I started to take multiple pics of the same subject on one photograph years ago using the technique of not moving forward the film in an analogue carera and shoting more pics on the same frame. The results was fascinating for my time skils and I was thinking always what could be done with this technique.

Second step was making multiple exposures of the same subject by long exposure time in darknes using a flesh manual firing and moving the subject (most of times myself) around the composition of the frame. The results were nice but still far from what I wanted.

The use of a professional flesh alowed me to use stroboscopic mode to made photographs that were documentation of the moving subject .. with camera set to long exposeure and with a simple calculation of the numbers of fires of flesh per second I get multiple exposures of the same subject in the same frame. (Setting the time of exposure to 1 sec and having flash firing 5times per second you get an image of 5 same subjects on it.. than it all depends of the way how the subject move or change in the frame and its velocity)

But the real development came with entering into the digital world and by seeing some images of a pluri awarded PAUL M. SMITH E RANKIN [link] it becomes clear to me that I need a concept .. pics have to have a deeper purpose than showing only technique.

"The first question when you take pics on someone is: Who is this person?" Said Paul M. Smith in an interview. " I dont see them like multiple expressions of myself, I am only a subject in them." and I totaly agree with him because after the first tries where I was looking how I am look like or what the people with think about I uderstand that more than you take pics on yourself, more you forget that the one on the pics is you.. and more your conceptual idea take off.
(related to an article about Paul M. Smith E Rankin from "Photographare in digitale" n°19 may 2006)

So after a few tries here are the first three pic I made with myself like an actor and photographer:



While there are some differences about technique in the first one and last one. The first "I paparazzi" is amde from 4 different composed images .. four sectors to merge in one image to get wider perspective and being more "IN" the image and merged out of 5 images. I have to say that I dont raccomend this way because the result is uncertain because meging wide images can lead to distorsions which arent nice on human bodies. I have luck with this image it comes out preaty good but the distortion is still noticable. The third one "I life in the past is made out of 5 different exposures but made on the same frame-sector.



My advices about pics like that:
-use better tripod you can to not move the camera if you have to take a lot of pics (250 in avarega were taken for every of my pics than I choose the ones I reputed the best ones or the ones that gine together best)
-mark the space used by a single frame, have always in mind where there is a subject from an other image and think in 3D if possible.
-it is easier to make good multiple pics in artificial light why you have unlimited time where light doesnt change(changing cloaths etc)... on the sun shadows move very fast and can be additional work on ps. In the natural light also contrasts and color temperature changes are very fast.
-I like to use indirect light pointing reflectors (3 of 150-500W) in the backwall or using deflectors.. to flat the contrasts and reduce changes in light made by my movements in the pic space.
-It is good to thing about colors of the subject(cloaths, hair color, car color if taking multiple pic on a car) and the color of the cacground and related textures .. to not have later problems in photoshop to crop it from the bacground essspecialy if two same subjects have to be in the same line suing different 3D but same 2D space)
-I racomend to have a remote controler for the camera.. I dont have it so it was very fun
-choose the main pic and then put on it the croped subjects from the others, think in 3D the main have to be the one with the most distant subject

And here are two other way how to use this great technique:
and 2 by

and here we come to my last two works wich are somehow the idea that I had all time in mind and leaded me trought this technique. Using multiple me to express an idea what is going on.

&

The one in front rapresent what is going with me visualy and the two in the bacground are rapresenting what is going with me in a more conceptual way. In the first I am playing a chess match with death for life (idea from comic by Bonelli Dylan Dog n°66) and the second I am becoming a slave of my adiction to the web.

The most difficult part were the wires in the "Islave of the web" which toke me few hours of thinking how to do it.
making of the last one

So hope I was helpful and inspirating. I found out that a lot of people here on Deviantart are making multiple pics and a lot of people dont know how to do them. In reality are very simple works to make, photoshop, tripod and imagination and the pic is done.

Here are features of many deviants around Deviantart: