The simplest way to do it would be to copy one photo onto the other as a new layer, and then to change the layer’s blending mode to “Screen” and further adjust the opacity, but we’re going to add an additional tip. If you want to learn how to do it yourself, read on. But I’ve also made a few handy little actions in case you want to speed up the process. Download them for free here. =)

I find that just doing the old copy/paste/screen routine doesn’t quite get the balance I like. One image is always darker than the other and doesn’t really look like a genuine double exposure. So what I like to do is add a Multiply layer from the first image. It probably sounds confusing, so don’t worry, we’ll break it down.

The How To, Gumshoe

• First you’ll want to open both your images in Photoshop. Copy the first image (Ctrl+A, Ctrl+C) and paste it onto the second image (Ctrl+V). If you want to go the extra mile you can also copy the second image onto the first and go through all the steps twice to see which image you like better. (They will be different!)
• Next put the top layer blending mode to “Screen”. If you have your layers window open, this should be located in the right hand sidebar. If not, go to Layer > Layer Style > Blending Options and when the window pops up you should see a drop down box that reads “Blending Mode Normal”. Click that box and select “Screen” from the list.
• Now copy your original layer (re-select your “background” layer, right click, select “Duplicate Layer”) and change the blending mode to “Multiply”. You should notice right away the balance between your two images is adjusted. Sometimes this is enough, sometimes I add another Multiply layer.

See, easy peasy! Enjoy!

Because I grew up on a tropical island, the first time I remember seeing snow was when I was ten years old. It was the best thing in the world. I’d never been so cold before. My nose stung so badly it felt like it was going to fall off. My eyes watered and ears burned. Snow pants were the coolest invention ever. Hats and scarves were my new favorite accessory. I remember walking to school completely decked out in my snow pants, coat, mittens, you name it- I wore it. Most kids walked to school in a coat and jeans. (I like to use the excuse of not being used to the weather. Really I was just super excited about the snow.) Perhaps it’s strange, but I think the snow makes the cold bearable for me. Without the fluffy white hills and their diamond sparkle everything just seems dead and dreary. I’m confident it will come, even if I have to drive an hour outside the city just to see it, I’m just feeling a little impatient.

“Layers” August 26th (Day 238)

One of the best things about autumn is layering up.

“Neglected” August 27th (Day 239)

Tom saw this book tucked away in a shop, the last of its kind.

“Distorted” August 28th (Day 240)

Distorted view because of the fog. (Fog is one of my favorites.)

“Mirror” August 29th (Day 241)

After much debating, I finally picked up a mirror to go in the bedroom so I could do my make up in natural light instead of the bathroom. I’ve always wanted one of those vanity stations so I could put my make up and hair things, etc etc there and use the natural light of the bedroom instead of standing in the bathroom and cluttering it up with my stuff, but unfortunately we’re a little tight for space in the apartment so that will have to wait. This is close enough for me.

“Close” August 30th (Day 242)

Mmm, macro!

“Art” August 31st (Day 243)

I have this problem with dishware, specifically cups and mugs. We have plenty, and our cupboards are full, but I love collecting them anyway. When I saw these I really fell in love with them and just had to make room for them.

“Mail” September 1st (Day 244)

From overseas! (How serendipitous some arrived on the day it was my prompt.)

Before breakfast the boys must sit quietly (we say, “おすわり”) and wait until Tom or I asks them to “touch” or, as they’ve just recently learned, “high five”. Pumpkin is the touching master. He will touch the exact same spot you put your fingers on, no matter where it is. Atlas is the high five master, which is actually more like a really fast patty-cake for him. And Morn is the only know that knows “love me”, where he rubs his face against your hand.

Happy Caturday!

Photos 7, 8, & 10 were taken by my sister Kait.

One of our favorite restaurants here serves vegan Japanese, Korean, and Chinese food and to celebrate the New Year they were hosting tea ceremonies, and Tom and I attended one. We both loved it! It was extremely relaxing and I enjoyed how rhythmic everything was. Taking time to really enjoy the flavor of the tea and be grateful was quite therapeutic from a stressful week. And then we visited a local Asian market yesterday that just opened up in our area and everyone was buzzing with excitement for their new year celebrations. After being surrounded by it all weekend it seemed silly not to mention it.

And now we flash back to the middle of August while I catch up with you on the Spurred project. (Atlas. Was. So. TINY!)

“Group” August 16th (Day 228)

“Open” August 17th (Day 229)

“Waiting” August 18th (Day 230)

After two and a half weeks and three vet visits, he was released from quarantine! (Look at how TINY HE WAS!)

“Recommend” August 19th (Day 231)

This is Morn’s favorite Purr Yoga pose.

“Tea” August 20th (Day 232)

Well, there’s tea in the background, but this photo was too good to pass up. Turns out Atlas is quite the wordsmith.

“Foreign” August 21st (Day 233)

Making vegetarian dashi (which is Japanese soup stock!).

“Pain” August 22nd (Day 234)

The good kind of burning.

“Cozy” August 23rd (Day 235)

Pumpkin doesn’t seem too pleased, does he?

“Nest” August 24th (Day 236)

“Around” August 25th (Day 237)

Atlas likes to be lifted in this basket and carried around the house so he can see everything. We pretend he’s in his own hot air balloon traveling around the world. I used to pretend the same when I was young. Only I was too big to be carried around in a basket.

PS: I almost forgot the obligatory weather update. =P
We had a snow storm and it stayed for maybe two days but it’s all melted and there’s no snow. I cannot believe it! =(

On a different note, many of you have been emailing me asking me if it’s possible to “truly replicate” the look of film using the Reminisce action set, and so I thought I would process these photos to kind of show you the potential. Whether your film habit is too expensive, conflicts with your vegan values, or you just want to experiment- it’s definitely possible. While every type of film is different, and there are lots of different types of looks you may want to accomplish, it is possible to get fairly close to so many using what is provided in the set. I tried to keep it simple for this example and used only “Sage” (the “Reminisce” layer was between 80-100 opacity for each photo), sometimes with “Reminisce” added on top. After that I dropped this handy film style dust & particles layer [download full res] on top (set it to screen, 50-80% opacity) and voilà, film craving satisfied. Enjoy!

“Far” August 6th (Day 218)

“Macro” August 7th (Day 219)

This isn’t a macro shot. It isn’t even shot with my macro lens, but it’s not every day you get a chance to photograph a salt water aquarium so we’re going to roll with it.

“Soft” August 8th (Day 220)

“Clean” August 9th (Day 221)

“Key” August 10th (Day 222)

Do you see those rubber bands hanging on the key ring? Those were for when I went running. Until this month I was strapping my iPhone to the treadmill with a rubber band or two so it would stay put while I ran, and so I left the rubber bands with the gym key so I wouldn’t forget. For my birthday this year I was given an iPod nano, which clips to my clothes, and I no longer need to MacGyver my iPhone to the treadmill. But when I look back on this photo in a few years after I’ve forgotten, I will laugh at the two/three years I spent collecting rubber bands from every asparagus bundle we brought home from the grocery store, forgetting them and only realizing once already in the gym and coming all the way back to get some, having them snap mid run- all just so I could listen to some music while I ran.

“Stretch” August 11th (Day 223)

Usually I can’t handle spicy foods at all and as Tom made this chili we both thought there was no way I’d manage. “Mild” doesn’t mean squat. Okay, maybe mild means, “Sara’s mouth will explode and everyone else will wear confused looks on their faces, take another bite and conclude it’s not really spicy at all.” Because that’s usually what happens.

Except that I used to love chili dogs when I was younger. (Probably a result of being a Sonic the Hedgehog kid. I can’t believe I just admitted that.) So even now I will stretch my tolerance for spice a little bit as long as it’s in chili. And this chili was perfection.

“Stripes” August 12th (Day 224)

“Silence” August 13th (Day 225)

“Silence, peasant. You will provide me with a cushion.”

Sometimes I like to imagine what Morn and Pumpkin might be saying to each other.

“Night” August 14th (Day 226)

“Beautiful” August 15th (Day 227)