My new mirrorless camera, a Nikon Z50, is capable of some incredible things, though the learning curve is definitely real even for DSLR users Everyone says these camera systems take time to master, and they aren’t kidding, It’s quite a deep dive, but totally worth it because I am learning new and fun stuff!
My Nikon Z50 Mirrorless camera is a small model. It is compact and lighter than my DSLR but how it all puts everything together is so different. So, rather than get discouraged, I have been cheering myself up by experimenting with some of the fun features (when I despair at navigating my new menus).
Magical Double Exposures
These photos are double exposures done in the camera! They are not edited in Luminar Neo or other photo editing software.
When all cameras were film based, a double exposure was done by taking a shot, winding back the film in the camera, and shooting all over again. Now I can ask my Nikon Z50 to take two or more exposures and layer them on top of each other in the camera itself.
This first shot is Toulouse is against garden foliage and a tree with bright leaves. I have cropped the image and added a subtle vignette of shade around the edge. I also dodged his fur slightly so it is a bit brighter.
You can see the two images then the finished photo in this little slideshow.
Layer 1. Tabby cat cat in the sun, dark background
- TIP When using tools like Dodge and Burn, what is your intention with the adjustment? Will you lighten a shadow? Will you add shadow to a bright area? Experiment and keep your touch light.
This second shot is of our black cat Taz layered against stonework and greenery. This was not as successful as I hoped but by dodging some of the highlights of his fur caught by the sun, he looks more visible.
Remember, if you can, to make sure your black cat has some light on them to define the fur and shape.
How Does Double Exposure Work?
For my photos, I decided on a simple cat portrait with foliage or grass as a background. I am still discovering how much light benefits the portraits but these are a start. I know this will be fun to explore as I find out how the light on the cat or the background changes what appears in the final montage.
This shot of Toulouse looks rather mysterious.
After you set up and confirm to your camera you are taking a double portrait you are ready to start. Confirm your settings so the camera registers your intentions. It took me a while to realise the steps. I also realised that the camera saves your image as a JPEG not as a RAW file, if you prefer to shoot in that format.
- Select your subject (a single cat is good).
- Take your first shot
- Select your background
- Reframe your viewfinder to capture your second shot
- Download your image
- Optional: Jump up and down in excitement it worked!
I am going to continue experimenting but I wanted to share this fun discovery right away!
Love this concept. I once had misplaced a roll from my baby shower…years later I had some found film developed and lo-and-behold, it was my shower pics..only it was double exposed as my sister at the time somehow reloaded into her camera (hence, why I couldn’t find my film!) and shot over it. I have to say, they made some interesting shots.
But when I used to develop my own film in a dark room, I loved experimenting with double-exposures and I still have a pic of one of my horses galloping across the top of a hill in a field and I then laid an exposure of flames over it, the end product was so cool like the horse was galloping through a field of fire. You have outlined double-exposures in such an easy, DIY way! What fun to have with taking pet pics. The creative ideas are endless!
I can see this feature turning out some amazing photos! It’s crazy and overwhelming with all the new features and gimmicks cameras have now (it makes me feel old! Lol)
The biggest thing i have learned here is that photography is a 2 part situation. Part 1 being the camera and part 2 being the composition! Thank you for the lovely photos
and.. Remember the photographer!
WOW!!! It sounds like you found a fun new camera toy. I had no idea you could edit within the cameras now. You did another great tutorial and I’m sharing with all my pet parents so they can up their camera skills as well.
This looks great, what a cool effect!!
I think you take a lot of sort of OK ones to create the best amazing one!
Those are super cool and super impressive, I enjoyed reading your explanation too. Thanks for joining Angel Brian’s Thankful Thursday Blog Hop!
What a fascinating technique. I always wondered how it was done (or how anyone wound the film backward, I thought it only went one way back in the day.
Wow, that sure is a cool feature!! Those are great pictures that you made.
(I can make a cheat double exposure by adding another image over the first one in Gimp, or some other editor, and the lower the translucency of the second image…I don’t think I will ever get a dslr, let alone a mirrorless camera…)