Multiple Exposure

Multiple exposure in photography

This is the ability to record two different scenes on the same frame of film. (See example) You must make sure that your camera can do this, and you must read your instruction manual to discover the settings for your particular camera. Most older manual cameras are capable of multiple exposures. There are 2 easy methods for producing multiple exposures

Method A
Basically the formula is like this. Each of the multiple images on your frame of film becomes a fraction of the total exposure of the frame. So for instance, the shot below is made up of 2 images, a model and a tree. The exposure for the model as determined by the camera’s meter was 1/60 at f-8. The exposure for the tree was also 1/60 at f-8. Now because you’re putting another image on the same frame, each image should be exposed at half the total exposure.

Therefore to put half of the tree, I shoot the first exposure at 1/125 of a second, (this lets in half the amount of light as 1/60). Then I shoot the next scene, the model, ON THE SAME FRAME OF FILM-CONSULT YOUR MANUAL TO LEARN HOW TO DO THIS. To shoot the model I also expose the film 1/125 of a second. If the camera meter had given a different exposure for the model, say F-8 at 1/125, I would have needed to HALVE that exposure and I would have used F8 at 1/250 (which lets in half as much light as 1/125) Alternatively I could have adjusted the aperture to let in half as much light, in which case the exposure would have been F11 at 1/60.

Method B
Now that you understand the theory lets make it easier. There a a few ways to play with exposure. One of the easiest ways is by changing film speeds. Read The Trinity of all Photography to understand why. Under normal shooting if you have 100 speed film and you tell the camera it is 50, the camera will let in 2x as much light on every frame, so your shots will be overexposed (too light). Likewise if you rate your film at 200, the camera will let in half the light it needs to expose the film properly. Your shots will therefore be underexposed (too dark)

This works to your advantage with multiple exposure photography. If the asa on the film box says 100, at asa 100 you can expose 1 frame correctly. But at asa 200…. you can expose 2 frames correctly since each frame of film is getting half the recommended exposure! At asa 300 you can expose 3 frames correctly etc. In the model/tree example, using method B all I would have done was set my 100 film to 200 and shot each scene at the cameras RECOMMENDED exposure. So….before you take your shot, determine how many multiple exposures you will take, and set the asa accordingly. One caveat…..MAKE SURE YOU SET THE ASA BACK TO ITS ORIGINAL SETTING AFTER THE MULTIPLE EXPOSURE SHOTS.

Creative tip: Most multiple exposure prints look busy and abstract if too many exposures are used. Try using 2 or three to start. Then experiment….and use as many as you like.