As someone deeply passionate about impressionistic botanical photography, I’m always seeking tools that help bring my creative vision to life. Recently, I took the leap and upgraded my camera from the Fuji XT3 to the XT5. The main motivator? The XT5’s enhanced functionality for multiple exposures, which allows for up to nine images and introduces various blending modes. This is a significant upgrade from the XT3’s limited capabilities, and I was eager to experiment with the new possibilities.
Another reason for the upgrade was the XT5’s larger file sizes. As someone who frequently crops images, partly due to the frustrating Instagram constraints and my love of square photographs, having more room to work with in post processing is a definite benefit.
First Experiments with Multiple Exposures
Since I bought the XT5 specifically for its multiple exposure functions, I decided to dive straight in. Initially, I attempted more complex compositions, layering multiple with varying elements. While these experiments were fun, I found these results were inconsistent and didn’t not come out how I imagined they would. So I turned to the technique that has become my go to: shooting the first image out of focus and a little over exposed to capture the background bokeh, then overlaying a second image in-focus shot of the feature flower. Whilst this method is not always a winner I did get better results using this method.
The simpler method provided the best results on the day, offering a balance between softness and clarity. I noticed that this approach delivers a beautifully mute, vintage aesthetic. The colours were less vibrant and sharp than in the single exposure method, but this softer look felt more evocative and artistic, which aligns perfectly with the style I had in my head. Capturing the bokeh in the first shot added a dreamy quality, enhancing the overall composition.
Discovering the XT5’s Potential
At this stage, I’ve only begun scratching the surface of what the XT5 can do. For now, I have been using the “Average” blending mode, layering just two images, Ironically, this was something my XT could achieve, so the leap in functionality hasn’t been fully explored yet. However, I am excited to test the different blending modes and increase the number of exposures create more complex and dynamic compositions.
One immediate advantage of the XT5 is its larger files size. This has already proven invaluable, especially when I’ve had to crop to meet instagrams requirements and to also produce square prints for my catalogue. Even with significant cropping, the image quality remains high enough, allowing me to focus on the creative process without worrying about losing the detail.
Initial Impressions and Lessons Learned
My first day experimenting with the XT5 was both exciting and insightful. The botanic gardens provided a stunning backdrop for my creative play, and while not every shot was a masterpiece, I left with handful of images I’m proud of. Each photo feels like a step closer to refining my technique and understanding more about the amazing capabilities available to me with the XT5.
What stands out most is the softer, painterly aesthetic the multiple exposures produce. This aligns beautifully with the impressionistic style I aspire to. I’m looking forward to exploring more intricate layering and testing out the different blending modes to see how they influence the overall feel of my images.
Learning and Sharing
Photography is an ever-evolving journey, and I’m always eager to learn from others. I’d love to know, how you approach multiple exposures? Do you have a preferred technique or a favourite blend mode? Whether you are just starting out or have mastered the art, I’m curious to hear about your process.
Below I have shared few of my initial attempts with the XT5 and a few that I took with the XT3. They capture the essence of my early experiments and the potential this new camera holds. I’m excited to continue to refine my style and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible with multiple exposures. Feel free to share your thoughts and tips in the comments.
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