Double exposure (photography)

See "Double Exposure" for other uses of this term

Apollo 8 launch. The photo is a double exposure, as the Moon was not visible at the time of launch (NASA).

In film and photography, double exposure is a technique in which a piece of film is exposed twice, to two different images. The resulting photographic image shows the second image superimposed over the first. The technique can be used to create ghostly images or to add people and objects to a scene that were not originally there. It is frequently used in photographic hoaxes. It also is sometimes used as an artistic visual effect, especially when filming singers or musicians.

It is considered easiest to have a manual winding camera for double exposures. On automatic winding cameras, as soon as a picture is taken the film is typically wound to the next frame. Some more advanced automatic winding cameras have the option for multiple exposures but it must be set before making each exposure. Manual winding cameras with a multiple exposure feature can be set to double-expose after making the first exposure.

The problem with double exposures, is that if too much film is exposed over the 2 shots, the picture will turn out overexposed. Medium to low light is ideal for double exposures. Also, it is important to use a tripod for double exposures. If the setting of the two shots do not line up almost exactly, you won't get the desired effect and the background will be blurry looking, as well as the target.

Double exposures are not the limit, as multiple exposures are possible, but the photographer should try not to overexpose the film.

Another way to superimpose pictures is digitally, using a software photo editor like Adobe Photoshop or GIMP. Simply alter the opacity of the two images and line them up over each other.

Examples of Double Exposure in Movies and Television

• On the Ed Sullivan Show, this effect was sometimes used with singers and rock groups. An image of the stage set was superimposed on the performer(s).

• In the movie Mary Poppins, when Julie Andrews is singing "Feed the Birds" to the children, there's an instrumental section of the song. During this section, an image of St. Paul's Cathedral is superimposed on Julie Andrews' face.

• On the popular 1960's situation comedy The Dick Van Dyke Show, there's a special Christmas episode called "The Alan Brady Show Presents" . On that episode, the double exposure effect is used on Larry Mathews (who played Dick Van Dyke and Mary Tyler Moore's cute young son, Ritchie). He's singing the Christmas song "Little Drummer Boy", and at one point, an image of the stage set (a stained glass window) is superimposed on his face.

• On a current commercial for Fruit of the Loom underwear, this effect is used. In this commercial, the "Fruit of the Loom" men are a pop music group (with the "Apple" as the lead singer), and they're performing a ballad about a little boy who loves his "Fruit of the Loom" underwear.