with various blend modes, such as Overlay or Multiply).
Black velvet makes the perfect background, and is available at most fabric stores. Use a tripod, cable release, and compose your flower for the most dramatic presentation. Next, reposition the flower slightly and make a second exposure. If you are using the multiple exposure feature, the images are blended immediately. Image overlay allows you to choose which images to blend. Below is another example of two images combined in-camera accomplished by slightly repositioning the calla lily.
Have fun shooting! ~ Deb
Wow – that is a beautiful image Deb.
I love the detail and the way you blended the images together.
I just got a new 5D Mark II so I am getting closer to sending an older camera in for IR conversion 🙂
Cheers, Carlton
Thanks, Carlton! Congrats on the new camera. Let me know when you’re set up for infrared! Spring is around the corner! Take care, ~ Deb
These flowers are wonderful. Love them. Still no converted IR camera returned from LP, but it isn’t like I can’t think of anything to do in the meantime. Thanks to you, that list just keeps getting longer and longer!
Thank you, I’m so glad you enjoyed them! Send LP a note… From your website and blog photos, it looks like you are keeping busy! 😀 Best, ~ Deb
Hi Deb,
Your heart and mind must be creating 24/7 to come up with so many awesome images!! “Off the hook” awesome!!…bbond
Hi Barbara,
Thank you for such lovely comments!
~ from your biggest fan…