For this project you will be exercising two artistic photography/editing techniques, double exposure and multiple exposure.
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| With multiple exposure photography you may literally be beside yourself! ( I AM SO FUNNY! ) |
Assignment Requirements:
- Create 1 double exposure image or portrait, must utilize juxtaposition as the driving concept in the choice of images you are combining. Must convey a concept such as a song, book or subject like math, science, biology, history, etc...
- Create 1 multiple exposure image or portrait. Must contain at least 4 exposures/images combined into 1. Turn in all images used plus final combined image.
Double Exposure Photo Shoot Project Process:
Your new assignment is to shoot 2 exposures that can be combined with Photoshop. Work in pairs or groups, with each taking turns to shoot portraits and other images for superimposing. Utilize the concept of juxtaposition to drive your work. Simply stated, juxtaposition means things side-by-side. In art this usually is done with the intention of bringing out a specific quality or creating an effect, particularly when two contrasting or opposing elements are used. Light and dark, smooth and textured, shapes and details, etc.
Your inspiration for this project is to convey the concept of a song, book or subject you have studied such as science, biology, math, history, reading, athletics, etc... create a quick pencil sketch to explore your idea before proceeding.
Tips for success:
- Look for images in your environment that will combine well as juxtapositions
- Consider the content of the images as well as the light and dark areas and how they will appear when combined
- Shoot a few "A" images (portraits, animals, statues, etc) and shoot a few "B" images (backgrounds, architecture, textural surfaces, lines and patterns, etc) so you have good choices for finding a combination that works. You may use previously shot images for this project if desired.
Instructions:
- Work with a partner or a group to explore campus and take your photos following the guidelines above.
- Make sure that each person in the group takes turns shooting photos so each person can turn in unique work
- When complete return to class and download/share the images onto to each students computer for editing
- Put them into a single folder on your computer. label the folder with a self explanatory file name such as "Double Exposure"
- Launch Adobe Photoshop and open the Open the first image, then drag-and-drop the second image onto the first from it's folder, you may double click in your document to complete the layering. If your Layer Palette is open, you will see both images stacked. Show students how you toggle the layers on and off with the eyeball icon next to demonstrate
- Adjust the Opacity slider in the Layer Palette until you find a good setting to blend your two images or use the Blending Modes to create unique interactions of light and dark areas.
- Additionally you can also scale/move/distort a layer for effect if desired
- Use the "Save for Web and Devices" feature under the Edit menu to export a JPG of your combined image. Save as a JPG or PNG24 with a self-explanatory file name such as "firstname_doubleexposure.jpg"
- Turn in you final image, plus your two source images to your instructor for grading
Multiple Exposure Photo Shoot Project Process:
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| The Multi-Cooper, by S. Wilson 2018 |
Overview:
In this multiple exposure project students will use their own cameras with a tripod to create their own multi-self portraits. Students may work in groups or pairs but eac h student should turn in unique work.
Your new assignment is to shoot 4 or more exposures that can be combined with Photoshop seamlessly in the form of a multi-self portrait.
• You will produce 1 final image for this project of 4 or more exposures that have been combined in Photoshop in a seamless fashion (no obvious edges, errors or transparencies)
Multiple Exposure Photoshop Process Instructions:
- Transfer your exposures and put them into a single folder on your computer. Label the folder with a self explanatory file name such as "Multiple Exposure"
- Launch Adobe Photoshop and open the Open the first image, then drag-and-drop the second image onto the first from it's folder, you may double click in your document to complete the layering. Continue this process until all images are stacked in your Layers palette. Rearrange layers if needed by click-dragging the up or down in the Layer Palette
- Select the Eraser tool, then select a large brush (adjust size as appropriate for your image resolution) and set the Brush Hardness level to Zero
- Erase the top layer so the 2nd version of your subject shows through, taking care not to erase too much
- Select the 2nd Layer in the Layer Palette and Erase the area needed to reveal the 3rd position of your subject
- Repeat these steps until all layers are showing, with no transparency errors or obvious editing glitches
- Brush size can be reduced for detail work
- For overlapping areas, switch to a selection tool to make fine/complex selections and delete those selections as needed
- Edit your image until you have created your own Multi-Self Portrait!
Post to your blog:
- 3 or more exposures
- 1 final combined image
Ask for help if you get stuck!
- Mr.W
Ask for help if you get stuck!
- Mr.W
What is Double Exposure?
Double exposure with a traditional film camera involved exposing 2 different images to 1 piece of film. The effect creates an overlay of 2 images into 1, the areas of dark and light combine. With digital camera's we can take 2 different photos and combine them into 1 by using Photoshop's layers. See examples below:
Composer Karlheinz Stockhausen, double exposure made using a film camera, 1980 by Claude Truong-Ngoc / Wikimedia Commons
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Double exposure made using a film camera
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| This example is created in camera with a carefully planned process. Photo Credit:Dan Mountford |
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| Photo Credit:Dan Mountford |
What is Multiple Exposure?
Multiple exposure is when a camera is timed to take an exposure at different intervals of time, creating a series of images into 1 image. With a digital camera we can take multiple images and combine them with photoshops layers, layer blending and/ some clever use of the Eraser Tool. See examples below:
A multiple exposure composite image of a lunar eclipse taken over Hayward, California in 2004.
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Student Work Samples: Double and Multiple Exposures





















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