The Kung-Fu Teacher (multiple exposure shot)

[nikos]

I recently did a quick photo session with SiFu Mir. Since I love multiple exposure shots, I had to ask him to do about 10 tornado kicks so that I can try and catch his quick moves in the air (with strobes!) so that I can put together the below effect.

Here's the rest of the gallery:
http://nikos.smugmug.com/gallery/5897600_Yq36c

http://nikos.smugmug.com/photos/366851526_AE8d7-XL.jpg

[shniks]

I recently did a quick photo session with SiFu Mir. Since I love multiple exposure shots, I had to ask him to do about 10 tornado kicks so that I can try and catch his quick moves in the air (with strobes!) so that I can put together the below effect.

Here's the rest of the gallery:
http://nikos.smugmug.com/gallery/5897600_Yq36c



Great shot Nikos... well done...:thumb



Cheers,

[evoryware]

Nice shot! Did you use a 580EX for this?

[nikos]

Great shot Nikos... well done...:thumb



Cheers,

Thank you shniks!

[nikos]

Nice shot! Did you use a 580EX for this?


Thanks! I had the 580ex with the cheapo wireless ebay trigger on the right that also optically triggered an Alien Bee 400 on the left.

Nikos

[evoryware]

Have you ever tried the "Multi" Stroboscopic flash mode for a shot like this? Just wondering. I haven't yet.

[Ekaj]

Very nice shot. I've been dying to do something like this since I saw it used at the olympic diving. I love the desaturation.

[nikos]

Have you ever tried the "Multi" Stroboscopic flash mode for a shot like this? Just wondering. I haven't yet.
I've seen multi stroboscopic pics and they yield much different results than what I try to accomplish compared to separate multiple exposures. My processing is a lot more tedious but it also allows for much more flexibility to achieve various results.

Under perfect circumstances, I try to avoid using flash altogether and simply try to adjust my settings for maximum shutter speed and fps.


This was my first attempt that got me hooked about 2 years ago:
http://nikos.smugmug.com/photos/78915948_SmYhu-L-1.jpg

[dogwood]

Cool. Nice sequence and definitely worth the multiple exposure. :thumb

[PeterGar]

is this accomplished in camera or in post?

[tsk1979]

Can anyone please explain the technique?

[nikos]

Can anyone please explain the technique?

In brief:

1. Mount camera on tripod.

2. Take multiple photos of the sequence you want to capture. Normally, I shoot in bursts, but with this scenario, I was using strobes so I had to have my subject perform the kick multiple times while recording the progression.

3. Once you get all the shots on your computer, open in photoshop and merge each photo on its own layer.

4. Using layer masks, I do rough cut outs of the subjects from the background to get an idea of how I want to blend the images.

5. Once I get an idea of what I want to accomplish, I then start with the proper extraction of the subjects from the background.

6. I then merge all the layers onto a new layer an then touch up the picture as I would if it was a single exposure (levels, curves, sharpen etc.)

HTH,
Nikos

[PeterGar]

Thanks!!! :D

In brief:

1. Mount camera on tripod.

2. Take multiple photos of the sequence you want to capture. Normally, I shoot in bursts, but with this scenario, I was using strobes so I had to have my subject perform the kick multiple times while recording the progression.

3. Once you get all the shots on your computer, open in photoshop and merge each photo on its own layer.

4. Using layer masks, I do rough cut outs of the subjects from the background to get an idea of how I want to blend the images.

5. Once I get an idea of what I want to accomplish, I then start with the proper extraction of the subjects from the background.

6. I then merge all the layers onto a new layer an then touch up the picture as I would if it was a single exposure (levels, curves, sharpen etc.)

HTH,
Nikos