You’ve likely seen a photo that, at first glance, made you think, “Is this even real?” The image was so captivating that it made you wonder if it had been Photoshopped. And with technology these days, the possibilities are endless.
But no. None of these pictures underwent any form of manipulation. They were just perfectly timed, with the right blend of colors and shapes in one snapshot. These have been shared around the internet, and we’ve picked out those that stood out.
Scroll through, and if you’re into photography for a living or as a hobby, these could give you some ideas on what to shoot next.
#1 Sunrise In Alice Springs, NT, Australia
Image credits: Semajiscool
#2 A School Of Jellyfish Congregated Under This Boat
Image credits: pants35
#3 Summoning Demons
Image credits: frituurgarnituur
The concept of manipulation existed way before the birth of Adobe Photoshop in 1990. According to the National Science and Media Museum, it came as “darkroom trickery,” where photographers used clever layering techniques in their negatives.
The first example of this happened in the 1920s by Russian artist Alexander Rodchenko, who used scissors for a literal cut-and-paste method to create a collage using multiple photos.
#4 Sunset At Henley Beach, South Australia 24/8/24
Image credits: EuphoricMap2490
#5 This Is Not AI, But Two Buildings In Łódź Photographed By Me From Such A Perspective That It Would Seem That They Constitute A Whole. ?the Światowit Hotel Being Demolished With The Zus Skyscraper In The Background. A Thread About A Small Project That I Completed In February This Year On The Subject Of Łódź Contrasts
Image credits: hashtagalek
#6 I’ll Just Take This
Image credits: reddit.com
Photoshop and photo manipulation are now considered art forms. In 2020, the Yorkshire Photographic Union featured digitally enhanced photographs in its collection.
The annual competition dedicated an entire category to altered realities through images to celebrate the modern take on photography through digital technology.
#7 A Pixelated Cat
Image credits: yudoit
#8 I Caught A Rainbow In A Clear Mineral Selenite. It's Looks Like Marvel's Infinity Stone
Image credits: dendy_d
#9 Twice The Fun With None Of The Mess!
Image credits: itsbdubya
The social media era also brought about a new age in photo manipulation. All of a sudden, everyone who owned a smartphone had the ability to enhance their pictures through filters.
For professional photographers, these advancements are a blessing and a curse. While they provide a convenient method of capturing moments, they also offer a distorted view of reality.
#10 Hades And His Rainbow Colored Nose
Image credits: Lara1507
#11 Bird Flew By During A Picture. Now It Looks Like A Giant Bird Landed On My Head
Image credits: Ok-Atmosphere8982
#12 Doggo Is Blessed
Image credits: d3333p7
“Selfie culture” has heavily contributed to reality distortion through Instagram filters and has reached alarming levels. For clinical education specialist Krista Crotty, it may induce self-esteem and mental health issues, especially for younger people.
“In between that authentic self and digital self lives a lot of anxiety, because it’s not who you really are. You don’t look like the photos that have been filtered,” Crotty told MIT Technology Review in a 2021 interview.
#13 This Reflection Of The Sky On A Building Looks Like The Sky
Image credits: TG--
#14 Extremely Rare Rainbow Cloud Over Hcmc
Image credits: rozdolla
#15 My Friends Jacket Is Made Entirely Out Of Reflective Material... This Is What A Picture With Flash Looks Like
Image credits: kwkkly
However, photo manipulation isn’t all bad. As graphic design service provider Color Clipping Ltd. points out, it’s a way to make photographs stand out by stirring emotions, apart from improving quality. It also boosts one’s brand, as it can help with product recall.
Ultimately, it’s about finding the balance between reality distortion and enhancement. But if you want to achieve eye-catching images organically, as seen on this list, timing is your best friend.
#16 This Year's Last Supermoon Rising Over Santa Cruz's Walton Lighthouse
Image credits: timtamtoosh
#17 My Salty Camera Lens Turned My Boyfriend Translucent
Image credits: dani4688
#18 Levitating Water
Image credits: ginpahit
Now, we’d like to hear from our readers. Which of these photos stood out to you? For photographers, do any of these concepts pique your interest? Let us know in the comments!
#19 ? Golden Himalayan Mountains
Image credits: Dr_Apk
#20 My Dad Took This Photo Of "White Shadows" That Appeared When Only The Snow Around The Shadows Melted
Image credits: HJGamer
#21 The Reflection Of The Pool Table At This Bar Signed Perfectly With The Interior Of The Car Outside
Image credits: reddit.com
#22 Sailing Through The Sky
Image credits: sadturtle12
#23 Double Dog
Image credits: nevetsprog
#24 I Took This Photo Of The Moon With A 3D-Printed Telescope And My Smartphone
Image credits: __Augustus_
#25 Small Man Does Balancing Act On Old Man's Head
Image credits: friskyfrog
#26 This Diving Photo I Took Of My Friend Makes It Look She's Doing A Handstand On Water
Image credits: tencents1010
#27 I Snapped This Photo Of A Cardinal Jumping And It Looks Like He Is Floating
Image credits: the_pride_of_VPI
#28 A Single Photo Of Some Trees And Water
Image credits: sarazond
#29 Magic Carpets: The Art Of Faig Ahmed's Melted And Pixellated Rugs, Where Pieces Sell For Upwards Of $15,000 (£11,870). Typically, They Begin As A Classic Pattern That Encounters An Obstacle Or Glitch, A Sort Of Technical Meltdown
Image credits: zakuria44
#30 This Picture My Mom Took Of My Sister
Image credits: maddieecake
#31 Saw This Weird Cloud While Running
Image credits: JVillan
#32 Grass Area Looks Like It's In A Cup
Image credits: whywee
#33 Who's A Good Boy?
Image credits: demonicskip
#34 Optical Illusion Of The Day: Texas Edition
Image credits: Liv_Boeree
#35 Swimming Pool Illusion
Image credits: Teerendog
#36 Strong Winds In Salt Lake This Week
Image credits: zeldadorf
#37 This Is One Photo Of A Camping Store In Tokyo
Image credits: theroors223
#38 The Timing Of This Image Makes It Look Like My Nephew Is A Waterbender
Image credits: KellJoy
#39 Roasting My Hot Dog Over An Open Flame
Image credits: aLittleDoubt
#40 When Ice Crystals Turn Streetlights Into Sky Beams
Image credits: dartanner
#41 Light Pillars From My Bedroom Window. First Time I See Them Not Touch Down!
Image credits: db_nrst
#42 A Floating Stone
Image credits: Sam_Emmers
#43 My Dad Took This Photo In 2008 In Co. I Remember Playing Outside And Looking Up And Saw A Green Funnel Cloud
Image credits: skobearzz
#44 Sky Parking
Image credits: bevflora
#45 A Photo Taken Atop A Ferris Wheel
Image credits: PandaCod3r
#46 Napping Comfortably
Image credits: MissingTheSun
#47 This Building That Looks Like A Single Wall Of Windows
Image credits: seanssy
#48 South Meridian Ave. Not Ps'd
Image credits: rtodd23
#49 Someone Trew The Sky!
Image credits: Rocksquare69
#50 Meet The Alabama Hover Donkey, She Is Pregnant And You Can't See Her Feet
Image credits: speedycat2014
