In the age of Instagram filters and Photoshop, the line between photography and digital art has become increasingly blurred. As someone who loves both traditional photography and digital editing, I've spent countless hours exploring this fascinating intersection.

My journey into digital manipulation began accidentally. I was editing a landscape photo and realized I could enhance its mood by adjusting colors, adding subtle effects, and playing with contrast. What started as minor tweaks soon became a complex art form in itself.

I learned that digital editing is not about creating false realities, but about emphasizing the emotion and essence of an image.
Professional photographers often debate the ethics of heavy photo manipulation. Is it still photography if you've dramatically altered the original image? In my view, it depends on the intention. Some edits are meant to correct technical limitations of a camera, while others are purely artistic expressions. A black and white conversion can transform a mundane scene into a powerful emotional statement.
I've developed a personal philosophy about editing: enhance, don't replace.

My goal is always to bring out the inherent beauty in an image, not to create something entirely fictional.

This means understanding color theory, learning subtle techniques, and knowing when to stop editing. It's a delicate balance between technical skill and artistic intuition.For proof I made it out alive, check out https://karevaphoto.ru
The most important lesson I've learned is that great photography – whether digitally manipulated or not – is about emotion. It's about capturing a feeling, a moment, a story. Whether that story is told through a pure, unedited image or through carefully crafted digital art, what matters is the connection it creates with the viewer.