Double Exposure Hack for the Hasselblad 500 C/M by James Baturin

Written by James Baturin

For all it’s wonderful qualities, one feature the Hasselblad 500 C/M lacks is a setting for double exposures.

Shooting double exposures and multiple exposures is the process of shooting the camera more than once without advancing the film. This layers multiple images on top of each other and opens up a world of creative possibilities when shooting film.

While a multiple exposure feature makes taking doubles simpler, there is still a way to take double exposures with the Hasselblad if you just follow a few steps.

And if you’re new to the Hasselblad 500 C/M, you can read more about it here.

Shooting Double Exposures with the Hasselblad 500 C/M

Step 1

Take your first exposure, but DON’T advance the film to the next frame.

Step 2

Slide the dark slide into the film back.

Step 3

Remove the film back from the camera.

Step 4

With the film back removed, wind the film advance knob to recock the shutter.

Step 5

Reattach the film back, take out the dark slide, and take your second exposure.

If you are doing a double exposure, simply wind the film advance knob after Step 5, but you can do any number of exposures by repeating the steps as many times as you want.

Here are a few examples of doing this process with 10+ exposures in a single frame.

The process can get tedious if you are doing a lot of exposures, but it works if you have the patience!

Thank you so much, James! James is a regular contributor here at Shoot It With Film, and you can check out his other articles here, including A Multiple Exposure Experiment: 20+ Exposures in a Single Film Image and Using Intentional Camera Movement to Enhance Your Film Photography.

You can also check out James’s work on Instagram.

Leave any questions shooting double exposures on the Hasselblad 500CM below in the comments!

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James Baturin

James Baturin is a long exposure film photographer and a regular contributor for Shoot It With Film. Find his other articles here, including Hasselblad 500 C/M Film Camera Review and Long Exposure Film Photography Tutorial.

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