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50 Times People Took Epic Photos And Had To Convince Others They Weren’t Photoshopped (New Pics)
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.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Sunset At Henley Beach, South Australia 24/8/24
M B 1 year ago
Wait till you see the rest of Australia....crawling towards you
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#2
Summoning Demons
Still Going 1 year ago
I believe cats summon demons on a regular basis! Has anyone ever had the lovely experiences where a cat is purring in your lap and then suddenly sinks his claws into your leg? Demons, I say!
Sara Frazer 1 year ago
I welcome and accept demonic cat overlords instead of what's about to be in office again
#3
I Caught A Rainbow In A Clear Mineral Selenite. It's Looks Like Marvel's Infinity Stone
Stephen Lyford 1 year ago
. There wasn't just one Infinity stone, there were multiple, each a single color.
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
A School Of Jellyfish Congregated Under This Boat
#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
Michaelann Dahlman 1 year ago
I have lazy eye, so my depth perception is very poor. But it is clear to me that this is 2 separate building, one behind the other.
#6
Sunrise In Alice Springs, NT, Australia
Sergio Bicerra 1 year ago
Imagine waking up to this... I would barricade myself at home, grab a machete and expect the zombie-vampire-tentacle-dragons or something like that.
Traveling Lady Railfan 1 year ago
I saw this exact sky the other day (but at the other end of the world in canada... )Looks like crushed velvet doesn't it? Absolutely gorgeous. You should have seen a picture I got about half an hour before sunset in an area that had been affected greatly by wildfires, I have never seen such a blood red sun, scary for the reason, but aesthetically gorgeous.
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
My Friends Jacket Is Made Entirely Out Of Reflective Material... This Is What A Picture With Flash Looks Like
Richienotsorich 1 year ago
Some slebs have taken to wearing a reflective scarf to stop the paps getting photos of them.
#8
This Year's Last Supermoon Rising Over Santa Cruz's Walton Lighthouse
#9
Doggo Is Blessed
Janissary35680 1 year ago (edited)
Dog Distribution System Express Delivery ("Sign here, please.")
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
Double Dog
#11
Golden Himalayan Mountains
#12
My Dad Took This Photo Of "White Shadows" That Appeared When Only The Snow Around The Shadows Melted
Rodney McKay 1 year ago
But, sun shadows aren't static. Apparently, BP authors can be pretty gullible (or deceitful...).
“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
Levitating Water
Kelly H. Wilder 1 year ago
It took me a few tries to see it "levitating" and I couldn't maintain it. I primarily see it as a normal beach; it takes effort for me to see the illusion. It's interesting how differently we each process even basic photographs. Reality is truly one's own.
#14
I Took This Photo Of The Moon With A 3D-Printed Telescope And My Smartphone
#15
I’ll Just Take This
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
Hades And His Rainbow Colored Nose
#17
Twice The Fun With None Of The Mess!
#18
This Diving Photo I Took Of My Friend Makes It Look She's Doing A Handstand On Water
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
A Pixelated Cat
Simeon Nevel 1 year ago
I took a picture very much like this of my apartment neighbor's cat Steven! It was so artistic that she borrowed the negative (shows you how old I am) to make a large format print.
#20
Extremely Rare Rainbow Cloud Over Hcmc
#21
I Snapped This Photo Of A Cardinal Jumping And It Looks Like He Is Floating
#22
Bird Flew By During A Picture. Now It Looks Like A Giant Bird Landed On My Head
Traveling Lady Railfan 1 year ago
That photo is a keeper! I'd be proud to have this crazy picture
#23
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
Irishwoman abroad 1 year ago
It's art, which doesn't mean it will please everybody, because the beauty of it lies in the eye of the beholder. But this amazing amount of work deserves respect, whether you like it or not.
Load More Replies... #24
This Reflection Of The Sky On A Building Looks Like The Sky
#25
My Salty Camera Lens Turned My Boyfriend Translucent
#26
When Ice Crystals Turn Streetlights Into Sky Beams
#27
A Single Photo Of Some Trees And Water
Bay Bo 1 year ago
For real?? It looks like 2 different pictures chopped down the middle and placed together! Amazi!!
Jayjay 1 year ago
I think this is a canal in Belgium, it's very beautiful.
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#28
Saw This Weird Cloud While Running
HammerzToe 1 year ago
Looks like an angel with its wings sorta to the side and his head tilted back blowing a little poof of cloud out of his mouth. Awesome paradoilia
#29
Sailing Through The Sky
Stephen Lyford 1 year ago
I don't think so. It's just that the water closer to the boat isn't reflecting the light the same way the more disturbed water is closer to the camera. A fata morgana is reflection due to difference in air density.
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#30
Grass Area Looks Like It's In A Cup
#31
This Picture My Mom Took Of My Sister
#32
Optical Illusion Of The Day: Texas Edition
#33
My Dad Took This Photo In 2008 In Co. I Remember Playing Outside And Looking Up And Saw A Green Funnel Cloud
Gabrielle 1 year ago
Nah, these things can keep pace with a car, human legs can't match it. Go underground.
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#34
The Reflection Of The Pool Table At This Bar Signed Perfectly With The Interior Of The Car Outside
#35
Light Pillars From My Bedroom Window. First Time I See Them Not Touch Down!
Jesse 1 year ago
Nope, just wacky auroras. The neighbourhood looks very Norwegian to me.
Load More Replies... Janissary35680 1 year ago (edited)
Or the invaders decided Earth isn't worth the effort and are leaving.
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#36
The Timing Of This Image Makes It Look Like My Nephew Is A Waterbender
#37
Strong Winds In Salt Lake This Week
#38
Who's A Good Boy?
#39
A Floating Stone
Blue Bunny of Happiness 1 year ago
It took me waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too long to work out the rock is in water and it’s a reflection. I shall go and hang my head in shame.
#40
Small Man Does Balancing Act On Old Man's Head
#41
Meet The Alabama Hover Donkey, She Is Pregnant And You Can't See Her Feet
BunnyMommy 1 year ago
She can't either! Yeah, I looked like that. Then did it again, on purpose. 🙂 Love both our boys!
#42
Swimming Pool Illusion
#43
Roasting My Hot Dog Over An Open Flame
#44
Napping Comfortably
#45
A Photo Taken Atop A Ferris Wheel
Robert T 1 year ago
The cars are reflected in the glass window of the Ferris Wheel.
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#46
This Is One Photo Of A Camping Store In Tokyo
ZuriLovesYou 1 year ago
I found this in one of the comments of the original Reddit post. AZR3807_L-...1024-1.jpg 
Bloobee bloobee bloo bloo bloo 5 months ago
Yeah so this one is definitely photoshopped. You can tell by the water spot cut in half in the ceiling
shankShaw deReemer 1 year ago
Look at all the water stains on the drop ceiling (left hand side).
#47
This Building That Looks Like A Single Wall Of Windows
Joanne Mendonza-Earle 1 year ago
That's what the John Hancock bldg in Boston looks like from Dartmouth Street in Back Bay.
Steve Robert 1 year ago
I wonder how many auto accidents were caused by reflective windows blinding drivers. They should be outlawed!
Diane H 1 year ago
Not to mention the amount of birds that must fly into it.
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#48
Sky Parking
WindySwede 1 year ago (edited)
not my dv, but here is the link OP gave. https://maps.app.goo.gl/n3YPU4i3EEGG9HgSA?g_st=ac
Load More Replies... #49
Someone Trew The Sky!
Spike Matthews 3 weeks ago
Not just the bird - the image was flawless enough that it took me far too long to realise what was going on.
Load More Replies... Brian Droste 1 year ago
Had some beautiful pictures in here and well optical illusion pictures. Loved them.
#50
South Meridian Ave. Not Ps'd
ZuriLovesYou 1 year ago
I thought they were just strange looking clouds. But apparently, they're ceiling lights reflecting in the window.
Brian Droste 1 year ago
At first I was looking at the ground trying to figure out what I was supposed to be looking at. Then glanced at the sky and seen the ringed shaped clouds.
#51
Actual Purple Rain In NYC Right Now
#52
A Very Long Cow!
#53
Oh-Chan Explaining About The Typhoon
#54
This Morning Reflection From My Front Door
#55
My GF Captured The Exact Moment The Lights Changed Colour At The Concert
GenuineJen 1 year ago
Someone else captured it too. You can see it on the phone screen near the middle.
#56
The Clouds Failed To Render
#57
Mr. Tiny Legs
#59
Split Skies. Daytime In The Front, Sunset In The Back
#60
Orange Cloud In The Sky
Nonna_SoF 1 year ago
If you look close, it kind of looks like a face. A demonic, skeletal face.
FoxEcoLimaIndiaCharlieIndiAlfa 1 year ago
I think it kinda looks like an evil clown
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#61
This Angle Of My Car After A Good Polish
#62
This Photo Taken By My Husband Makes It Look Like A Portal Opened In The Sky
#63
I Must Go Now, My People Need Me
#64
When The Rendering Fails On One Pixel
#65
My Peeler Gives Pixelated Looking Peels
#66
Taken On The Canadian Praries But Kinda Looks Like It's The Moon
#67
Photograph Of An Abandoned Hotel
#68
I Somehow Managed To Take This Photo At The Exact Moment The Balloon Popped So It Looks Like A Balloon Ghost!!
#69
From The Summit Of Mt. Hood Yesterday Before Having To Deal With Rime Ice/Hoarfrost Straight From Hell On The Descent. Pearly Gates Ascent And Old Chute Descent
#72
Just A Cat Watching The Neighborhood
#74
Hovering Canoe
#75
Prayers To All Of You
Tucker Cahooter 1 year ago
Yes, although we call them bushfires. Residents had to be rescued off the beach by the navy as there was no escape route overland
Load More Replies... #76
A Bee Flew Towards The Camera At The Exact Moment We Took A Picture
#79
My Floating Cat
#80
Floating Ship
#81
A World Shifting Lake Day
#83
Ceiling Light Reflection
#84
Bike Was Towed With Brakes Engaged
#86
My Two Headed Dog
#87
My Brother Looks Invisible In This Photo I Took Of Him
ZuriLovesYou 1 year ago (edited)
Looks like the cover for a book about a lifeguard who died trying to save a someone from a shark attack or something. And now he keeps the beach goers safe from beyond the grave.
FoxEcoLimaIndiaCharlieIndiAlfa 1 year ago
I'd say that he looks more ghostly than invisible, otherwise I'm pretty sure we wouldn't be able to see him at all, if he were invisible.
#89
My Orange Toolbox Looks Like A Real Life Pickup Item Under My Room's Blue Light
ZuriLovesYou 1 year ago (edited)
I have a bag with orange hearts on it. And when I make my night light blue, the hearts look like they're glowing.
#91
Every Night This Light/Laser Comes From Out Of Nowhere And Appears To Be Thousands Of Miles Long
#92
This Photo I Took Of My Blueberries Look Fake And Made Of Velvet When I Used Flash
#93
Image Reflected From Double Glazing Window Is Aligned With A Real Image Of Sun And Clouds Behind The Pillar
#94
This Photo Makes My Friend Look Like A Cardboard Cutout
#95
Was Looking On Marketplace
#96
This Is A Photo Of A Car
#97
This Is The Effect Greenhouse Lights Have On The Night Sky In My Hometown
#98
Help! My Bird's Head Fell Off. What Should I Do?
#102
I Took A Picture At The Exact Right Moment During A K-Pop Concert To Make It Look Like One Of The Singers Was Being Censored By Falling Confetti
Tucker Cahooter 1 year ago
Naturally when I first saw the picture I just assumed BP *had* actually censored it
#103
I Went To Take A Photo Of My New Apartment With Flash, But All It Did Was Make My Purse Glow
#104
Door Handle Is Actually Behind The TV
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What do you think ?
Forrest Hobbs 1 year ago
Wonderful BP - more like this, please. Meanwhile: I genuinely can't think of anything to say in response to these posts. Just - thank you!
Forrest Hobbs 1 year ago
Wonderful BP - more like this, please. Meanwhile: I genuinely can't think of anything to say in response to these posts. Just - thank you!
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