“The technique is not the image; the technique supports the image.”
(Jerry Uelsmann)
Manipulated photography is an interesting art form that combines traditional photographic techniques with digital image editing. This type of photography allows an artist to create an entirely new image from a single photograph, or to create a montage of combined images. Such photographs have become increasingly popular in the media, with artists creating both abstract and realistic images. Art manipulated photography manipulates a photograph in a number of ways. Through the use of digital editing technologies such as Photoshop, any number of features can be changed or added to photographs, such as colour, texture, background, or distortions. Such photographs can focus on abstract concepts, creating a unique piece of art that often has an emotional impact. Additionally, photographers using digital editing can create surreal images by combining parts of different photographs, creating images that don’t necessarily faithfully replicate reality but instead evoke an emotional resonance. Creating art manipulated photographs is an involved process, requiring a great deal of skill and artistic ability. Digital editing tools can offer a great number of options, but an artist often must make decisions about how to crop the photograph, how to adjust the balance of colours, and how to decide when to step away from the photograph – it is easy to become enthralled in the manipulation of the photograph, only to later realize it has been ruined by over-processing. Similarly, selecting the ideal source photograph is a key part of the creative process. A good source photograph should have the right composition, emotional tone, and details that can be highlighted or used in interesting ways. Ultimately, art manipulated photography allows photographers to explore both their own creativity and the power of digital manipulation to create entirely new images. By combining traditional photography with digital image manipulation, photographers can create visuals that cannot be produced with traditional photography alone and which look abstract and surreal. This type of creative expression is a powerful tool for communication, and for exploring and expressing one's own creativity.