Creating the Double Exposure Technique in Photoshop
I'm sure everyone has seen one of these photos at least once. Double exposures can be such a fun and interesting creative technique. As the name implies, double exposure photography is all about combining two photos and overlaying them with one another to create a single image. Some digital cameras, and most film cameras, have the ability to take multiple exposures and create the effect in camera without needing any photoshop or post production at all. Personally, I like the ability to control the outcome in a more meaningful way without letting my camera take care of business for me. With photoshop you have many more options on the placement of the two photos, how they're blended together and which elements are showing and which aren't.
I shot into my light source to get a blown out, pure white background.
I made a video tutorial on youtube which you can see below that goes into detail showing my process and how you can create these cool double exposures yourself. It's seriously addicting once you learn how to make them. It got to a point where I was putting photos together that didn't even make any sense just because I could and I was having fun. There's one tip I'd like to share before you go crazy in photoshop. To get the white background in the first photo above, it helps if you overexpose the background to save you some time in post. There's a couple of ways to do this. The way I did it for this shot was to place a softbox behind me, which is already white, and I exposed for myself. You can also use a backdrop or wall and point a strobe, or any kind of lights really, at the background. Then stand in front of the background and expose for the subject which will blow the background out.
There are so many different ways of creating some magnificent works of art with this double exposure technique. As I mentioned earlier, it can be addicting when you learn how to do it, so why not experiment with different things? Maybe a profile (side) shot of your face instead of one that's straight on or a full body silhouette or even a whole scene blended together with another. The possibilities are endless and you know what they say, variety is the spice of life (and the heart of creativity). I'd like to see your double exposure photos if you have any. If you have any tips or tricks, feel free to leave those in the comments below too, I love hearing what everyone has to say and learning new things myself ^_^.
