Some cameras have a multiple exposure feature built in. Others have a pixel shift function which can substitute. If your camera doesn’t, you can shoot a burst of shots and combine with software like Photoshop.
My Panasonic Lumix G9 has an in-camera pixel shift function. This allows you to combine 8 images into one high resolution composite file. The G9 does this in-camera (raw and jpeg) which is convenient. It also has an optional mode that suppresses motion artefacts. The G9 does the composite with the electronic shutter, shooting a burst of 8 shots.
I hit upon the idea of mis-using the pixel shift feature for multiple exposures. Normally, to use pixel shift properly, the camera has to be secured to a tripod to ensure the pixels are properly stacked and aligned. It occurred to me if I hand held, and ignored the need for alignment by panning or moving the camera in an Intentional Camera Movement (ICM) style, this might produce some interesting abstract motion effects that were different from simple slow shutter speed motion blur and ICM.
And it does!
I tried with static and moving subjects. With static subjects you move the camera, panning, twisting, running around during the burst. With moving objects you can try doing a traditional pan (see the header image).
With the G9 I turned the motion compensation off.
Some more examples:
It’s difficult to predict the result (and you can edit to taste for a different look) but the serendipity is half the fun.
Why not give it a go?
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