Street photographer Davide Bergamini delivers expert insight on an alternate approach to urban imaging. Learn how he creates visual intrigue through multiple-exposure photography, using his trusted FUJIFILM X100F
Street photography offers unparalleled insight into urban centres around the world. And it’s fair to say that a certain kind of creative cannot remain uninspired in the heart of a city. Here, the cultures, styles and lives of the masses intersect. Streets and buildings converge, too, and a vibrant canvas for photography emerges. A thousand new opportunities present themselves every day, and for those in the right place at the right time, they become art.
How Davide Bergamini Found His Street Photography Calling
It was the city itself that called to Italian photographer, Davide Bergamini — long before image-making revealed itself.
“I love the city,” he expresses. “I love all aspects of life here. I took a photography course to gain confidence with the camera, then never stopped. It was an easy genre to immerse myself in, and I love that you can create street photography anywhere. You can sit in the window of your house and take 1000 pictures of the street outside if you want to — and that will tell a story.”
Davide’s own creative path eventually led to multiple exposure photography — however, it was more an evolution of style than immediate inspiration. To follow in his footsteps is to discover a personal vision. But what is multiple exposure photography, and how can it transform the way we see the world around us?
Photo 2023 © Davide Bergamini | FUJIFILM X100F, 1/750 sec at F7.1, ISO 400
Understanding Double and Multiple Exposure Photography
Double exposure and multiple exposure are creative photography techniques that blend two or more images into a single frame, often producing surreal results. As the name suggests, double exposure combines two different scenes or subjects, overlaying them to create a composite image where both elements are visible yet intermingled. Multiple exposure extends this concept, layering more than two images.
These methods create captivating images but can seem daunting to master. Davide explains more.
“It’s a process of varying technique that comes over time. Early on, you follow some basic rules and experiment with looks based on photographers you like. Eventually, you find a style of your own. For me, it’s about the visual pleasure.”
Applying Multiple Exposure to Street Photography
Double and multiple exposure techniques are popular in many solitary genres, but Davide has found a creative way to bring people and street photography together.
“I started by isolating figures in a lot of negative space because I wanted to say something about humans in a big city. Sometimes we are alone, even if we’re surrounded by thousands of people. After that, I went for reflections in windows, and the images became a little more chaotic – that showed another side of the city. That’s where multiple exposures came in. I needed to find a more controlled way of capturing that, something more visually pleasing and easily readable. Multiple exposures can be easy to understand, even with a lot of elements in one frame.”
Photo 2023 © Davide Bergamini | FUJIFILM X100F, 1/520 sec at F5.6, ISO 200
Finding Multiple Exposure Subjects
Despite such a multitude of options, finding compelling street subjects can pose a challenge. Finding a few to combine in a single frame is more difficult still. Through years of dedicated image-making, often in Milan and Rome, Davide has developed perspective enough to help.
“To begin with, I was looking for essentially the same image repeated. I wanted to recreate the reflection style of photo,” he reveals. “Getting out of that singular way of thinking helped, though. I looked back to my original style, with a lot of negative space, and realised I could fit another subject in that space.
“I got into a process where I wouldn’t see just one scene any more, but ways two or more would combine. I’d photograph windows, for example, then walk around for ten minutes and find the next street scene that would fit. That’s quite tough to start with, but walk around the corner and eventually, you’ll discover the perfect subjects.
“You also can’t focus on one central point like you would in a typical still image. Keep the negative space in mind. Often, I like to fill much of a frame with shadow. I find this combines better than a bright space when I make the next image in the multiple exposure.”
Photo 2023 © Davide Bergamini | FUJIFILM X100F, 1/500 sec at F5.6, ISO 640
Combining Double Exposures
X Series and GFX System cameras feature a dedicated multiple exposure mode, with a choice of four options when it comes to image combination. Additive stacks exposures directly, while Average automatically balances lights and darks within the combined frame. Dark and Bright modes prioritise shadows or highlights respectively, as the images overlay. All are well worth exploration as a means of achieving different looks – even with the same subjects.
“If you find a scene with minimal contrast, you can underexpose a few stops so that the second image comes out a little better. But in my eyes, multiple exposures come together best when there is a dark area in the first image. Without that base, you don’t have as much contrast in the final frame,” Davide adds. “I use spot metering to get the correct exposure on the brightest part of the first scene.”
Photo 2023 © Davide Bergamini | FUJIFILM X100F, 1/1600 sec at F8, ISO 400
The Best Camera for Multiple Exposure Photography
Whether used for multiple exposure photography or not, Fujifilm cameras offer countless in-camera look adjustment options, including a suite of refined Film Simulations. Within his particular genre, Davide leans into a bold monochrome look.
“When you look at my images, you can see that black and white works best most of the time because there’s no colour to distract from the contrast. You can push highlights and shadows as much as you want and still get a pleasing result. Sometimes colour works, but I feel it often adds visual chaos.
FUJIFILM X100F Film Simulation Options
“I love the ACROS Film Simulation, but all the options create fantastic looks. I like to achieve everything I can in-camera, and with the FUJIFILM X100F I can see the final result straight away. Most of what you see in my imagery is original JPEG.”
The Ideal Camera for Street Photography
It’s not just multiple exposure competence that led to Davide’s love of the X100F, however. Compact and ergonomic, it’s perfectly at home on the streets.
“I fell in love with this camera and it’s shaped the way I view photography,” he effuses. “The X100F is such a pleasure because it’s a compact camera, but so powerful. Even the vintage look is so beautiful. Thanks to all the custom controls, I don’t even look at the camera when I’m using it. My finger just goes to the buttons, and they’re all programmed to my needs.
“The other thing I love so much is the viewfinder. When I look through the viewfinder, I see the images exactly how they are. It’s something I never thought could be so useful.
I also own the FUJIFILM X-Pro2 with the FUJINON XF56mmF1.2 R WR, which gives me a different perspective. But as incredible as that combination is, nothing fits my process like the X100F.”
Photo 2023 © Davide Bergamini | FUJIFILM X100F, 1/2000 sec at F4, ISO 400
Davide’s Top Tips for Multiple Exposure Photography
Davide can offer two pieces of insight he wishes he’d taken note of sooner. One is a simple fix. The other is a foundation upon which all creative endeavours can be built – not least multiple exposure photography.
“The easy step is: get a Fujifilm camera sooner,” he laughs. “The tougher step is: everyone has to go through their own process differently. You can follow any path. A few years into my experience, I wasn’t ready for multiple exposure photography because I was still exploring other ideas. Try every style of street photography you can.
“In the end, with double and multiple exposure photography, you don’t have any boundaries. Remember that you can do anything anywhere. You don’t have to think about any one scene just one way. Don’t give yourself limits.”