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They say that a picture is worth a thousand words. Well, some incredible images are so astounding that a thousand questions bubble to the surface of our thoughts the moment we see them. In the 21st century, one of the first questions usually is: “Was this photoshopped?”

Whether you think that Photoshop should never be used for photo editing or you believe that it’s an inseparable part of a photographer’s existence in the digital age, the fact is, more and more pictures are being post-processed than ever before. Simply because of how easily accessible cameras and editing software is nowadays. However, once in a blue moon some very intriguing, once in a lifetime photos pop out from the woodwork. Beautiful photos that look photoshopped, but that aren’t.

We love collecting stunning eye-candy for you to gaze at all day long. And today’s no exception. We’ve gathered the finest examples of stunning pictures that definitely weren’t photoshopped. Grab a cup of tea, coffee, or cocoa, get your scrolling finger ready, and enjoy what our team of hard-working Pandas prepared for you. Upvote your favorite photos, share this post with your buddies, and let us know in the comments what you think of each picture. And check out our previous posts about incredible photos that weren't photoshopped right here and here.

Scroll down for Bored Panda’s exclusive and in-depth interview with professional photographer Anna Chii about the ‘morality’ of editing pictures, her take on ‘all-natural’ photos, her philosophy of photography, what clients usually expect, as well as the importance of trust between a photographer and their clients.

#1

My Friend Just Got This Once In A Lifetime Picture

My Friend Just Got This Once In A Lifetime Picture

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Slinkman
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4 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Looks like a giant planet close to earth, like you encounter in sci-fi video-games.

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Whether it’s a house almost completely blending into the sky, a dog covered with Holi powder that looks like it’s on fire, or a highway that seems to extend into the heavens, some pictures, especially those with perfect timing, are able to addle, befuddle, and confuse our senses without needing even a byte of editing software.

Anna Chii talked to Bored Panda about photography, photo-editing, as well as what she thinks of ‘all-natural’ pictures. Bored Panda started off by asking Anna, who has worked with portraits for many years now, to go into detail about how much she and other photographers use editing software to alter pictures.

“Often when people hear the word “Photoshop,” they imagine Instagram girls which make their faces unrecognizable by “photoshopping” them and think that Photoshop is used just for that. Actually, people mistake it with other apps like “Facetune.” Photoshop is a software package for working with digital imagery and is used not only for photography but also for design, video editing, photo manipulations and more,” Anna gave a run down of the basics.

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She then continued: “When we talk about photography, there is no single proven way of using this software when it comes to editing pictures. Every single photographer or retoucher has his or her own style, way of editing, or set of skills used for making the best photos possible. That’s why photoshopped pictures can look wildly differently: from waxy or plastic faces to an absolutely natural look. From drastic changes in face or body features to just color corrections. From creating a fantasy world around your subject to simply removing unwanted objects from the background.”

#4

A Forest Service Worker Photographed A Fire Burning Inside A Tree While He's Fighting Western N.C. Wildfires

A Forest Service Worker Photographed A Fire Burning Inside A Tree While He's Fighting Western N.C. Wildfires

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#5

The Golden Rays Of The Sunset Entered The Cave At Just The Right Angle To Light Up This Section Of Ice, Making It Look Like Amber

The Golden Rays Of The Sunset Entered The Cave At Just The Right Angle To Light Up This Section Of Ice, Making It Look Like Amber

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#6

Halfway Sunset

Halfway Sunset

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Koalamonster
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Looks like those clouds are creeping across to cover everything in their red color.

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“From personal experience, after many years of learning and experimenting, shooting takes the least amount of time in comparison to the other parts of the process — planning and retouching,” Anna revealed. “I mostly take portraits. Usually, my clients are not professional models with heavy makeup, which covers all of their imperfections and barely requires any retouching. My models are people who want to have lovely pictures of themselves, who want to portray their lives and experience fun time while freezing those moments – without pressure or fear of being imperfect.”

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According to Anna, she retouches her pictures every single time. “I do believe that my clients need to get the best result they can get. And making a regular picture great requires not only taking pictures correctly from a technical point of view, but also adding some magic to each and every one of them.”

“And it’s not about changing features, or making people look perfect and not representative of the way they look in real life,” she went on. “It’s about the small details, which make the photo stand out without making it look unrealistic. It’s about colors and lighting. About mood. Every person that I shoot has their own story and a unique aura. I want to make my pictures reflect the feeling I get when being with the person and share it throughout the final image. And it can take from half an hour to a couple of hours per image. Depends on the emotion I want to portray in the final picture.”

#7

Me And My Girlfriend Were Walking In The Woods The Other Week And Saw A Rainbow Pool For The First Time

Me And My Girlfriend Were Walking In The Woods The Other Week And Saw A Rainbow Pool For The First Time

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A B C
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Found on bbc.com: Jeff Ripple, a former Florida swamp walk leader, told the BBC: "The rainbow sheens found as a thin film on top of pooled water in swamps and marshes are the result of natural oils released by decaying vegetation or the biological processes of anaerobic bacteria reducing iron in soil."

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#8

This Spot On I-80 In Wyoming Is Known As The Highway To Heaven

This Spot On I-80 In Wyoming Is Known As The Highway To Heaven

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#9

My Drive In To Work This Morning (I-90 In The Berkshire Mountains, MA)

My Drive In To Work This Morning (I-90 In The Berkshire Mountains, MA)

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EpicFangirl
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

its so beautiful and serene... i love how it just looks so perfect with the snow

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Anna the photographer also talked to Bored Panda about how ‘all-natural’ pictures can compete with heavily photoshopped images. “We need to define what kind of photography we are talking about and what are “heavily photoshopped” pictures. If we are talking about portraits, I do believe that If you have a great team (assistant, makeup artist, hairdresser, stylist), you have a beautiful location with the lighting set up correctly, you have a model with clear skin and everything is under your control, then you can take really good pictures and editing could be almost unnecessary.”

“But usually, you don’t have all the people and props which could help to create a great image. When you work alone, sometimes mistakes slip past the cracks as you need to cover many areas during the photo shoot,” she noted that everyone makes mistakes and that no photographer is perfect.

“For me, Photoshop is not about changing the person in the picture, but about enhancing the quality of the picture. Correcting shadows and lighting, enhancing colors, correcting small details like wrinkles on clothes or makeup makes a huge difference. It can be done with the help of professionals — makeup artists, assistants, stylists. Before and during the shoot they will correct makeup, clothes, hair, hold a reflector for better light. And it can also be done during post-production in Photoshop. Almost the same result, simply a different way of achieving it. Producing a quality photograph requires time and effort. So Photoshop is not an easy way to get beautiful pictures with just a few clicks of a mouse.”

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#10

Perfect Timing

Perfect Timing

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#11

This Window That Makes My Back Yard Look Like It’s In 4 Different Seasons

This Window That Makes My Back Yard Look Like It’s In 4 Different Seasons

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#12

My Boy Climbing An Old Rotten Tree Stump Looks Like A Giant Climbing Mountains

My Boy Climbing An Old Rotten Tree Stump Looks Like A Giant Climbing Mountains

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What’s more, Bored Panda was interested to hear what Anna thinks of photography purists who detest any use of editing software and want everything to be ‘natural.’ According to her, a lot depends on an individual’s perspective and how they perceive the purpose of a specific picture.

“The purpose of a picture can be very different. Photos are like a form of art, images for advertising, family pictures, nature, product posters and many other genres. All of them serve a different purpose. The viewer should also have critical thinking while looking at the images and understand the nuance and the nature of the photos in question.”

“People have different beliefs on every subject possible. Some think girls with makeup are unnatural, some think it makes them prettier and more feminine. Same goes for photography. I think it’s a really lovely thing to have something you do like as well as something you don’t like about the final images.”

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The photographer continued: “If you like pictures without Photoshop and want to have a photo shoot for yourself — that’s great. Find a photographer that takes “natural pictures” and hire her/him. And yet, I don’t believe that, if they are professionals, they will give you a photo without any (at least slight) retouching. Maybe the picture will look natural, but will it really be, is a different question (unless all a photographer cares about is to get the money and get rid of the client as fast as possible).”

#13

Rosie Caught The Sunlight Just Right. She Was Sitting At The Curb Edge With The Sun Setting Just Under The Car. One Hell Of A Cool Effect

Rosie Caught The Sunlight Just Right. She Was Sitting At The Curb Edge With The Sun Setting Just Under The Car. One Hell Of A Cool Effect

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#14

The Pole In This Picture Makes It Look Like Two Different Pictures

The Pole In This Picture Makes It Look Like Two Different Pictures

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#15

The Dog Is Covered With Holi Powder, Looks Like He's On Fire

The Dog Is Covered With Holi Powder, Looks Like He's On Fire

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“As time passes in your photography journey, you want to take better pictures and improve the quality of your work. And for that you need to learn new techniques. And get new skills. Including Photoshop. I think, if a photographer has good Photoshop skills, it’s only a plus,” Anna said without any reservations.

“But you can’t produce good photographs if you can’t take good photographs. Photoshop won’t help you create a good picture out of a terrible shot. If you don’t know how to use Photoshop, probably it will end up being the opposite. You can make a picture even worse than it was before. But if the photograph itself is good, then Photoshop can enhance it and make it a little bit better in a different way — depends on the goal.”

“I believe that the best way to get natural, unretouched picture is to shoot on good old film. Film cameras take lovely pictures. And it’s so fun to make. I would say, film cameras have a certain magic about them,” Anna exclaimed that sometimes old cameras are the best. “After all, it’s all about your preferences. There is no good or bad photography. There are just the photos which you like and the ones you don’t. Remember, you are the one who chooses the photographer for your own photo shoot. So talk with a potential photographer, look at his/her work and decide if the style, mood, colors, outcome, attitude are the ones you would like to see in your pictures. And trust. Trust and believe in your photographer.”

#16

6 Years Ago I Posted My Wife's Eye That Her Doctor Told Her Was The Weirdest He'd Ever Seen. Since Then My Photography's Improved Quite A Bit, So Here's A New Pic I Took A Couple Days Ago

6 Years Ago I Posted My Wife's Eye That Her Doctor Told Her Was The Weirdest He'd Ever Seen. Since Then My Photography's Improved Quite A Bit, So Here's A New Pic I Took A Couple Days Ago

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N G
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The guy who took this photo is now teaching photography, he's always looking for new pupils !

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#17

In Cute Cat News, My Mom Put Up An Easter Decal On Our Front Door And It Makes Gigi Look Like A Dr. Seuss Character

In Cute Cat News, My Mom Put Up An Easter Decal On Our Front Door And It Makes Gigi Look Like A Dr. Seuss Character

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#18

This Black Car Looks Like A Mirror After Being Washed

This Black Car Looks Like A Mirror After Being Washed

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The Wall Street Journal writes that social media and editing tools have altered the landscape of photojournalism. Sometimes, people are accused of digital manipulation even if the picture is genuine and unaltered. For example, when Tamina-Florentine Zuch won an international contest with a picture of a woman in the open door of a Mumbai train, some online critics accused her of having composited the image and doctoring the photos.

The use of Photoshop and other digital editing programs has been compared, by some, to doping in sports competitions. Some recent photography contests have been tarred by accusations of cheating and using digital tools to enhance photos in order to snag top prizes. It’s a good thing that not all accusations are true and that there are plenty of pictures that look so amazing that people think they’re photoshopped.

#19

This Photographer Was Probably Excited

This Photographer Was Probably Excited

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#20

The Black-And-White Costume Was The Best One I Have Ever Seen. No Masking... Honest

The Black-And-White Costume Was The Best One I Have Ever Seen. No Masking... Honest

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Koalamonster
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's so cool! You can see a SMALL spot where makeup has rubbed off her neck- which I kind of like because it shows definitively that it's a real image. That dedication to looking awesome.

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#21

These Burnout Marks Look 3D

These Burnout Marks Look 3D

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#22

This Photo From Inside A Tent Looks Like Photoshop Trick

This Photo From Inside A Tent Looks Like Photoshop Trick

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Koalamonster
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It fits look like it could've just been put over the image. Nice view to wake up to though.

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#23

The Way My Closet Separates This Light

The Way My Closet Separates This Light

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Kaan Öner
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

rgb components in "white" led bulbs have little offsets between them which causes this divergence

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#24

This Viaduct In South England, UK

This Viaduct In South England, UK

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Koalamonster
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's an amazing structure. Can't imagine how massive it seems when you're there.

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#26

This Cow Eating Grass

This Cow Eating Grass

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#29

Perfectly Timed

Perfectly Timed

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Vic
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A lesser known cousin of "the fountain of youth", "the fountain of questionable existence"

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#30

The Rain Turned Our Yard Into A Van Gogh Painting

The Rain Turned Our Yard Into A Van Gogh Painting

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#33

These Teacups Look Like They Have Little Holes In Them

These Teacups Look Like They Have Little Holes In Them

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#34

Hundreds Of Thousands Of Starlings Migrating Across The Region Covered The Skies Of Rome Making It Appear Like TV Static

Hundreds Of Thousands Of Starlings Migrating Across The Region Covered The Skies Of Rome Making It Appear Like TV Static

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#35

Russia Hasn't Got Anything On The Monterrey Stadium In Mexico

Russia Hasn't Got Anything On The Monterrey Stadium In Mexico

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#36

We Recently Had A Storm In Germany

We Recently Had A Storm In Germany

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Stimpy
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If the car were on it's side too, that would be exactly how a small kid would paint the scene

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#37

This Unicorn Picture Is Different In The Mirror

This Unicorn Picture Is Different In The Mirror

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#39

Waterfowl Lake In Banff National Park, Alberta / Canada

Waterfowl Lake In Banff National Park, Alberta / Canada

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#40

The Paint On This Building Is The Same Shade As The Sky

The Paint On This Building Is The Same Shade As The Sky

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#41

The Reflection Of The Light On My Coffee Looks Like A Glowing Castle

The Reflection Of The Light On My Coffee Looks Like A Glowing Castle

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#42

Standing In A Huge Pond That Sinks Every Dry Season

Standing In A Huge Pond That Sinks Every Dry Season

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Koalamonster
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've seen this before but it's still impressive. Such a clean line.

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#43

This Photo I Took Of Fog Over A Lake Makes This Warning Sign Look Like It Is Surrounded By Nothingness

This Photo I Took Of Fog Over A Lake Makes This Warning Sign Look Like It Is Surrounded By Nothingness

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Debbie Detmer
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You're traveling through another dimension, a dimension not only of sight and sound but of mind. A journey into a wondrous land whose boundaries are that of imagination. That's the signpost up ahead - your next stop, the Twilight Zone

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#45

Simple Yet Creative

Simple Yet Creative

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Note: this post originally had 146 images. It’s been shortened to the top 45 images based on user votes.