THE PHOTOGRAPHIC EYE

EXERCISE
Double
Exposure
Assignment: Combine two images
into a single photograph either by
double-exposing a single frame of
film or by using two separate negatives
to produce one print.
Goal: Strive for a unified effect.
The trick to a double-exposed photograph
is to achieve visual coherence
— an image that makes sense to the
viewer. This does not mean that the
image needs to be entirely clear, but
it should be more than a chaotic
jumble of lines, light and shadow
(unless, of course, that's the effect
you want).
Tips: If you are creating your image
in the camera, the simplest way
to proceed is to shoot one frame as
usual, making a mental note or, preferably,
a rough sketch of the image,
noting light and dark areas. If your
camera has a double-exposure feature,
use it. Otherwise, hold in the
film-release button while you cock
the shutter (i.e., wind the film as
usual, though it shouldn't actually
move). Experiment with various exposure
combinations. If your second
image is in a very dark area of your
first image, you may get a good
result by using a normal exposure for
both. Otherwise, try under-exposing
both by one stop (or doubling the
ISO number). As always, bracketing
is the safest way to ensure a successful
result. After completing one double-exposure,
wind the film forward
as usual and try another.
To produce a double exposure in
the darkroom, you may either sandwich
two negatives together in the
220 The Photographic Eye
The ghostly figure in this photograph is one of the intriguing effects possible
with double-exposure. (Student photograph by Anne Nowak.)
negative holder or print them separately.
Again, you will have to experiment
to get the right exposure
combination. With the second approach,
you must remember that any
white areas of the first negative will
print black and nothing from the
second negative can be printed in
those areas.
Variations: It is also possible to use
a piece of black mat to cover half of
the lens while making your first ex-
posure, and then cover the other half
for your second shot — but skill and
practice are required to blend the two
images successfully. (This works better
on larger format cameras.)
A "ghost" effect can be produced
by setting the camera on a tripod,
shooting one shot of a model (or
other subject) at half the normal exposure,
and then removing the
model and shooting a second image
(at the same exposure).