All images by Hussam Eissa. Used with Creative Commons Permission.
Despite the risk of creating something overdone, many photographers and visual creatives continue to make double exposures part of their storytelling tools. The dreamy works by Egyptian photographer Hussam Eissa make perfect examples of why they seek to master it. With its origins tracing back to the days of film photography, double exposure simply involves exposing a frame of film twice, yet the creative applications it opens are only limited by one’s imagination. With results that are often ethereal, reflective, and moody, it continues to persist as one of today’s most popular photography techniques, whether traditional or digital.
Brimming with sentimentality and an air of mystery, Hussam’s work takes us to seemingly secret worlds and emotional explorations that he conjures through his chosen crafts of photography and graphic design. These double exposure silhouettes are a primer into how his subjects, in their partial or complete outlines, add an extra dimension into the art of this technique.
His color palettes and hues of choice for his double exposures are mostly minimalist, borrowing from fiery sunsets, golden sunlight, crisp ambient light, and wispy backdrops. When blended with his subjects’ silhouettes, we get what appears to be an eye-catching take into the relationship of humans with their immediate and distant surroundings.
We can also see this penchant for double exposures seeping into his other equally amazing work, such as the surreal Escapism cinemagraphs or the space-inspired Interstellar and Cosmic Thoughts. Given that these digital artworks are flawless and skillfully executed, I’d like to see what Hussein would achieve with analogue techniques at his disposal, and what the experience of going back to the roots of double exposures would be like for him. That is, if he hasn’t yet.
If you liked these stunning double exposures, you can see more of his beautiful photography on his Behance page.
