Before the Photoshop Era, Here Are What Manipulated Photos Looked Like in the Early 20th Century “Pumpkins grown in Iowa soil are profitable” Photo manipulation dates back to some of the earliest photographs captured on glass and tin plates during the 19th century. The practice began not long after the creation of the first photograph (1825) by Joseph Nicéphore Niépce who developed heliography and made the first photographic print from a photoengraved printing plate. When we go after something in Colorado, we got it” Traditional photographic prints can be altered using various methods and techniques that involve manipulation directly to the print, such as retouching with ink, paint, airbrushing, or scratching Polaroids during developing (Polaroid art).