Nicole White (who you might remember from a conversation here and know from flickr) and I had long discussed trying out a double exposure project. The one we wanted to try involved taking turns shooting through the same roll of 35mm film. I can think of this example that really intrigued me to finally put me over the edge and try it: http://35mmdoubles.blogspot.com/.
After the first person finishes the roll, the second person loads it up and shoots over it, with or without knowing what was shot the first time. Nicole and I did not discuss her shots, as should be clear from the resulting images here. She went first, and then mailed me the film, which I put into my minolta x-370. We learned a couple things for next time:
1. If it is important to you, you should try and mark where the film went into the sprocket’s pickup teeth so your frames line up.
2. We’re going to try landscape orientation only next time.
3. If you want the other person’s photos to show up, shoot against things that aren’t light or white like I did. We lost a lot of shots because I happened to shoot this roll over a snowy weekend. At least, I think that is why we lost them!
And another general tip:
1. If you have a camera that automatically rewinds, you need to also have the film lead retriever to get the film out when it gets sucked back into the canister. You can buy one for maybe $5 or ask your local lab to help you out.
I hope to have more tips for you as this project develops, but honestly, this was our first time and we were very spontaneous about it. I think we were so excited to do it, we didn’t talk, plan, or research much, we just kind of went for it! I think the first (top) one is my favorite. We both shot trees and I just love the sort of inverse effect we got. And the stream shot too: her fall color shows up in the bottom of my snow lined stream. That is where you can see how it would have been even better if we’d lined up our frames.
Have any of you tried this or plan on trying it? Be sure to share with us in comments.
Happy Snapping!
-Cara of tumbleweedineden
Really useful tips, Cara – thank you! I want to do this at some point as well, it’s just a matter of taking the plunge 🙂
Just Superb !
These are such fun! I did a Holga linkup over the summer and we ended up with just a few that worked from the film. But they were totally worth it! More please!
This is such a neat project. I think I will try this with my niece.
Inspiring concept! I look forward to seeing more results from you both.
Wow, so fun and interesting–there are some great shots here. Thanks for sharing these tips–very inspiring ladies!
I love the randomness of double exposures – my favorite is Rosie in the leaves.
I’ve been dying to try it too, and Alison and I have a 35mm exchange planned. We haven’t done much research, and I’m on the hook for sending her the roll, but it’s going into my camera next and the tip about the pickup teeth is pretty brilliant – thank you! I was racking my brain about how to get the film back out for her this weekend, so a leader pull it is. Thank you, again!
I know for polaroid doubles you need to set the exposure wheel to the darkest setting because you are exposing the film to light twice, and we figured some degree of under exposure would be required, did you or Nicole do that at all?
see Vanessa’s reply below! 🙂
Oh! I love how serendipity can happen with things like this…that shot with the bokeh! divine! what a cool project too! I love how you collaborated on this, and love that you tried something new. Inspiring for the rest of us 🙂 I can’t wait to see more!
Oh my goodness I love them! What a stunning group of photos!
These are so cool. I like that you were both in similar landscapes while taking the photos — it adds to a purposefully dreamy effect. .
If you have a camera that doesn’t automatically rewind — how would you know where to stop rewinding it so some film sticks out?
i guess you may have to do it in the dark and feel around…i can usually feel when mine is almost toward the end…
Thank for the shput out to mine & Steph’s project, Cara! Another tip that is important is to have both people shot the film at twice the speed so that the film exposes properly. If it’s 100 speed film, shoot it at 200, shoot 400 as 800, etc. Then you really get that two image look.
These are fantastic! What fun! Thank you for all the tips!
looks a great idea, lovely shots
I’m so glad to see this, I have been looking forward to this since you first mentioned it. I think they turned out pretty cool, and sort of like diptic. I love how this worked out and how you share about your learning. Just LOVE.
Great tips and excited to see what your next roll looks like. I’m a big fan of Steph and Vanessa’s project!
Very interesting project, might give it a try =)
So much fun! I have done double exposures with my Holga, but I always did both exposures. What a fun idea to have 2 different people expose the film.