30 Beautiful Examples of Surreal Photography

November 24th 2009

Photography

by Tom

Surreal photography is a highly interesting medium, as the photographer often pushes composition, lighting and exposures to their creative limits. These 30 examples are all interesting and unique in their own way, each doing something different from the norm.

Read More... 18 comments

Surreal photography truly pushes the limits of the medium. The surreal nature of the work can lead to some stunning compositions. In conducting research for this article I found some recurrent themes in examples of surreal photography:

Often regular looking compositions are altered, either by obscuring something (e.g.: by covering a face with cloth), or by altering conventional angles/perspectives (e.g.: by photographing something from a crazy angle, or by turning the camera upside down).

In surreal photography lighting and exposures are often played with more than in conventional photography, and this can lead to ghostly forms, abstract shapes and interesting use of light/shadows.

The conventions of physics are also overturned, as some photographers carefully construct the details of the photo, in order to present the impossible.

I hope that you appreciate these 30 works, and find them as inspiring as I have!

About the Author: Tom is the founder of PSDFAN. He loves writing tutorials, learning more about design and interacting with the community. On a more interesting note he can also play guitar hero drunk with his teeth.

18 Awesome Comments: Leave Your Comment

Carlos Mal 25th November 2009

Great selection, I enjoyed them all. But some of them are not “surreal”. Just pointing that out.
Oliver Web 25th November 2009

Great collection of surreal photos. All of them are great and some are really bizarre. Thanks for sharing.
Tom 25th November 2009

Thanks for the comments guys.

Carlos: I agree that some are more surreal than others, but all of them had something a bit different about them, making them slightly surreal in my eyes. I’m really glad you enjoyed the post
Carlos Mal 26th November 2009

I agree, Tom, they’re all inspiring and well-made.
Devilnax 26th November 2009

Wow.. FFantastic selections of pictures.
I love digital artwork and painting with speed painting.
If you want visit my blog!
Bye!
Vim 26th November 2009

Awesome stuff, some of the images are freaky the bandage faces ones especially, the image of the woman in the bath with pig trotters lol, who would have ever thought of that idea? love the colours in that image.
Tom 26th November 2009

Thanks guys!

Vim: Haha yeah some of the pieces I just think ‘how would you think that up??’
agnes 27th November 2009

yes i agree some of them are freaky.. but great collection
Ashely Adams : Sticker Printing 28th November 2009

Fantastic……Some of these are creepy though…But wondreful effects with water….the aerial images is also superb….the smoky effects in some of these images showcase exceptional talent….awesome creativity, good themes and great graphic art….The first image is simply stunning….thanks for sharing this….
stoval 4th December 2009

Great collection!
H dub 6th December 2009

These pictures made me “feel” great. Most photography just reenforces societies (fucked up) view of beauty. What you have done unique and amazing!!! Than you for sharing this with us.
Matt Jordan 15th January 2010

check out some of my own stuff here…. yeah surreal photography has no limits!
Lud 26th January 2010

tks 4 sharing i love it !
Drea 27th January 2010

loved most of them. some seemed a lil on the scary side, haunting and well thought out but scary 2 me personally (the girl with her eyes covered by tape? or makeup? Also the ones where people are wrapped up. things like that just weird me out) My favorites where the ones where people where either in the air or looking like they just lept off the ground.
Essence4u 30th January 2010

I guess even Dali would have said say “wow!”
Daily Design 6th February 2010

Awesome they are unique photography and also weird as well
Rob Wallace 12th February 2010

The young lady behind the fish is especially wonderful/ The collection is a reflection of the creative mind which apparently knows no bounds.
Jessica 17th February 2010

For respect and proper authorship of those photographs, please reference the photographers.

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