I started a new creative photography course this spring, and the first assignment was ”Love”. ”Dream Lovers” is what I ended up with. I was strolling in a museum exhibition of interiors from different centuries, and in the Empire style rooms two portraits caught my eye. I think that they had nothing else common but the period, but it looked like that they might have been dreaming about each other over all these years. - This is a triple exposure in camera: the first image is the portrait of the lady through the glass wall of the compartment; the second is a reflection of the portrait of the gentleman on the glass; and the third is a blurred close-up of strings of a harp that I thought might give some structure to the image. Fuji X-T4 handheld, 188.3 mm, f/5.6, 1/3 s, ISO 3200. The colors were quite weird in the mixed light, and I turned the image into BW. I felt that one of the NIK Silver Efex Film Noir presets was right for the mood. - I know that the image is based on the works of the unknown painters, and I wonder if the result is enough of a new entity to justify that?
This round’s discussion is now closed! 10 comments posted
Terry Palmer
Kirsti Good capture for an in camera multiple exposure. I rarely if ever attempt these images as I find the exposure very difficult to get to my liking. Your exposure works very well for these images. I like your interpretation of the assignment, capturing and displaying the concept well. Well done. Posted: 03/16/2025 11:37:26
Kirsti Näntö-Salonen
Thank you, Terry! You are totally right about the difficulties with the exposure: I have read everything I have found about the subject without getting any wiser. I have just been using the "average" mode and hope for the best - every time the result is a surprise of trial and error! Posted: 03/17/2025 05:50:43
Mervyn Hurwitz
Kirsti, once again you have shown us your ingenuity and imagination. I would never have seen this no matter how long I examined the scene.
The addition of the harp strings does create a different dimension and I liked that you kept the grainy effect. Posted: 03/17/2025 11:00:57
Kirsti Näntö-Salonen
Thank you so much, Mervyn! I think, too, that the grain makes much of the mood. Posted: 03/18/2025 02:59:00
Tony Au Yeong
Hi Kirsty, I admire your creativity and imagination. I like the B&W version. The blurred strings of a harp are not that obvious in the final version as compared with the original. I find double exposure difficult, like controlling the exposure and placing the subjects in positions to make a good composition. Posted: 03/23/2025 14:11:29
Kirsti Näntö-Salonen
Thank you, Tony! You are absolutely right about the challenges. I like the element of chance involved, although the yield of anything usable may not be very good.- Fortunately my camera saves also the original raw files that it combines to the final JPEG, so it is possible to use the individual exposures, or try to layer them into a new composition in Photoshop. Posted: 03/25/2025 18:02:49
Jose Cartas
It's true that you photographed the two-dimensional works of other artists. But they were not straight shots, and you played with the reflections of one of the pictures and added a layer with the close-up strings. In this sense, I would consider it a creative shot. As you said, it looks as if the two figures were related, with the lady thinking about his "lover." The B&W transformation and the grainy effect are needed for the desired effect. Posted: 03/25/2025 16:00:23
Kirsti Näntö-Salonen
Thank you, Jose! I am glad that you feel that it can be justified. I just cannot resist these dreams and stories hidden in reflections and shadows. Posted: 03/25/2025 17:50:34
Bob Benson
This is a very interesting technique. It could prove very useful if you find some of your own images to use this on. Posted: 03/25/2025 16:16:46
Kirsti Näntö-Salonen
Thank you, Bob! That is what I think, too! Posted: 03/25/2025 17:43:18
