Multiple exposure landscapes

There are many reasons to shoot a series of exposures when making landscape images, most of them aimed at maximising detail, controlling exposure, or increasing sharpness. Less often, but just as important, are multiple exposures for creative effect. When you merge separate frames in camera or in software you can make unique, layered and artistic compositions unlike anything in the real world.

Of course, multiple exposures have been around for almost as long as photography itself and in the days of film happened as often by accident as by design. Subject or camera movement during lengthy exposures caused ghosting, as did film failing to advance. But digital photography removes these hazards, so multiple exposures become an opportunity. Here we will look at three methods of creating