KEP13032023 – How I shot This

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Photographed by Kristen Petkovich

Before
the Shoot

Location Equipment

I have always wanted to create a unique double-exposure image, but the few I tried didn’t turn out and for a long time I just didn’t give it a try again. I find personally when I am drawn to double exposures, or really feel that WOW, they are often in these really incredible landscapes that take it to another level. Once I knew that we were going to the Dolomites, I got excited to get more creative and try some things I hadn’t done before. I was inspired by the location and the couple. As soon as we started planning for this location, I knew I had to at least try and create a double exposure again. In the moment, the couple inspired me by how they were sitting, and the overall composition was just right for me.

Location Name

Passo di Giau - Dolomites

Location aDDRESS

Giau Pass, 32046 San Vito di Cadore, Province of Belluno, Italy

Country

Italy

Location TYPE

Cloudy, Mountains, Cold, Light Rain

Equipment

Camera

5D Mark IV

Flash

None

Lens

24-105mm f/4

Lens Filter

None

Other Equipment

No additional equipment was used.

During
the Shoot

Directions Composition Focus Light & Exposure

We knew that weather was going to be a big challenge, and that we needed to work effectively to get some amazing shots while keeping our comfort in mind. We had taken a bunch of great shots already, and the couple was seated on this rock. I knew it was time for the double exposure. Once my camera was set, I gave them their instructions, took the first exposure, flipped my camera slowly and carefully upside down and took the second exposure.

Tone of Directions

Calm

Action of Directions

Natural Sitting Embracing

Description

The couple was already seated and I asked them to continue as they were, relax in their natural seated position and look around and take in the views. I did ask them to stay more still as I didn’t want too much movement for this particular photo. I explained what I was doing and that I needed them to continue looking in the directions they were after I did the first exposure.

What was said

You guys are looking really great already doing exactly what you’re doing. I want you to stay as you are, relax in the position you’re in, and just look out and take in the scenery. Forget about everything for a moment and just be. I’m going to be taking two photos back to back, so wherever you are looking, please continue to look in that general direction until I let you know I’ve got it.

Why I composed the way I did

I kept them centred in the image, but because I had to flip my camera upside down, I had to keep them in the lower third of the grid to allow space for everything. I loved how the mountains behind them were on a diagonal line with clouds running on top of them, which I think really elevated the image and made it pop. I shot in landscape as this was a major focus for this image.

Compositional Rules

Leading Lines Symmetry

Compositional Framing

Lower Thirds Wide

Focus

Focus mode

Autofocus

Focus Technology

Live View

Focused on

Subjects

Focus description

I used autofocus for this image because of the amount of movement it takes to create this. I didn’t want to have to worry about trying to keep my camera steady, upside down, and then manually focus. I used Live View to make it easier to frame them, as well as to avoid more movement than necessary.

Shutter Speed

1/500

Aperture

f/f/4

ISO

100

White Balance

Auto

Other Light Sources

No additional light sources were used.

How the light was used

It was an overcast stormy day, so I didn’t have to combat light.

Type of light

Natural Light

Time of Day

Midday

Quality of LIght

Soft

Weather

Cloudy Stormy / Overcast

After
the Shoot

Editing & Presets

Editing &
Presets

Editing Software used

Adobe Lightroom CC

Preset Used

How I edited this image

Editing was really simple. I mostly use Authentic Love presets that I have tweaked a lot to suit my own editing preferences. I applied the preset and made adjustments to exposure as needed. Because the work is done for you already when you take a double exposure image, there was no need for extra work in Photoshop.

Conclusion

Challenges Solutions Advice

Challenges & Solutions

Events that were challenging during the shoot

The weather. We had to watch the night before, and all morning to try and time it perfectly. We kept pushing our timing out longer to get the best possible weather that day, since postponing to the next day was not an option.

Solutions I found

Sometimes, you just gotta roll with the punches. Weather is one thing we cannot control, but we can control our ability to pivot and find a way to still create amazing images. We did watch the weather and went at the best time possible based on the forecast for the entire day.

Advice

Plan ahead: I did make sure before we left to test out the double exposure a few times to make sure I was getting it right. Especially because the weather wasn’t amazing, the last thing I wanted was the couple to be cold and I’m poking around with settings trying to figure it all out. I tried with just landscapes, and made sure I knew exactly what I needed to do, so in the moment it was almost as quick as any other photo.

Settings:
1. Select Menu
2. Select Multiple Exposure
3. Select On: Continuous Shooting (this will only save the combined image – select On:Func/Ctrl if you want to save all the source images and the combined image)
4. Select Dark

Photographed by

Kristen Petkovich

Ontario Canon 5D Mark IV 35mm 1.4

I am a wedding + elopement photography based in Ontario Canada. My goal is to work with couples who value experience over things, and create artful + meaningful images for them. I recently started to niche down my business, focusing more on smaller intimate weddings + elopements, and working with intentional couples.

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