Editing Photograph manipulation (section)

{{Short description|Transformation or alteration of a photograph}}
{{about|the uses, cultural impact, and ethical concerns of image manipulation|the mechanics of altering images|Image editing|the restoration of physical photographs and documents using digital techniques|Digital photograph restoration}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2015}}
[[File:Episode after Battle of Zonnebeke 1918 Hurley.jpg|thumb| upright=1.5| Australian photographer [[Frank Hurley]] formed this [[Compositing|composite]] photograph from three original negatives of [[World War&nbsp;I]] in Belgium.<ref name=Mashable_Hurley>{{cite news |last1=Arbuckle |first1=Alex Q. |title=One man's record of the war to end all wars |url=https://mashable.com/feature/frank-hurley-on-the-western-front |work=Mashable |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210507014841/https://mashable.com/feature/frank-hurley-on-the-western-front/ |archive-date=7 May 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref> Hurley argued with his superiors over the ethics of compositing photos, arguing that war was conducted on such a vast scale that it was impossible to capture the essence of it in a single negative.<ref name=LibraryNSW_Hurley>{{cite web |last= Wishart |first=Alison |title=Truth and photography |url=https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/stories/frank-hurleys-world-war-i-photography/truth-and-photography |website=sl.nw.gov.au |publisher=State Library of New South Wales |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220320143543/https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/stories/frank-hurleys-world-war-i-photography/truth-and-photography |archive-date=20 March 2022 |date=2017 |url-status=live |quote=None but those who have endeavoured can realise the insurmountable difficulties of portraying a modern battle by the camera. To include the event on a single negative, I have tried and tried, but the results are hopeless. Now, if negatives are taken of all the separate incidents in the action and combined, some idea may then be gained of what a modern battle looks like.}}</ref>]]

'''Photograph manipulation''' involves the [[image editing|transformation or alteration]] of a [[photograph]]. Some photograph manipulations are considered to be skillful artwork, while others are considered to be unethical practices, especially when used to deceive. Motives for manipulating photographs include political [[propaganda]], altering the appearance of a subject (both for better and for worse), entertainment and humor.

Depending on the application and intent, some photograph manipulations are considered an [[art form]] because they involve creation of unique images and in some instances, signature expressions of art by photographic artists. For example, [[Ansel Adams]] used [[Burning and dodging|darkroom exposure techniques]] to darken and lighten photographs. Other techniques include retouching using ink or paint, [[airbrush]]ing, [[double exposure]], piecing photos or [[Negative (photography)|negatives]] together in the darkroom, and scratching [[instant film]]s. Software for digital image manipulation ranges from casual to professional skillsets. One of these, [[Adobe Photoshop]], has led to the use of the term '''''photoshop''''', meaning to digitally edit an image with any program.