Photoshop - Where Do You Draw the Line?

Art is a lie that cannot exist without a kernel of truth. Photography as an art form has become less about truth and more about spectacle with the advent of an ever increasing number of editing programs. The question that arises from this is: does this mean the artform is evolving or dying?

Though Photoshop may be used as a tool to create amazing images, where does one draw the line between photographic integrity and it becoming plain graphic design? The moment you create something that is no way possible via camera alone? Some can be classed as a meeting of two art forms, while in other instances photography is merely the source material for a graphics concept.

However, you could say that there is something inbetween. Composite photography is popular but somewhat, minimal in actual photo manipulation.

Image by Connor Surdi Photo

It simply created through a few layers, a bit of erasing and masking in Photoshop. This method of creating a photograph and maintaining its authenticity is questionable but comparable to pushing things further when creating images such as these:

Image by Erik Johansson

Image by Damien Bredberg

The image shown just above is debatable with whether or not one would classify it as a photograph. This was used for an advertisement for Victoria Park Golf Complex - watch the behind the scenes of putting this all together here.

While this has still been made up by a series of images being put together, would one still call it a photo? Leave your thoughts here.