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The internet is full of beautiful and amazing photographs, but do you ever stop and wonder just what went into that perfect shot? I'm not just talking about the photo editing side of the process, although there's certainly plenty of that involved behind the scenes. No, I'm talking about the hard physical work combined with the often super-creative approaches that photographers employ to ensure that their final shot is the very best depiction of their photoshoot ideas.
Take a look at these behind the scenes pictures to see what we mean. Compiled by Bored Panda, they're sure to give the budding photographer some fresh photography ideas while providing the rest of us an enlightening glimpse into the reality of hard work, photo manipulation and Photoshop ideas that hides behind many a perfect picture.
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#1
Miniature Car Models Create Realistic Historical Photos
Tetiana Mogylenets 9 years ago
Wow whoever thought of it is a genius!!! It opens my eyes on many things and gives so many ideas! So cool!!!
Thomas Luck 9 years ago
Those are obviously very detailed models. I tried something similar with a twelve inch high elephant statue. I added these words, 'Look what I found mom. Can I keep him?" SLW_2006_0...cd2cf3.jpg 
Rajesh Pandey 5 years ago
An excellent example of Miniature Photography giving the images of setup and final shot. It would have been great if the lens focal length used would have been mentioned, which is the main thing behind Miniature Photography part of Advance Photography course
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#2
Girl Enjoying Rain
Sherry Francis 9 years ago
Sometimes if you lean yuyuour head down to brush it, it helps
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Rajesh Pandey 5 years ago
Beautiful effect of splash photography using high shutter speed, part of the Basic Photography Courses thought in our Academy.
#3
Surreal Miniature Photography
#4
Fox Close Up
Iris Blue 9 years ago
Wait so is the fox real or fake??? I mean it would be kinda hard to get a fox to walk right up to you right?
Leanna Rose 6 years ago
True true Who did take the second shot??? I like the second one tho.. Sorry my opinions like that 0w0
#5
Wedding Photography
Ägnes Somersûnd 7 years ago
I don't believe this because they are not close enough to have a reflection so its just photshop.
#6
M&m’s In Water Drops
Kanika Prajapat 9 years ago
why are they arranged in colors in picture not in bowl ! Its PHOTOSHOP
with a Y and a Z 9 years ago
totally different pics..the color was arrange like the rainbow on top..not like the bottom pic where its scattered
Matija Jasarov 9 years ago
How come the m&ms in the photo are sorted by colour and the ones on the explanation are not?
Jeff Spradling 9 years ago
The bottom is not the actual set up. Just an example
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Valentina Vayntraub 9 years ago
Strange how in the final shot the M&Ms are lined up by color. However they're all mixed up in the bowl.
Jeff Spradling 9 years ago
The bottom is not the actual set up. Just an example
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Desirree Bauman 9 years ago
Not the real picture... the M&M in the water droplets are color sequence like the rainbow... The M&Ms in the bowl in the second picture are all mixed up
#7
Burning Lava
Ethel Cayanan 9 years ago
This is the shot that made me follow kawika on instagram (i only saw him on fb before). And I love it when viewers gets all hyped up weather its real or cam tricks. This guy captures Hawaiin life like no other. From the eye of a man that is proud of his home who happened to have a camera. Simple; Humble; with a magnificent (unintentionally) Money Shot Eye for life. This particular image was shot for fun and it circulated in social media like crazy. Why do ppl believe his story? Because we simply do. See all hos stuff on instagram. He os kawika singson.
Leanna Rose 6 years ago
I agree with Luca so much, but what if the lava is real! face it the fire is not its obvious who wants to be in fire.0w0
Honolulu Storm 8 years ago
Oh geez this is fake, the photog said he photo-shopped it once this pix was going around on social media as being 'real'. There was the actual pix he took that wasn't on fire
#8
Photoshoot 25m Under The Sea In A Sunken Shipwreck
Camilla Argent 9 years ago
Hi. I'm definitely real, not a mannequin. This was shot in Bali.
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Cassie Williams 9 years ago
Normally, I have the utmost respect for the photographers who go to great lengths to get the best shot. For this, though, I have the utmost respect for the subject, tied to an object underwater with no tank while the photographer gets his shot. That's just incredible. I mean, the photographer is great, but it takes a helluva lot o' guts to pose for this sort of shoot.
Tammy Chapman 9 years ago
I absolutely LOVE this one. So beautiful, thank you to the model and the photographer. Beautiful.
Katarzyna Kuźnicka 9 years ago
Świetnie zdjęcia, a jak zrobione - ciekawe sposoby na świetne ujęcia :)
#9
Underwater Dog
#10
Wedding Photography
Kade Forge 9 years ago
Some of you seriously think the photographer and couple didn't discuss this shot beforehand? Learn how photo shoots work. Photographers do what they have to do to achieve specific shots, and the subjects know that.
Lauren Elsberry 9 years ago
I'm sure he talked to them about the shot and didn't just get down there ????
#11
Levitation
Alejandra Colunga Rogers 9 years ago
No. 7 it's incorrect. The way the M&M's appear on the drops are by colors, red, yellow, green, blue, etc. but on the "real picture" the M&M's are all mixed up.
Emilie Gardiner 9 years ago
Photoshop has amazing powers... unfortunately I can only receive the powers for 7 days.
Jessica Cecilia 9 years ago
Still think it's fake. Look how difficult and hard it is for the girl to lift up her legs and how do her dress flew that way.
Little letitia 8 years ago
I thought this post wasn't about digital manipulation? Seems manipulated to me
#12
That's How It Looks Like In Real Life
Leah Ames 9 years ago
Taken at different time of day. Prob taken multiple times to get it to look so nice. Hence theres also a c**p ton of people in the other one.
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Michelle 9 years ago
Is no one going to mention the giant binder clip on the front of her dress?
Fonda Lioness Ambrosia 9 years ago
Its for making the fitting of the dress looks nice from another angle. Its a stylist fashion shoot tip.
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Debbie Hess-Harris 9 years ago
The photog has a jacket on whereas the arm holding her in the HD photo is bare and hairy
#13
Mirror Lake
Sigrid Vinter 9 years ago
If i remember there is an other article about this photo on BoredPanda. Its 90% photoshop or something like that. But still awesome :)
Eglė Liubinaitė 8 years ago
What's in the middle of the first photo? You know, the weird clouds and double sky?
Carlos Aguirre 8 years ago
There's a whole video on how he made it is an amazing photoshop and creativity work
#14
Rock Climber
Keith Cannataro 9 years ago
Too funny Denay, those were the two words I first said
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#15
Floating
Bambi Bambszi 9 years ago
Well you didn't think that the girl and the chair really flew, did you?
Cassie Williams 9 years ago
Nah, the barrel and other people were photoshopped in afterwards so nobody would ask complicated questions.
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Little letitia 8 years ago
Another amazing shot of pure Photoshop manipulation, and not really skill or creativity
Tyrone Bonghanoy 9 years ago
1st shot was with the room bare, 2nd shot taken with the production...load into an image editor and do some masking...poof a WOAH pic...xD
#16
Food Styling Photography
Tammy Chapman 9 years ago
This one makes me laugh....silly. I love the comment "the bloody food" by ScribbleArtie. lmao I'm American and a Texan at that. We don't use the term bloody, unless it's to describes actual blood. lol
Michael Woodbury 8 years ago
I gotta say, who cares where you are from, and how other people talk. Get over yourself.
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Ben Lavalleur 8 years ago
I guess they are counting the bun as one item rather than one top and one bottom. Really the numbering should be 1a/1b or even better 1t/1b
Load More Replies... #17
Wedding Photography
#18
Underwater Photoshoot
Tetiana Mogylenets 9 years ago
Yeah, its so strange to see such a house underwater...
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Setsuna Kotobuki 9 years ago
The house was underwater?!!! Can show show me a link to where this photoshoot is from
Jakub Jankiewicz 8 years ago
I wonder how the put water in the room or find already flooded room.
#19
Baby Photography
See Jones 9 years ago
Bored Panda, it is a post like this that makes inexperienced photographers and parents think this is how to make those beautiful hanging photos. If this was a professional photographer who had attended any form of webinar, conference, educational session etc. on infant photography they would know this is against the number one rule. This is how babies get injured. The cute hanging photos you see on the internet are all photoshop. Multiple images out together to make it look like babie is in the air. People, please never ever do this. And research your professional photographer before you hire them.
Emilee Self 9 years ago
This is sooooo dangerous. That baby shouldn't be higher than an inch off that bean bag. Any reputable and safe newborn photographer puts a weight in the swaddle and photographs it to get the tautness of the wrap, then they lay it and put the baby in it safely on a soft cushion and composite it. No one I know would ever, and I mean, ever put a baby in danger like that. Reckless.
Nallely Clouse 9 years ago
Noooo!!! This is NOT how it should be done! NEVER EVER!! NB photographer here. 2 ways of doing this 1- baby on poser then clone out poser with composite 2- baby just above poser hand holding baby below; multiple shots composite. This is how you DONT do it.
Little letitia 8 years ago
Calm your farm guys, the second baby. Is in a whole other position and the tied knot is in completely different place
Elizabeth Anderson 8 years ago
Does not change the fact over how dangerous that second photo is. And NOT how to create the first photo.
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Trisha Olson 9 years ago
Actually babies love being swaddled like this. It feels like being in the womb.
Angela Sewell 9 years ago
How is that abusive? Baby is safe, and so comfortable it is sleeping through it.
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#20
Perfume On A Glassy Surface
Ana Maria Drz 9 years ago
IT's called editing ... :) . Some are edited after photoshoot.
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Michael Nicholas 8 years ago
This image was taken from one of my two Studio Anywhere books. Check them out at http://nickfancher.com/photography-books/. I also teach workshops, if you're a photographer. For more info go to http://nickfancher.com/lighting-workshop/
Full Name 8 years ago
The blue can just be a factor of the white balance setting. You can achieve this in-camera.
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#21
Underwater Photoshoot
Kim Lee 8 years ago
It's probably a synthetic wig. They can hold curls, even under water
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#22
Umbrella
Full Name 8 years ago
Absolutely. He's showing the appropriate amount of fun he should be having, otherwise what's the point?
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Close-ups Of Snowflakes
Cat Juschka 9 years ago
This falke was photographed on a black sweater. Its just macro fibers of the fabric.
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#24
How Rare White Curtain Auroras Are Made
Elena Rozenberg 8 years ago
If you ever see the real Aurora borealis you will understand why I saw right away it was fake 🙂
Load More Replies... maryhadalittlelamb 9 years ago
it looks like OAX... they need a add a "H" in front
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Trav May 9 years ago
"A typical aurora begins life as a pale white band low in the northern sky. If we’re lucky, the band intensifies, crosses the color threshold and glows pale green. Deeper and brighter greens are also common in active and bright auroras, but red is elusive because are eyes are far less sensitive to it than green. Often a curtain of green rays will be topped off by red, blue or purple emission recorded with sumptuous fidelity in the camera. What does the eye see? Smoky, colorless haze with hints of pink. Maybe." http://www.universetoday.com/105496/technicolor-auroras-a-reality-check/
Egle Bitinaite 9 years ago
I've seen the real ones in Lapland. They're ten times as gorgeous as this one.
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Behind The Scenes Of Pit Bull Flower Power Photoshoot
Kelly Morrison 9 years ago
I think they are pulling the corners of her mouth up and back as well.
Marioara Popescu 8 years ago
Why use real flowers if they are going to look Photoshopped anyway?
#26
Capturing The Hummingbirds With 3D Camera
#27
Macro Photography
Lotus Buccola 9 years ago
I'm always jelly of these guys. I get near a dragonfly or bug and AWAY!!! T_T
Elgene Tiamzon 9 years ago
If you have a long enough macro lens, you don't need to get too close.
#29
How Landscape Photos Are Really Made
Emilie Gardiner 9 years ago
Why is it that everything that looks real is fake, and everything else is real? (e.g the underwater shoots)
Tetiana Mogylenets 9 years ago
But actually that photo doesn't even look real, but what if it's done better??? My life is a lie!!!!
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#30
Surrealistic Photoshoot In The Sea
Jennifer Rodriguez Latourette 9 years ago
I just saw your post after writing mine. Doh!
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#31
Flour Photoshoot
pay1370 9 years ago
those poor basterds, silently dying because they couldn't affort a smoke machine ;p
Horatiu Curutiu 9 years ago
actually...the effect of the flour is very different it has another type of texture and floats differently :) btw...we own several smoke machines.
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Carrie Brausch 9 years ago
You have to be soon careful with flour when using strobes and hot lights. Fire hazard!
Michelle Hallahan 9 years ago
Funny. When my kids do that I don't look as relaxed or as beautiful as she.
#32
Romantic Couple Photoshoot
ElinaTheAwesome 9 years ago
Wait, never mind. They might have roadblocks.
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#33
Volcano Photography
Arti Maharaj 9 years ago
Damn! if I could've created a volcano like that for high school :P How was the volcano made? its very very cool!
Dominique Williams 9 years ago
looks like a long sheet of acetate supported by clear rectangular containers with white work lights underneath then for the dirt you could mix actual dirt with acrylic medium maybe and paint it on? idk for real just speculating :)
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#34
How Mountains Landscape Photos Are Made Of
Lena Hunter 9 years ago
I feel like I would run into so many photographers just buying cotton balls and spray bottles
Janice Foster 9 years ago
These fake landscape ones are really annoying - I don't mind obviously artistic input, but this just seems like false representation
Full Name 8 years ago
Was the photographer trying to pass this off as a genuine landscape? Nope. So is this a false representation? I vote no, by way of literal definition.
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LunaEros 9 years ago
I guess all these photographers cheat when it comes to nature. They're all just model builders.
Full Name 8 years ago
Yeah, they're all cheaters. They set out to deceive you because they are evil. Especially the ones that post the behind-the-scenes shots clearly outlining exactly what went into the photos. They are the most deceptive of all! (in all seriousness, these guys are way more 'honest' than a giant percentage of nature/landscape photographers. You wouldn't believe the different between a great % of straight out of the camera shots vs the finished product that you see)
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Aurora Borealis
Melanie Ringuette 9 years ago
I have done actual photos of them and they are just as beautiful. And real! :)
Load More Replies... Emilie Gardiner 9 years ago
NOOOO!!! YOU MEAN TO SAY ALL THE BEAUTIFUL PICTURES OF AURORAS ARE FAKE???? NOOOO!!! I DON'T WANT TO BELIEVE IT AT ALL
Muniza Tariq 9 years ago
That's why when I see a fantastic picture I know it's somebody's fantasy and not the real thing. Why do people have to go to such great lengths to create false images is beyond me. Why not just capture the real things even though they may not be so impressive??!!
Ylva Gustavsson 9 years ago
Standing in a snow covered landscape, watching an aurora is fantastic. Faking it won't give you the experience of it.It's amazing every time
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What do you think ?
Leonie Spierings 9 years ago
Maybe it's just me but there are very little true 'behind the scenes' photo's and some that just,.. takes a lot of time capturing. Like the Romantic couple, how else would that photo have been taken?
fanfic DREW 9 years ago
I had the same though ... same could be said about the dog trying to catch a ball underwater
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Raylene Hamson 9 years ago
I thought they were very clever, and just shows what can be achieved when thinking outside the box....well done !!
Hillary Bowden 9 years ago
So what do all of you naysayers think movies are? Especially the ones with all of those special effects? I think this photography is fantastic and takes a heckuva lot of creativity!!!
Egle Bitinaite 9 years ago
Well, photography implies realism, and has been used as a tool to document reality, at least before advanced editing was invented. Much more so than fictional films and paintings, which utilize imagination
Load More Replies... Horatiu Curutiu 9 years ago
Thank you Bored Panda (and Lina D.) for mentioning us. Here is a BTS video with the flour photoshoot. Enjoy everyone! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DleW1PY2LI
Piotrek Ziolkowski 9 years ago
Well the title is slightly misleading. It implies deception on a large scale which isn't so. Camera is not a magical, truth seeing device. It's a tool, just like a pen. It shows what the creator wanted us to see. Nothing less, nothing more.
Alejandra Colunga Rogers 9 years ago
No. 7 it's incorrect. The way the M&M's appear on the drops are by colors, red, yellow, green, blue, etc. but on the "real picture" the M&M's are all mixed up.
Alicia Wyatt 9 years ago
When I do photography like that, I would be checking how it looks first before I go and organize the M&M's
Load More Replies... Naomi Prior 9 years ago
I don't like being lied to, I understand a creative photo like the diving photos, but candy floss for clouds etc just don't ok!!!
Janice Foster 9 years ago
Totally agree! Those photos left me with a bad taste in my mouth...
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Erin Nadeau 9 years ago
I like to see how some of the more recognizable photos were captured. A *ton* of Photoshop had to go into some of these, but the end result is great!
Leonie Spierings 9 years ago
Maybe it's just me but there are very little true 'behind the scenes' photo's and some that just,.. takes a lot of time capturing. Like the Romantic couple, how else would that photo have been taken?
fanfic DREW 9 years ago
I had the same though ... same could be said about the dog trying to catch a ball underwater
Load More Replies... Raylene Hamson 9 years ago
I thought they were very clever, and just shows what can be achieved when thinking outside the box....well done !!
Hillary Bowden 9 years ago
So what do all of you naysayers think movies are? Especially the ones with all of those special effects? I think this photography is fantastic and takes a heckuva lot of creativity!!!
Egle Bitinaite 9 years ago
Well, photography implies realism, and has been used as a tool to document reality, at least before advanced editing was invented. Much more so than fictional films and paintings, which utilize imagination
Load More Replies... Horatiu Curutiu 9 years ago
Thank you Bored Panda (and Lina D.) for mentioning us. Here is a BTS video with the flour photoshoot. Enjoy everyone! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DleW1PY2LI
Piotrek Ziolkowski 9 years ago
Well the title is slightly misleading. It implies deception on a large scale which isn't so. Camera is not a magical, truth seeing device. It's a tool, just like a pen. It shows what the creator wanted us to see. Nothing less, nothing more.
Alejandra Colunga Rogers 9 years ago
No. 7 it's incorrect. The way the M&M's appear on the drops are by colors, red, yellow, green, blue, etc. but on the "real picture" the M&M's are all mixed up.
Alicia Wyatt 9 years ago
When I do photography like that, I would be checking how it looks first before I go and organize the M&M's
Load More Replies... Naomi Prior 9 years ago
I don't like being lied to, I understand a creative photo like the diving photos, but candy floss for clouds etc just don't ok!!!
Janice Foster 9 years ago
Totally agree! Those photos left me with a bad taste in my mouth...
Load More Replies... Erin Nadeau 9 years ago
I like to see how some of the more recognizable photos were captured. A *ton* of Photoshop had to go into some of these, but the end result is great!
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