Multiple Exposure
Multiple exposure is a photographic technique in which a photographer captures two or more images of the same scene and combines them during post-processing. Rather than relying on a single exposure, this method allows photographers to blend multiple frames to achieve results that would be difficult or impossible to capture in a single shot. The technique has applications across various photographic genres, including portrait, still life, and landscape photography.
Focus Stacking
Focus stacking is a form of multiple exposure commonly used in landscape and macro photography to achieve enhanced image sharpness across the entire frame. Since a camera lens has a limited depth of field, distant and near elements cannot always be simultaneously in sharp focus. By capturing multiple images with the focus point adjusted slightly between each shot, photographers can later combine these layers in post-processing to create a single image with sharpness throughout. This technique is particularly valuable in landscape photography, where maintaining detail in both foreground and background elements is often desired.
Other Applications
Multiple exposure techniques extend beyond focus stacking to include exposure blending, where images with different exposure values are merged to balance highlights and shadows, and creative compositing, where multiple images are layered to produce artistic effects. Modern digital photography and post-processing software have made multiple exposure more accessible than in film photography, where the technique required either in-camera multiple exposures or manual darkroom work.