20 Incredible Photo Manipulation Examples

A Post By: Nate Jelovich

0Comments

Photo Manipulation is, in my opinion, among one of the most fascinating photography techniques out there. Photo Manipulation is the process of editing a photograph in such an extreme way that it takes on an entirely different look. Photo Manipulation goes beyond mere enhancements or corrections. Often using PhotoShop or other photo editing software and combining various elements from several photographs and other resources, Photo Manipulation blends reality with illusion to create something truly remarkable.

Check out 20 incredible Photo Manipulation examples below for inspiration in your own work. All images can be found at Imagekind.com.

Desperation by Josh Sommers

No One Wanted To Be Sued by M Fortune



Dizzy crowd by Martine Roch

Limits by Stephanie Bennett

Corsairs from Sirocco by Bartlomiej Jurkowski



Anatomy by Lisa KC

Hope Springs Eternal by PhotoDream .

Everything inside never comes out right. by Karen Biggs

Untitled by Sarolta Bán

The Whisper by Neil Carey

squid,seashell and crab by Pawel Wewiorski

One With the Earth by Day Seriani

DREAMING AGAIN by METROFADER

Storm by Lydia Marano

the loss of innocence by Ana Fagarazzi

My dream is to fly by Amalia Iuliana

The Last Angel by WanderingSoul

Day 144 - Little darling, it feels like years since by Miriness Photography

I am not a perfect man by O O

Little Fae by Tara Naomi Boliek

See more Photo Manipulation artwork at Imagekind.

Read more from our Tips & Tutorials category

Nate Jelovich works at Imagekind.com where you can buy and sell photography as framed wall art prints online to a worldwide audience. You set the price and keep the markup, Imagekind handles the rest. You can even frame photos of your own or print photos on canvas. For more information on selling your photography as framed prints, visit Imagekind.com/sell. Connect with Imagekind on Twitter and Facbook.

  • Nice pics maybe check out this lass, she dose the same sort of thing and some of her work is inspirational.

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/rosie_hardy/3616993194/

  • Some of these are weird. Some are great.

  • Mike, you made me smile because I kept expecting to see something from Rosie or from her boyfriend Aaron in this article. They’re both wonderful but Rosie is particularly talented at manipulating photos.

  • Katie

    I would love to see some tutorials on this. Or can anyone recommend some good books for a bit of light reading?

  • Amazing pictures 🙂 Loved them..

  • anna B

    I think it was a good choice not to include them. Not so much the guy, but the girl stole a few shots. A bit hard to promote “manipulation” without the photo part .

  • skipc

    It’s Photoshop [no inner cap ] goes to credibility.

  • Karl

    Agree with Mike & Sherry – I love Rosie & Aaron’s photomanipulation! Cannot recommend Rosie’s Flickr enough.

  • Most of these are truly amazing, thank you for sharing. I’ve always had a pretty dim view of manipulations that go this far, but this set has opened my eyes at least a crack.

  • Nice pictures.

    My favorite is the one of the broken light bulb.

  • Mike

    one bandwagon I’m not getting on – STUPID – for most of the pictures.

  • They were very, very good. My FAVORITE was the one with the coats worshiping the hanger.

  • Aleeya

    I’m with Katie. Any books or tutorials recommended would be fantastic.

  • Mike, thanks for pointing me to Rosie, her work really is fantastic.

  • Not everyone likes it…but art is emotive and generates emotion, that’s what makes it art. And let me tell you, it is no easy task doing this stuff and making it look like this! I love them all….

  • Rick

    I just love these. Even the Obama one.

    I got into a long discussion with another forum about digital art and photography. This is photo based digital art and would belong on any photo site.

    Wonderful examples

  • Thanks Rick! And everyone else for your thoughts and comments!

  • These are amazing! Especially love the tonal ranges of the Karen Biggs photo and the Josh Sommers photo.

  • Thanks for the inspiration!

  • Nice, but some of them are rather disturbing.

  • I’ve seen a lot retouch works before, this is one of the best stuff i ever seen, great retouch manipulations works.
    thanks for sharing…:)

  • Absolutely fantastic! Digital photo art is the wave of the future–love it! I recognized a few of the names, but others are new to me. Will check out Imagekind.

  • Great, thanks Colleen! If any of you ever have any questions about Imagekind, you can always drop me a line via twitter or just send me an email (nathan@imagekind.com). Also, facebook

  • I like very much this fantastic works…thanks for this information.

  • john alabata

    I just dont have the patience to edit pics that would pass as acceptable, but i would like to give it a try anyway…

  • JKThomasser

    Dali personified, gone digital. Amazing work, whether or not they’re liked. People’s imagination awes me!

  • Derrick Robbins

    The Obama image, though i don’t agree with his politics, is extremely well constructed and gripping both compositionally and graphically.

  • Barb

    I am rather new to photography and find this technique very interesting! All of these are stunning! And a lot of patience to detail and processing! So surreal ..genius! Thanks for sharing!

  • Neat stuff! I do this type of work and really enjoy it. A great way to practice techniques with photoshop and photography, try new things, and of course remain sane in an otherwise insane world.

    ~Lori

  • “Not everyone likes it…but art is emotive and generates emotion, that’s what makes it art.”
    I completely agree, Carrie. These images were inspiring and thought provoking. I am in awe of the creativity, the beauty and the balance between reality and the surreal. (You wouldn’t think it to look at me, but I am partial to the strange. I believe it is far closer to reality than most give it credit for.)

  • Joanna Fornby

    i like this girls manipulations http://xnattyx.deviantart.com/

  • I love the pics. Great!

  • sahul

    I don’t quite like surreal pictures like above but Rosie Hardy’s pictures are exceptional and in a different plane.

  • this are awesome. really..really inspiring…

  • this are awesome…really, realy inspiring

  • really great of work. Any body can show me how they do it?

  • Thanks for the inspiration, but I don’t know make like that …..

  • Kelsey

    Rosie did not STEAL photos. she “copied” them and did not credit. It wasn’t like she was claiming something as her own… she borrowed an idea and people took it like she robbed a bank.

  • Incredible! I thoroughly enjoyed these and was very inspired by them!

  • GMvhinz

    This photos are realy inspiring. But it would take a lot of effort editing this stuff to photo shop. “Patience is a virtue”….I am quite a newbie in the world of photography, but this surely give me a new perception on photography!!!

  • thanks a lot for sharing this with us…
    some r really cliches but most of this r really unique and amazing!

  • For sure! Which ones do you think are cliche? How so? What does cliche mean in photo manipulation work?

  • Linda

    These are incredible.

  • These are really nice examples of photo manipulation

  • Thanks for the examples of photo manipulation. I will try them soon.
    You could reach me at http://www.flickr.com/photos/mmboyz

  • Laura Higgins

    I was amazed at how well composed and thought out these photos are. I am from old school photography, but the amount of creative detail is wonderful.

  • bobby philips

    strange some are creepy.

  • Used to be done on film, too. It was harder back then, but the results were no different. Man Ray is probably one of the most well-known photographers who did this. Jerry Uelsmann also did some pretty cool stuff with this, pre Photoshop.

  • Steven Jones

    This photography are truly motivating. I am truly a novice in the realm of digital photography , however this doubtlessly give me another observation on photography!!!

  • ClippingPathAssociat

    Wonderful post, thanks for sharing with us.

Some Older Comments

  • Nathan September 13, 2011 12:45 am

    Used to be done on film, too. It was harder back then, but the results were no different. Man Ray is probably one of the most well-known photographers who did this. Jerry Uelsmann also did some pretty cool stuff with this, pre Photoshop.

  • bobby philips November 18, 2009 03:28 am

    strange some are creepy.

  • Laura Higgins September 19, 2009 03:57 am

    I was amazed at how well composed and thought out these photos are. I am from old school photography, but the amount of creative detail is wonderful.

  • Nyi Nyi Myanmar August 3, 2009 01:52 pm

    Thanks for the examples of photo manipulation. I will try them soon.
    You could reach me at http://www.flickr.com/photos/mmboyz

  • Andrei July 30, 2009 04:45 am

    These are really nice examples of photo manipulation

  • Linda July 25, 2009 11:09 pm

    These are incredible.

  • Nate Jelovich July 22, 2009 10:22 am

    For sure! Which ones do you think are cliche? How so? What does cliche mean in photo manipulation work?

  • mostafa July 22, 2009 07:38 am

    thanks a lot for sharing this with us...
    some r really cliches but most of this r really unique and amazing!

  • GMvhinz July 21, 2009 05:54 pm

    This photos are realy inspiring. But it would take a lot of effort editing this stuff to photo shop. "Patience is a virtue"....I am quite a newbie in the world of photography, but this surely give me a new perception on photography!!!

  • Terry-Anne July 19, 2009 03:55 am

    Incredible! I thoroughly enjoyed these and was very inspired by them!

  • Kelsey July 19, 2009 03:11 am

    Rosie did not STEAL photos. she "copied" them and did not credit. It wasn't like she was claiming something as her own... she borrowed an idea and people took it like she robbed a bank.

  • Wedding in Bali July 19, 2009 02:30 am

    Thanks for the inspiration, but I don't know make like that .....

  • Wayan Suadnyana July 18, 2009 09:48 pm

    really great of work. Any body can show me how they do it?

  • Geril Ventura July 18, 2009 09:33 pm

    this are awesome...really, realy inspiring

  • Geril Ventura July 18, 2009 09:31 pm

    this are awesome. really..really inspiring...

  • sahul July 18, 2009 01:26 am

    I don't quite like surreal pictures like above but Rosie Hardy's pictures are exceptional and in a different plane.

  • jinky July 17, 2009 09:44 am

    I love the pics. Great!

  • Joanna Fornby July 17, 2009 09:08 am

    i like this girls manipulations http://xnattyx.deviantart.com/

  • gina July 17, 2009 08:17 am

    "Not everyone likes it…but art is emotive and generates emotion, that’s what makes it art."
    I completely agree, Carrie. These images were inspiring and thought provoking. I am in awe of the creativity, the beauty and the balance between reality and the surreal. (You wouldn't think it to look at me, but I am partial to the strange. I believe it is far closer to reality than most give it credit for.)

  • Lori July 17, 2009 05:45 am

    Neat stuff! I do this type of work and really enjoy it. A great way to practice techniques with photoshop and photography, try new things, and of course remain sane in an otherwise insane world.

    ~Lori

  • Barb July 17, 2009 05:08 am

    I am rather new to photography and find this technique very interesting! All of these are stunning! And a lot of patience to detail and processing! So surreal ..genius! Thanks for sharing!

  • Derrick Robbins July 17, 2009 03:45 am

    The Obama image, though i don't agree with his politics, is extremely well constructed and gripping both compositionally and graphically.

  • JKThomasser July 17, 2009 03:30 am

    Dali personified, gone digital. Amazing work, whether or not they're liked. People's imagination awes me!

  • john alabata July 17, 2009 03:17 am

    I just dont have the patience to edit pics that would pass as acceptable, but i would like to give it a try anyway...

  • fotowaton July 17, 2009 03:11 am

    I like very much this fantastic works...thanks for this information.

  • Nate Jelovich July 17, 2009 02:35 am

    Great, thanks Colleen! If any of you ever have any questions about Imagekind, you can always drop me a line via twitter or just send me an email (nathan@imagekind.com). Also, facebook

  • Colleen July 17, 2009 02:01 am

    Absolutely fantastic! Digital photo art is the wave of the future--love it! I recognized a few of the names, but others are new to me. Will check out Imagekind.

  • Eugene Lew July 17, 2009 01:27 am

    I've seen a lot retouch works before, this is one of the best stuff i ever seen, great retouch manipulations works.
    thanks for sharing...:)

  • Joel July 16, 2009 10:20 pm

    Nice, but some of them are rather disturbing.

  • Rick July 15, 2009 02:28 pm

    Thanks for the inspiration!

  • BWC Photo Imaging July 15, 2009 07:46 am

    These are amazing! Especially love the tonal ranges of the Karen Biggs photo and the Josh Sommers photo.

  • Nate Jelovich July 15, 2009 07:38 am

    Thanks Rick! And everyone else for your thoughts and comments!

  • Rick July 15, 2009 07:31 am

    I just love these. Even the Obama one.

    I got into a long discussion with another forum about digital art and photography. This is photo based digital art and would belong on any photo site.

    Wonderful examples

  • Carrie July 15, 2009 01:52 am

    Not everyone likes it...but art is emotive and generates emotion, that's what makes it art. And let me tell you, it is no easy task doing this stuff and making it look like this! I love them all....

  • Nate Jelovich July 15, 2009 01:49 am

    Mike, thanks for pointing me to Rosie, her work really is fantastic.

  • Aleeya July 15, 2009 12:34 am

    I'm with Katie. Any books or tutorials recommended would be fantastic.

  • Eric Mesa July 15, 2009 12:25 am

    They were very, very good. My FAVORITE was the one with the coats worshiping the hanger.

  • Mike July 14, 2009 11:29 pm

    one bandwagon I'm not getting on - STUPID - for most of the pictures.

  • natek313 July 14, 2009 11:00 pm

    Nice pictures.

    My favorite is the one of the broken light bulb.

  • trcull July 14, 2009 02:56 pm

    Most of these are truly amazing, thank you for sharing. I've always had a pretty dim view of manipulations that go this far, but this set has opened my eyes at least a crack.

  • Karl July 14, 2009 01:25 pm

    Agree with Mike & Sherry - I love Rosie & Aaron's photomanipulation! Cannot recommend Rosie's Flickr enough.

  • skipc July 14, 2009 11:46 am

    It's Photoshop [no inner cap ] goes to credibility.

  • anna B July 14, 2009 11:45 am

    I think it was a good choice not to include them. Not so much the guy, but the girl stole a few shots. A bit hard to promote "manipulation" without the photo part .

  • Wakas Mir July 14, 2009 11:20 am

    Amazing pictures :) Loved them..

  • Katie July 14, 2009 11:06 am

    I would love to see some tutorials on this. Or can anyone recommend some good books for a bit of light reading?

  • sherry July 14, 2009 10:44 am

    Mike, you made me smile because I kept expecting to see something from Rosie or from her boyfriend Aaron in this article. They're both wonderful but Rosie is particularly talented at manipulating photos.

  • Rita July 14, 2009 10:32 am

    Some of these are weird. Some are great.

  • Mike July 14, 2009 09:50 am

    Nice pics maybe check out this lass, she dose the same sort of thing and some of her work is inspirational.

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/rosie_hardy/3616993194/

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