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There was a time when it was very easy to make double exposures in camera. Camera manufactures thought that was a problem for the average consumer and started to design fail safes to prevent them from happening. There was usually a way on the more sophisticated cameras to get a multiple exposure on a single frame but it became obvious it was becoming increasingly difficult to do. It’s pretty much impossible to do in a digital camera but software allows us to do as many multiple exposures with greater control very easily. On this shot (shots?), I wanted to get the wire reinforcement grid on the window in focus as well as the background but I could not get enough depth of field in the camera. I shot two images, one with the foreground in focus and one with the background in focus and combined them. The technique is very easy and simple but a key requirement to do this successfully is to try to pre-visualize the effect you want before taking the photos. I think it just makes it easier to process later.
Here is another shot through a different window but with a similar grid and only one exposure:
# 5453
If you still want another grid photo, go to the sister site here!!!
2clicksaway 
Interesting mild halo effects to be expected, but a great technique.
Thanks, Alessandro. There are many different effects you can achieve depending on the blend mode you choose for the second image.
I find it curious that the grid came out light instead of dark in the second photograph.
On all the shots with the grid out of focus, the grid shows up light, even on windows on another side of the building.
Good examples of the different results of the two ways to shoot the scene.
Thanks, Melinda. I don’t get to this location very often and it’s hard to find windows with the wire reinforcement anymore but I had the idea to do this months ago and last week I finally had the opportunity. Now I don’t know when I’ll be back again.
I definitely like the first one. I took a bunch of focus-stacked shots of dried flowers the other day and plan to post one or two sometime in the near future. I believe my D7000 has a “multiple exposure” option built in. Wouldn’t know where to look for it though!
Thanks, John. You will have more control over the multiple exposures in post processing than in camera I would think. Ant there is more of the fun factor, too!
It does have it, but yes . . . better in post processing.
The grid is an interesting element, and I love how the double exposure makes the further-away image looks.
Thanks, Linda. You have a lot of control making these in post processing than you would the old way of trying to do it in camera and it was a fun exercise.
Beautiful and very innovative !
Thanks, Pierre.
These look beautiful!
Thanks, Lena.
These are wonderful. It is interesting how many prople loathe photo processing. I find it extremely challenging and rewarding. I love what you accomplished. I like all three.
Thanks, Anita. I not only find processing challenging and rewarding but relaxing, too. I never feel pressured and I think it’s enjoyable work.
You are so right—I left out relaxing. If I tense up during processing, I know that I have let the paralysis of expectation creep in. Time to take a deep breath and enjoy the process.
This is interesting to see at work. I have been itching to do double exposures, but don’t have the software that allows this kind of thing – but I seem to be getting closer and closer to buying some, and learning it.
It looks as if the OS software that one can get to run on cameras, like Magic Lantern, don’t do double exposures in camera either.
Thanks, ehpem. I think any software that permits layers and blend modes would work just as well as Photoshop, even Elements or ACDSee Pro which sell for a fraction of the price of PS, although I understand you can not buy Photoshop anymore, only rent it. I’ve used Elements v5 up until 3 years ago and it was a great program. I think they are up to v10 now so I’m sure there have been a lot of advances.
Amazing shots Ken and great work!
Thanks, Chantal. It’s fairly easy to do if you have the software to do it.
I never would have thought of this. Another idea to steal!
My grandfather was apparently famous in the family for accidentally double exposing on his old Argus camera. Pretty easy to do when you have to manually wind the film to the next empty frame.
I love these.
Thanks, Charles. My father had a Foth Derby that had a separate film advance and shutter cocking lever. A great camera for multiple exposures but poor in almost every other respects.
As others have commented – odd the way the tone of the grid is reversed. I like both shots not least for the subtle colours that add a little extra frisson to them.
Thanks, Andy. I like the lighter grid lines on these. I think the grid is a stainless steel mesh and not black at all and they show up a light color when out of focus because they are reflecting the light that falls on them. Maybe!
Though it is pretty easy to do digitally, that’s something that I rarely do. I remember that I had a button on my Minolta XD-11, just for that. I would allow you to cock the shutter without advancing the film – I rarely used it then, too.
I remember the XD-11. That was a pretty advanced camera. Made me want to switch from Nikon to Minolta. Minolta had great cutting edge technology, much like Sony now.
I often double exposure in my camera (Pentax K20-D).
Love the images!
Thanks, Malin. I’m not familiar with the K20 but if it has that feature, it could be unique.
You have it in Nikon D200 also.