Double Exposure

DOUBLE EXPOSURE

What does exposure mean?
- The overall brightness or darkness of a photograph.
So... what would a DOUBLE exposure mean?
- a technique that combines two different exposures or images that are layered on top of each other.

A brief history:

Double exposure has been used since the 1860s! For some context, the Civil War was from 1861-1865.
Double exposure images were a significant business boost, “[photographers] discovered how to make a portrait subject appear twice in a frame as if they had an identical twin.” (Barnes, 2017)

The work and techniques you do in this class appear in many places outside of the classroom!

As technology improved, people continued to play with this idea, which continues on even today!

HBO's True Detective opening credits use double exposure to create a feeling that people are a product of where they were born and raised or currently live. These images reveal some aspect about the individuals we see in them. They do this by using silhouettes with landscapes.

Here are a few more examples of double exposures...

For MORE ideas and examples, check out THIS website or THIS one!

The Assignment:

Objective: Create a digital double exposure photograph that visually represents a feeling or theme (for example: identity, hope, isolation, growth, nature vs. technology). You’ll combine two of your own photos (a portrait and another image) to communicate an idea using visual metaphor.

At the end, you’ll write an artist’s statement explaining your concept and how your technical and creative choices express that feeling or theme.

RULE: no more photos of the mural! It's been done...

Step-by-Step Instructions:

Choose Your Theme or Emotion
- Think of a feeling, idea, or story you want to express visually.
- Example themes/feelings: peace, transformation, memory, connection, loneliness, resilience.
- NOTE: you can't go out until you record your emotion/theme and process! Who will be your model? What will your images be? What effects are you going to apply in Ps? It's okay if your plan changes as your work on your artwork, but you need to start out with a clear plan!

Take a Portrait Photo (Base Image)
- Photograph a person against a blank background, something clean and simple such as:
  1. The sky
  2. A solid wall
  3. A dark background
- You can even use one of the portraits you took for the Fill Flash assignment or Silhouette assignment.
- NOTE: Avoid busy or detailed backgrounds because this will make blending easier.

Select Your Second (Overlay) Image
- Choose a second photo that you have taken in previous assignments. Make sure it connects to your chosen theme.
- This could be:
  1. A landscape (you can even use a photo from your phone, such as a sunset or other vista)
  2. A close-up of an element (texture, plant, object, etc.)
- NOTE: Make sure it is your own photograph.

In Photoshop:

Once you return to the classroom...

As always, upload your images from your SD card, create a folder titled "Double Exposure," and place your images in there.

Open in Photoshop (Ps)
- Drag your portrait photo onto the Photoshop icon to open it.
  - WINDOWS: create a document: 8x10inches (vertical or horizontal), 300ppi, drag your image onto your document.
- Drag your second image directly ON TOP of your portrait (not onto the Photoshop icon).
  - Notice: This will create a new layer.
  - Make sure your top layer/image covers the WHOLE portrait.
  - You should now have TWO layers & the top layer should be the image you will blend with the portrait/silhouette. Layer order should be:
  - TOP LAYER Image (photo 2)
  - BOTTOM LAYER Portrait/Silhouette

Experiment with Blending Modes
- Select the top layer (your layer will be highlighted)
- Click on the dropdown arrow under "Normal".
- Scroll through the different blending modes until you find one you like!
  - Play around with opacity, B&W, Brush tool!
- REMEMBER: Aim for artwork that clearly communicates your chosen emotion or theme.

Notice the bottom layer is the portrait and the top layer is the second image (highlighted).

NOTE: There is no one-size-fits-all formula, so take your time to explore and experiment with your design.

4. When you are finished: File > Save a copy > name: Double Expo > Change format to JPEG

5. Submit JPEG to Canvas

6. After finishing your image, write a SHORT artist’s statement that explains:

What feeling or theme you chose.
Why you chose your two images and how they work together, what tools/filters you used.
What visual metaphors or symbols you used to represent your theme (similar to how writers use metaphors in literature).
- Example: My double exposure represents the theme of growth and identity. I combined a portrait of my friend against a blank wall with a photo of tree roots I took earlier. I used the Screen blending mode in Photoshop so the roots looked like they were growing through his body. I did this to show how people are like trees, needing strong roots to keep growing and becoming stronger. I learned how blending images can express emotions and ideas in the same way writers use metaphors in the books they write.
- Optional sentence frames (use all, some, or none!):
  - My double exposure represents the theme/emotion (choose one) of ____. I chose this because ____. I combined a photo of ____ with a photo of ____ to show ____. I used the ____ blending mode to make the images look ____. My images symbolize ____. This project helped me learn ____.