Now that I have written about how to use the four in-camera blend modes (check out my last four posts if you haven’t seen them and would like to learn more), I thought I would show a few more examples. Oddly, the blend modes are not recorded in image metadata (at least not on Canon cameras), so for some of these, I am going by memory and trying to figure it out based on the appearance of the image. Finally, these images have all been processed, so the colors have been manipulated, and, in many instances, there have been layers duplicated and transformed (which is part of the fun of making abstracts).

This first multiple exposure was made using the Darken blend mode. I can tell that because the darker colors show above the whitish background and there are underlying greens (though the colors can easily be changed).

This next image was also made using the Darken blend mode, as the darker colors hide the light beige background.

Here is one that was taken in Lighten mode. I can tell that because the lighter blues, whites, and magentas obscure the black underneath it.The magenta comes from the Lighten mode (and because the subject had a warm tone). Usually Lighten doesn’t produce cool blues, but in this case the object itself was blue.

I believe this final image was made using the Average mode. Average mode images often come out with low contrast and saturation, but these are very easy issues to correct in post-processing.

The best way to learn more about how to work with these blend modes is to go out and make multiple exposure photographs using them and see what you get. Experimentation is key!

Some Blend Mode Examples

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