Headshots 1: Double/Multi exposure

DOUBLE/ MULTI-EXPOSURE:

What is it?

Double/multi exposure photography is a technique that layers two or more different exposures on a single image, combining more photographs into one. Double/multi exposure creates a surreal feeling for your photos and the two photographs can work together to convey deep meaning or symbolism.

Examples:

Artist Inspiration- Man Ray

Man Ray (1890-1976) was a famous American photographer, who used the technique of Double/multi-exposure images to improve his photographs. His exploration of multiple exposures allowed him to create images that were layered with meaning and symbolism. Man Ray “used chance and dislocation of ordinary things from their everyday settings to surprise his viewers into a new awareness.”

Man Ray’s photographic efforts with combining the seemingly unrelated in the same composition began in earnest with his Rayographs, which he started producing in 1922. To create them, he arranged objects onto photographic paper and then exposed the composition to light, creating a series of photographs that transform the banal into meaningful and complex imagery. 

Examples of his work:

My Contact Sheet:

My first photoshoot:

For my first photoshoot, we used a really low shutter speed to create the blur effect. This gave me an idea of how I would like my photos to turn out like, although I will continue to edit and finalise these photographs.

My edited photos:

This was my first go at trying to use this technique, so I didn’t achieve the final product I would’ve liked to.

My second attempt went well and I really like the outcome. I used photoshop to create the multi-exposure effect.

The three different images represent different facial expressions and emotions, which I was hoping to achieve.

I also tried using less images to create a double-exposure headshot. To get to this final product, I used two images where the subject was looking in opposite directions. I then overlapped the two and used the option ‘screen’ to help with the blending of the two images. Finally, I cropped the unwanted parts out of the photo so the subject could be the main focus.

Evaluation:

Overall, I really enjoyed this project and I’m very happy with the final outcomes. These photos were really fun to make as it was really creative.

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