20 Best Masters of Photo Manipulation Artists to Follow

masters of photo manipulation

Photo manipulation artists possess the ultimate skills of photo editing. A photo manipulation artist has different skills in editing which he/she combines to create the required effect.

Not only the editing skills, a photo manipulator also needs an artistic mind to create a unique style. So, it is not a cup of tea for everyone. The best way to learn this art is to follow the masters of photo manipulation

You will get ideas about modern photo manipulations from the greatest artists in this field. Their works will help you learn about the creativity and skills that you require to be a professional in this field. 

But, the question is, who are the best photo manipulation artists that a beginner should follow? As a beginner, it is not easy to find the best one in any field. This is where this article is going to help you.  

What is Photo Manipulation? 

As you are in this post, you already know the usefulness of manipulating photos. Let’s be more specific about this genre of photo editing. 

According to YourDictionary, photo manipulation refers to the use of image editing methods to create a surreal effect. The main goal is to improve the overall look of the image. You may work with only one or multiple images and apply different editing techniques to create a specific effect. 

It may involve working on the colors, changing the background, or adding surreal elements. All these things depend on the goal that is set by the artist. 

Different industries use photo manipulation services. They use this service to improve the images. It helps them to communicate with their audiences. Thus, it works as a medium of branding. Here are some of the industries that use this service most:

  • Advertising & Marketing
  • Fashion & Beauty
  • Entertainment (Film, TV, and Gaming)
  • Photography
  • Publishing
  • E-commerce
  • Real Estate
  • Print Media

These industries hire the masters of photo manipulation to get their required photos. The salary range for these professionals is higher than that of other image editors. So, you can learn photo manipulation techniques to build your career in this field.

20 Masters of Photo Manipulation to Follow in 2024

01. Rosie Hardy | Photo Manipulation Photographers

Rosie Hardy photography

Rosie Hardy is one of the famous photo manipulation artists from Britain. She blends reality with surreal effects. It evokes an emotion that attracts the viewers. Rosie has become popular with Flickr. 

Rosie has worked with some of the top brands like Pringles and Universal Music. One of the main aspects of her works is self-portraits. Here she mostly uses herself as a model.

These portraits have dreamy effects of soft tones or ethereal lighting. The theme of these portraits is loneliness, inspiration, and the busy life of social media.

02. Kyle Thompson | Masters of Photo Manipulation

Kyle Thompson sample, Masters of Photo Manipulation

Kyle Thompson is from America. His works have a characteristic haunting effect. The emotional depth of these photos has made them stand out among the visitors. In the self-portraits, he creates an eerie atmosphere.

However, Kyle relies on minimal manipulation. His works are examples of making the best of the composition. Thus, the basic editing methods seem enough to create a surreal effect. 

03. Brooke Shaden | Fine Art Photographer

Brooke Shaden

Brooke Shaden is a popular name in the field of fine art photography. He is also known for dark, moody, and surreal self-portraits and is one of the masters of photo manipulation. Through his works, Brooke tells stories of life and death.

She portrays the interaction of different elements of life using the play of light and dark. Her self-portraits are frequently used in scenes from a storybook. In post-processing, she uses different elements and plays with the colors to create these effects. 

04. Ramón Laguía | Digital Image Manipulation

Ramon Laguia sample, Masters of Photo Manipulation

Ramón Laguía is a spain based artits. He is famous worldwide in the field of digital image manipulation. He usually works on heavenly themes that give a magical vibe.

These images take the viewers to a fantasy world. The critics call this celestial theme magical realism. The viewers can engage with his work on both a visual and emotional level.

05. Platon Yurich | Famous Photo Manipulation Artists

Platon Yurich, Photo Manipulation Artist

Platon Yurich is a visual artist from Russia who loves to create surreal compositions using image manipulation processes. Yurich uses natural elements in their photos. He ensures that his audiences feel deeply connected with the images. 

Yurich transforms the natural elements into dreamy effects. Post-processing has a great hand in his works. He creates a modern cinematic edge that enhances the emotional impact.

06. Christophe Gilbert | Photo Manipulation Artists

Christophe Gilbert

Christophe Gilbert is a Belgian photographer. He is known for innovative photo manipulation techniques. He has worked with some of the top brands. He transforms commercial images into visually stunning art pieces.

Thus he helps the brands to promote their products with eye-catching images. 

Gilbert’s images have the creative application of fluids. He manipulates elements like paint and water to create dramatic effects. 

07. Riccardo Bagnoli | Manipulated Photography 

Riccardo Bagnoli, Creative Artist

Riccardo Bagnoli is a creative artist from Italy. He works on conceptual photo manipulation. His compositions are examples of transforming elements into surreal effects. This abstract style challenges the viewer’s perception. Thus they create an impact on the viewers.

Moreover, Bagnoli has worked extensively in the commercial world. His images are useful in marketing campaigns for global brands.

08.  Lara Zankoul | Photo Manipulation Photographers

Lara Zankoul, Masters of Photo Manipulation

Lara Zankoul is a Lebanese fine art photographer. She works on the heavenly themes by blending fantasy with reality. Moreover, we see the clever use of props in her works. However, Zankoul’s works rely heavily on digital manipulation.

She uses symbolic elements to convey deeper meanings. The autenticity makes the viewers to think differently about life. As a result, Zankoul has earned international recognition and exhibitions in prestigious galleries worldwide.

09. Dmitry Rogozhkin | Inspiration Photo Manipulation Ideas 

Dmitry Rogozhkin Photography

Dmitry Rogozhkin is a talented Russian artist and photographer. His photos evoke a deep meaning, which gives inspiration to photo manipulation ideas. Rogozhkin relies on minimalist compositions. He focuses on bringing a symbolic meaning to the subject that can connect the viewers.

As a result, the themes of his photography are mostly based on deep emotion. He best uses the empty spaces in the photos with muted, subdued colors.

10. Jati Putra | Masters of Photo Manipulation

Jati Putra, Creative Artist

Jati Putra is from Indonesia. He is a renowned name in the photography world. He is famous for creating amazing bending reality with gravity-defying scenes and optical illusions. His works have a unique visual style. Putra uses the elements of architecture of nature and science fiction.

One of Putra’s signature techniques is creating landscapes that appear to defy gravity. He often manipulates the horizon line, tilting or flipping sections of an image.

11. Charlie Davoli | Professional Artists 

Charlie Davoli Photography

Charlie Davoli is a professional artist from Italy. He has a unique style of photo manipulation using natural and urban elements. You will see a combination of minimalism and surrealism.

Also, Davoli’s works show a mix of pop art that makes the elements from our daily lives into thought-provoking imagery. 

12.  Bára Prášilová | Manipulation Photography 

Bára Prášilová

Bára Prášilová is a Czech photographer. She is a talented digital artist known for her surreal staged photography. She uses different props in her photos that help to create stylized images. These images are highly useful for commercial promotion. 

Prášilová’s unique craftmanship has become popular among the patronizers of the surreal arts. Her works have been exhibited and celebrated internationally.

13. Julien Tabet | Digital Photography Artist

Julien Tabet

Julien Tabet is an award-winning French digital photography artist. He creates dreamlike themes by using different animals as elements of the photo. Thus, he challenges the perception of the viewers making them think differently about reality.

As an artist, Tabet broadens the boundaries of the imagination of the viewers. He brings deep messages that lie within nature by interacting with humans and animals. 

14. Robert Cornelius | Professional Photographer

Robert Cornelius Photography

Well, there are two Robert Cornelius in the history of photography. We are now talking about the pioneer of photography the great Robert Cornelius. Cornelius has started professional photography in 2008.

He is a professional photographer as well as a renowned digital artist. He loves to take adventurous photos.

15. Aleah Michele Ford | Highly Experienced Photographer

Aleah Michele Ford

Aleah Michele Ford is a highly experienced photographer and artist. Her images are often based on self-reflection themes with surreal features. She tells a story of transformation in her photos. The images provoke different layers of meanings to the viewers. 

Ford employs vibrant colors and textures to enhance the emotional intensity of her images. These aesthetic choices draw the viewer’s attention and add depth to the storytelling.

16. Jared Tyler | Masters of Photo Manipulation

Jared Tyler, Masters of Photo Manipulation

Jared Tyler creates photos based on the intersection between technology and the natural world. You will see the play of different colors that help to create a human connection with deep emotion. He skillfully mixes the real-world and fantastical elements that bring an emotional resonance.

Tyler uses multiple layers and textures to get a striking image. This creates a cinematic feel to his images, drawing the viewer into his imaginative worlds.

17.  Daniel Serva | Digital Photo Manipulation

Daniel Serva

Daniel Serva is a Venezuelan photographer. He is a famous image manipulation artist. He inspires beginners with impressive art pieces. There is a portrayal of the complexities of human emotions by using different props.

 Serva conveys deeply personal stories. Each image in Serva’s portfolio tells a story. These images show his skills in digital image manipulation. 

18. Kylli Sparre | Kylli Sparre Photography

Kylli Sparre Photography

Kylli Sparre an Estonian digital artist. She is famous all around the world for high-quality ethereal images. Her works show the composition based on the dance forms. She has a background in ballet. It inspires her to bring this into photography.

The play of light helps create a dreamlike landscape. Then she makes the best use of the photo editing technique to create the final result. 

19. Marcus Møller Bitsch | Masters of Photo Manipulation

Marcus Mb photography, Masters of Photo Manipulation

Marcus Møller Bitsch is a renowned name in the commercial photography field of Denmark. He is known for dramatic and cinematic visual storytelling. Here you will see a strong narrative element that gives a dreamy vibe.

The main theme is the feeling of humans that he portrays using elements and expressions. 

Marcus Møller Bitsch has gained a strong following on social media. Moreover, his works have been recognized by different international platforms. 

20. Melania Brescia | Fine Art Photography

Melania Brescia

Melania Brescia is an Argentine photographer. She takes fine art photography to a new level by using different image editing methods.

Brescia’s self-portraits evoke human experiences such as solitude, introspection, and vulnerability. Her works show a combination of fine art photography and digital manipulation.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the Methods of Photo Manipulation?

The photo manipulation artists use different techniques based on their composition. However, double exposure, masking, blending modes, and color grading are the common methods that most photo editors commonly use. 

Is Photo Manipulation Ethical? 

The ethics of photo manipulation depend on the intent and the extent of the alteration. Minor adjustments to improve image quality or remove imperfections are generally acceptable. However, altering images to deceive or mislead others is unethical and can have serious consequences.

Final Thoughts | Masters of Photo Manipulation

So, these are the 20 masters of photo manipulation in 2024.  Each of them has a unique style of photographing. Also, some of them are popular as a commercial photographer. You can follow the works of these artists to level up your skills. 

However, if you are dealing with a large number of photos, you can contact Clipping World for professional manipulation services. This agency has 10+ years of experience in photo editing and maintains the deadline strictly. 

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