Move around a scene

Shoot a single subject from different positions to create an impressionistic ‘sketch’

You don’t have to combine two or more discrete subjects to create a clearly defined end result. Sometimes it pays to embrace the ‘multiple’ aspect of this technique, and combine many frames to produce a more impressionistic image.

By moving the camera between each shot, you can emphasise the bustling nature of urban scenes, for example, or provide a sketch-like interpretation of a well-known landmark. You don’t have to move the camera by a significant amount – even a very subtle shift in the angle can be just enough. With scenes involving movement – such as crowds of shoppers in a street – allowing the subjects to move position between each frame will add interest. Try using a shutter speed that’s fast enough to prevent motion blur, though: sharply rendered details provide viewers with an entry point into the picture.

When you’re trying this technique, it’s easy for distractions to slip into the frame when you move the camera for each shot, which can disrupt the final image. Watch out for bright areas of sky or colourful objects, for example.

I wanted to capture the constant commotion of this classic African scene of zebra and wildebeest. The six-frame in-camera multiple exposure has the look of a cave painting.