doubled up

 

I remember toying with double exposures back in college when I had access to a darkroom. I used my trusty and beloved Pentax K1000 (aka the Tank) loaded up with T-max and created all kinds of mysterious frames; ghostly, hard to decipher, black and white visions of strange lights and shadows overlapping in ways that made no sense in a kind of random visual poetry.

I've recently discovered that shooting into windows can offer a simulated double exposure effect without the film or nearly as much effort. Sweet artistic discoveries! Mind you, you're not 100% in control of what your two subject matters will be in your frame, like you are with true double exposures but if you're careful to really study both your subject and the reflection you can create the look and feel you want.

I have had great luck through hotel windows like above and also while window shopping. For me the effect has worked best when I've paid the most attention to what I'm shooting through the window. What ends up being seen in the window's reflection is a little more luck of the draw as to what is behind you (frames on a wall or a parking lot).  Regardless, the results can be both disorienting and delightful.

I encourage you to try the technique to see what things look like doubled up through your lens. Share with us today something you've been reflecting on or in or through. Illuminate us.

Comments

[Marcie]

Terrific reflections in your image. Truly does remind me of a double-exposure. Here's one that I did awhile ago..but that I've always loved how the reflections made it pop:
http://www.marciescudderphotography.com/index.php?showimage=641

[Kat]

How very cool! I recently wrote a blog post on "reflections in glass" that explores the topic similarly. I never though of it as "double exposure" so that's a new twist! Here is the post, with examples and tips for capturing some cool images:
http://www.kateyeview.com/2010/08/exploring-with-camera-reflections-in.html
Thanks for sharing, it's always inspiring to visit here!

[Lee]

I took one just the other day of my kids enjoying popcorn and each other. Nice moment. I've added it to the pool. The original is here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/29457109@N02/4890648370/ I'm off to the rink today, I'm sure I can find some reflective material there. Thanks for the idea :)

[georgia]

i recently started doing this, too. after attempting to get a shot of my friend in a coffee shop, i later realized that i got just as much of the street behind me reflected in the photo as i got what was behind the window in the coffee shop, and i LOVED the effect. it was equal attention given to each subject, which i loved, because i was photographing the girl who was interviewing my brother about the chicago neighborhood we in... so to have captured that neighborhood in the background was cool!

here is the shot:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/28567264@N05/4687026146/

here is another, but i like the first better:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/28567264@N05/4687022870/in/photostream/

[georgia]

oh, sorry, tracey... i forgot to mention how cool your photo is!

[Jen at Cabin Fever]

I took a lot of photos at a car show of reflections in the incredibly polished clear coats and chrome. Don't know if I have ever done a "double" photo like this before. I will have to give it a try. There is nothing like trying something new. :)

http://www.cabinfeververmont.com

http://www.nekphotography.blogspot.com

[lucy]

there's something about the urban landscape that really makes a double exposure effect that much more interesting -- so many layers to city life. i love the effect!

this photo was shot through a broken window into an abandoned house, and you can see through to the interior where plants have started to grow inside. i liked the reflection of the sky and trees -- and the way nature reclaims our handiwork.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lucyloomis/3827231782/

[ELK]

ahhh ..this photo is really so lovely Tracey....so rich!

I was wrapping a gift for a friend and had to play with the reflection in the glass first....

http://www.redorgray.com/2010/08/sunlight-peeks-through-closed-blinds-as.html

[Aia]

well....i actually have a 'real' double exposure from film

http://www.flickr.com/photos/aclamp/4780441054/in/photostream/

[WorthIt!]

Gorgeous shot, Tracey!

I've also enjoyed seeing how others have experimented with reflections - inspiring.

I have often shot into windows on my travels...here's one from a scotch tasting in the Scottish Highlands.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/52055227@N07/4890545403/

[Vanessa]

i love playing around like this. i captured this fun shot just the other day: http://www.flickr.com/photos/vanessa_r/4891501966/
happy weekend, sisters :)

[Juju]

How cool and interesting! I've experimented with this technique when doing self-portraits, to wit:
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs430.snc3/24772_1300986958114_1033634597_30783422_5721686_n.jpg

[Jennifer]

This was a happy accident while taking a self-portrait. I thought it was a rather trippy result:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/cardboardsea/4736520035/

[Deirdre]

I took this several months ago, but I think it fits. It was a 365 desperation shot. I liked the reflection in the puddle, but I felt it needed something a little more interesting added to help it work, and I created it:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/superdewa/4555471787/

[Bettina]

Very cool pic Tracey..

I didnt even notice this reflection until I loaded the pics in the computer :) Love the surprises of photography :)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bettina2/4713636752/

[AnnGeeDee]

This is by far my favorite reflection shot. It still inspires me. http://www.flickr.com/photos/40070449@N08/4371750146/in/set-72157623122903804/

[Christian @ Modobject at Home]

I've just started dabbling in this and am enjoying it greatly. Here's a recent one that I love:

http://www.modobjectathome.com/2010/07/in-which-i-reflect-with-gratitude.html

[Cortney]

This is one of my favorites, done with an overlay function in my camera, so technically not a double exposure.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/cortneyrhianon-/3733439215/in/set-72157621662823458/

[Tora da Explora]

Oh, I love double exposures!
I use a few different cameras, including my mom's K1000. ^^
It's so much fun, and I love the surprises you get when you scan the film.

Here's my set:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kaxhe/sets/72157624149956214/

[Sara]

Oh, we totally did this in a hotel in NYC. Although the effect was generated with a long exposure and changing the zoom midway through the exposure. Here's a few...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/spelliott/549881888/in/set-72157600360464482
http://www.flickr.com/photos/spelliott/550059973/in/set-72157600360464482/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/spelliott/550059889/in/set-72157600360464482/

[kristyk]

These are a couple of pictures taken out of the window of our hotel in Las Vegas.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kristyk/3269753109/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kristyk/3270279414/

[Elizabeth]

Here's one I shot very recently.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/elizabethmeier/4836330976/

[June]

I look for reflections in windows all the time. I always find myself taking self-portraits in windows. My favorite one so far:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/junedel/3102324912/