Although a photo manipulation tool like Photoshop is a new development, the practice has existed for centuries. According to the Georgia Institute of Technology, the first edited image on record dates back to circa 1860. 

The said picture was a composite of US President Abraham Lincoln’s head over former Vice President John Calhoun’s body. Calhoun had already been dead for a decade upon the release of the photo.

Apart from his reputation as the staunch leader of the Soviet Union, Joseph Stalin was also known for air-brushing his enemies out of photographs with him. One notable instance was his erasure of police official Nikola Yezhov from one of the portraits. 

Yezhov was Stalin’s right-hand man and oversaw many purges during the time. That all changed in 1938 when Yezhov was denounced and eventually executed. Likewise, Stalin erased him from history–figuratively.

With the power of photo manipulation comes its drawbacks. A 2023 study published in BMC Psychology revealed that editing pictures on social media platforms may negatively impact a person’s self-esteem and compare themselves to others. 

“The depiction of reality is usually not a documentary but part of a narrative which the photo editor intends to project on the public screen,’” the study researchers wrote.

But when done right, photo manipulation becomes a digital art form. It helps create images that tell a story and becomes a medium for personal and professional expression. 

Now, let’s flip this discussion to you, our readers. What’s your take on photo manipulation? Do the drawbacks outweigh the upsides and hilarity that ensues from it? Share your opinions in the comments!