Getting started in double and multiple exposure photography.

Learning double exposure film photography.

To achieve a great double exposure, it’s important to get familiar with the process of making one with film photography. There are two main ways to accomplish a double exposure photo with film: in-camera, or in the darkroom.

In the darkroom.

If you’re attempting a double exposure in the darkroom, the process is a bit different. You’ll be exposing your light-sensitive paper multiple times in the enlarger (a specialized transparency projector used to project light through your photographic negative). This approach is a bit easier than in-camera, as you can use regularly shot and developed film negatives, and you can position and angle the negatives in your enlarger. This added flexibility lets you experiment with the opacity of each layer by adjusting the amount of light you expose your sensitive paper to. Your first negative may need more time exposed in the enlarger, while your second negative may need only a few seconds.

Getting a double exposure in the darkroom right the first time is difficult, so patience is key. Long suggests that beginners “stick with black and white to begin with, and learn the mechanism of your camera. Start with very simple situations. Try to find as empty a space as you can and put an element in it. Then combine that with another empty space and an element somewhere else. You’ll start to understand how that exposure builds up across your finished composite.” Experimenting with shadow and light is a great way to gain experience with composition in double exposure, whether you’re attempting it in-camera or in the darkroom.

The ease of digital double exposures.

With digital photography and editing software, multiple exposures are easier to achieve. “You can execute a shot so much more effectively now than when you were trying to double expose in the camera,” experienced photographer Carli Davidson says, “especially with images that are taken at different times or in different spaces.”

While some digital cameras have double exposure settings, the settings and tools vary depending on the brand and may not be in older cameras at all. The flexibility of editing software is where photographers and artists can really push the creative limits of double exposures. Ingersoll notes that you can “take two digital photos and lay them on top of each other. Through blending modes, transparencies, and masking you can create a double exposed image.”

Masking for beginners.

Layer masking is a reversible way to hide part of a layer. If there’s a section of your first image that won’t look good laid over your second image, masking is a great solution. Masking gives you more flexibility than permanently erasing part of the image, and it’s especially useful for making composite images or double exposure.

The basics of blending.

“You don’t have to worry about winding the film back to the correct place,” Long says of doing double exposures in photo editing software. “You’ve got so much more control over how things are going to blend. You can blend things that you couldn’t blend in the darkroom.” Blending controls how pixels in your image are affected by a painting or editing tool. Instead of dodging and burning in the darkroom, blending in digital lets you merge the images on a pixel level.

Specific tutorials.

Once you understand the basics, you’re ready to successfully create a double exposure or composite image. Those miniscule adjustments can be what makes your double exposure or composite successful.

• Create a double exposure: Follow this tutorial to see how combining two images can multiply their visual impact and achieve a double exposure effect.
• Combine images in a creative way: Learn the ins and outs of creative compositing with these step-by-step tips.
• Add color to your double exposure: Elevate a simple black-and-white double exposure by experimenting with new colors.

When it comes to creating stunning double exposure photographs, Long says, “all the rules are off. You can do whatever you like.” Push your creativity and experiment with new tools, whether you’re using film or digital. Your first few double exposure attempts probably won’t be perfect, but don’t be discouraged. As with anything, this technique takes time and practice to master.