NZPhotographer Issue 55, May 2022

‘Vietnam’
Fujifilm X-T20 @ F2.8 1/75s, ISO3200, 21mm
Musicians working together in a tight space, engrossed in a symbiotic rhythm, difficult to capture as one. By taking this double exposure, I was able to
blend their energy together into a single image. There's a really good balance here between the instruments and the concentrated faces of the band.
DOUBLE EXPOSURE
I haven’t shot a lot of these types of images, but wellconstructed
double-exposures can be really powerful.
Using a strong silhouette outline to frame a face, or a
broader background image overlaid with a close-up
detail can work really well. Here is a double exposure
I shot of the band ‘Vietnam’, during their rehearsal.
REFLECTIONS
This is probably my favourite creative technique –
shiny surfaces such as mirrors, water, or shopfront
reflections can provide a great opportunity to
set up an image with complex layering. When
contemplating an image like this, start with the static
view through your camera which sets the tone for the
image and decide how much depth of field to add,
whether the focus plane should be that background
or the reflection, and then wait for those extra
elements, (people, cars etc.) to round out the frame.
SILHOUETTES
Metering is key to a good silhouette. By that I mean,
you want to try and capture the darkest shadows in
part of your image for maximum effect. So, look for
high-contrast situations with interesting, discernible
edges and expose your shot on the highlights. Ideally,
you don’t want any detail in the shadows – just the
edges. Complex textures such as the stormy skies
captured in the waterfront dive platform image can
increase impact for the viewer.
54 May 2022 NZPhotographer