• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Tips
  • History
  • Photographers
  • Gear
  • Locations
  • Presets

The Photo Argus

Photography Blog

20 Excellent Double Exposure Photos: Film and Digital

December 3, 2018 · Steph Nelson

Double exposure photographs are a combination of two images, whether through accident or careful planning. Often, this combination leads to strange or surreal images, unlike anything you’d see in a single exposure. They have a ghostly or dreamlike quality that’s hard to copy with other techniques.

Originally, double exposures were limited to film photography, but now digital photographers can create a similar look with photo editors. However, there’s still a big difference in atmosphere between film and digital double exposures. Film images tend to look “weird” or whimsical, while digital images tend to look clean and crafted.

Though you can technically create the same image with both methods, you probably won’t. That’s because each method has a different workflow, influencing your final results.

Digital cameras allow for endless shooting and editing, while film cameras limit your shots and prevent editing. This small difference in workflow significantly changes the images you’ll ultimately create.

Below are 20 excellent double exposure photographs, 10 film and 10 digital. This way, you can get a feel for each method and decide what best fits your style.

Double Exposures with Film Cameras

Film photography has an element of luck or surprise, especially with double exposures. You can carefully plan and position your shots, but you can’t predict everything, and you can’t double-check your shots.

Some photographers love the surprises that come with film. They might take double exposures to increase the surprise, especially if they forget what photos they combined. They hope for “happy accidents” and photos so weird, they’re wonderful.

Film double exposures do require some technique, though. It’s not complicated, but there are definitely better and worse ways of taking film double exposures. Here are a couple quick guides for getting started:

How to Do Double Exposures on Film – Film Based Traveler

How to Create Double Exposures on Film – The Dark Room

“Film Soup” is another cool technique to try. Basically, after shooting your film, you boil the film canister for 10 minutes in water or chemicals, then leave it to soak for 24+ hours. After that, you rinse the canister, let it dry for a day, and then develop it. For full instructions, read the recipe from photographer Richard PJ Lambert.

Richard P J Lambert – Untitled
Richard P J Lambert - film soup

Richard P J Lambert – westminster
Richard P J Lambert - westminster

Richard P J Lambert – Hallgrímskirkja
Richard P J Lambert - Hallgrímskirkja church

Chun-Hung Eric Cheng – Steamboat on Cloudy Mississippi
Chun-Hung Eric Cheng - Steamboat on Cloudy Mississippi

Marketa – Ghost in the Field
Marketa - Смена Cmeha camera

Alejo – Teilatuz teilatu
Alejo - Bayonne, Aquitaine, France

vivek jena – saturday sun
vivek jena - sun forest

Q_V_H – Trôi trên sông mây
Q_V_H - boat on river

stephanie carter – Saturday Morning Reverie (99)
stephanie carter - HolgaMod, Tri-X, Diafine

Alejo – И улица
Alejo - Bayonne, Aquitaine, France

Double Exposures with Digital Cameras

Digital cameras give you complete control over how your double exposures look. You can take as many shots as you want and choose the perfect ones for the image. Then, you can change and rearrange nearly anything during post-processing.

This total control can be a double-edged sword. On the one hand, you can create stunning, imaginative images relatively easily (and cheaply). On the other hand, you might spend hours trying to get your image just right, only to feel like it’s still imperfect.

In this respect, digital cameras are less carefree than film cameras. But if you’re comfortable with photo editing and don’t have a film camera to play around with, it’s still a great way to go.

Here’s a list of Photoshop tutorials and tips for creating digital double exposures. If you’re using a smartphone, the process is even easier. You just download a good photo editing app like Snapseed or Afterlight, and you’re good to go!

Pedro Hespanha – brother
Pedro Hespanha - double exposure white background

Nik Analog Efex Pro
Darren Flinders – Double Exposure
Darren Flinders - Double Exposure

Fred Veenkamp – Fly me to the moon…
Fred Veenkamp - parasail silhouette

iPhone set hipstamatic
Edwin Keijzer – double portrait
Edwin Keijzer - double portrait hipstamatic

DAVID60 – In love……. por San Valentin
DAVID60 - black and white double exposure

DAVID60 – Brillante Penelope ….
DAVID60 - Penelope Cruz double exposure

Photoshop
Nimit Nigam – Stars Inside Me
Nimit Nigam - Stars camels

Photoshop composite
Gideon Way – A Day out with the Birthday Girl
Gideon Way - dog forest composite

ralfstraßgütl – Alin City
ralfstraßgütl - Alin Herlana

iPhone images edited with Snapseed.
James Loesch – Double Exposure
James Loesch - Double Exposure Barnegat Bay sunset

Filed Under: Inspiration

Sign Up for Weekly Updates!

Freebies From Our Partners

Free Off Camera Flash Tutorial

In this start-to-finish tutorial, Pye Jirsa shows you how to enhance existing light to simulate sunlight with off-camera flashes.

Free Engagement Photography Tutorial

Learn 10 simple things you can do to make each and every single one of your engagement photos extraordinary!

You may also like

  • 2019 Photography Challenge: 52+ Photography…
  • AI Photo Editing | Options To Speed Up Your Post Production
  • Luminar Neo Review | Skylum's Biggest And Best Release Yet!
  • 4 Bird Photography Tips to take great photos
  • Long Exposure Photography Tips with 32 Great Examples

Primary Sidebar

Newsletter Signup

Popular Content

  • 100+ Free Photoshop Actions and Presets
  • 40 Beautiful Examples of Abstract Photography
  • 22 of the Most Famous Mountains in the World to Photograph
  • 30 Fantastic Examples of Fine Art Photography
  • 53 Unique Gifts for Photographers
  • 35 Superb Examples of Still Life Photography
  • 32 Weird and Wonderful Fungi Pictures
  • 40 Splendid Examples of Candid Photography
  • 60 Inspiring Examples of Black and White Photography
  • 40 Minimalist Photography Examples For Inspiration

Follow Us Online

  • Facebook
  • Flickr
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Workshops/Resources

Creative Photography 101 - $49 $79
creative photography 1010

Learn Creativity, Ditch the Expensive Gear!

Landscape Presets $29 $107
landscape presets

Support TPA

Support The Photo Argus by Shopping at our Affiliate Partners Below.

© Copyright The Photo Argus · Contact · About · Privacy Policy · Support