In photography, everything begins with contrast — between light and shadow, sharpness and blur, what’s seen and what’s imagined.

With CONTRA, Retrica introduces a new preset series designed for creators who love pushing artistic boundaries, especially in Double Exposure photography. This collection captures the essence of contrast itself — turning layered images into bold, cinematic stories full of depth and texture.

The Origin of CONTRA

The idea for CONTRA started from a simple observation.

When shooting double exposures, balance often gets lost in the blend. Two images overlap, but without enough contrast — the visual separation that gives clarity — the final result can look flat, muted, or overly subtle.

We wanted to fix that.

CONTRA was developed to bring balance back into layered photography. Each preset intensifies tonal depth, sharpens transitions between light and shadow, and enhances both highlights and blacks — not only for aesthetic impact, but to ensure that every layer maintains its presence when merged.

The result?

Double exposure photos that look defined, dimensional, and full of life.

Why Contrast Matters in Double Exposure Photography

In double exposure photography, every image is both subject and background. To make two images coexist beautifully, each one needs its own visual identity.

That’s where contrast becomes essential. It gives light areas the strength to shine through while keeping dark tones structured and grounded.

Think of CONTRA as the visual glue that holds two worlds together — helping photographers create compositions that feel balanced yet full of tension. Each preset enhances micro-contrast and texture, emphasizing the interplay between shapes, edges, and tones.

You’ll get cleaner silhouettes, richer blacks, and glowing highlights that bring cinematic drama to even the most complex multi-layer shots.

The Making of CONTRA

Developing CONTRA was a hands-on process from start to finish.

We conducted dozens of test shoots in Retrica’s Double Exposure Mode, experimenting with portraits, urban reflections, natural textures, and abstract lights. From those trials, every curve, hue, and tone was tuned to achieve that perfect “snap” — the moment when two images align harmoniously without losing their individuality.

Our focus was on three core principles:

• Depth: Preserve dimensionality even when multiple exposures overlap.
• Intensity: Maintain dynamic range without flattening shadows.
• Mood: Deliver cinematic contrast that feels natural, not artificial.

CONTRA isn’t about perfection. It’s about purpose — helping your photos look intentional, expressive, and artistically layered.

How to Use CONTRA in Practice

Try layering a portrait over rain-streaked glass, or blending a silhouette with a glowing skyline. CONTRA helps define your story by giving structure to softness and intensity to light.

Each preset in the series is carefully crafted to enhance texture, shape, and balance, allowing both exposures to speak with equal clarity.

Whether you’re experimenting with film-inspired tones or crafting surreal, abstract images, CONTRA helps your vision stand out.

For Photographers Who Want to Push Boundaries

CONTRA was created for photographers who don’t just want their images to look good — they want them to stand out.

It’s for creators who explore depth, play with light, and see photography as a dialogue between imagination and reality.

Switch to Double Exposure Mode, apply CONTRA, and let contrast tell your story.