Digital Double Exposures

Alex Mustard · Issue 43, Jul/Aug 2008 · pp. 34–38

Products mentioned: Nikon D2X, Subal Housing, Tokina 10-17mm, Nikon 105mm VR, Subtronic Alpha Pro, Sigma 150mm, Canon 500D dioptre, Pentax LX

Digital Double Exposures By Alex Mustard Double exposures are photographs where we expose the same frame twice, overlaying two separate scenes to create a cohesive and dramatic final image. The technique was popular special effect when film dominated beneath the waves. Peter Rowlands’ editorial in the first issue of the original printed Underwater Photography Magazine (from 1987) stated “multiple imaging is the most significant technique to affect underwater photography for a long time”. In 2003, Mark Webster wrote in UWP Issue 14 that he feared Photoshop would spell the end for the technique? He was proved right. Photoshop allows us to combine any images we wish, with precision and control that an in-camera double exposer could only dream of. Surely there is no point in resurrecting such an outdated technique with digital cameras? I decided to find out. How it was done. The first stage …