# Merging Surrealist Photography Photographer Thomas Barbéy Creates a World All of His Own By Ariel Weber | Published 2013-01-15 | Tech Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/thomas-barby References: [mymodernmet](http://www.mymodernmet.com/profiles/blogs/thomas-barbey-surreal-photo-manipulation) & [thomasbarbey](http://thomasbarbey.com/) Step into the world of photographer Thomas Barbéy, captured on film. The black and white pictures take inspiration from [Salvador Dali](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/salvador-dali-x-casetify), who is well known for his whimsical and [surrealist art pieces](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/jeffrey-deitch-art-gallery). Barbéy takes voyages worldwide to capture some of the most intriguing sights of scenery, still life and portraiture that the world has to offer. He then mixes reality into a dream like state as he manipulates and alters his photos to create a world all of his own. These captivating images blend together two different concepts and are juxtaposed into one. Using a [multi-angle technique](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/illusion-box) that artist M.C. Escher mastered, he seamlessly fuses such animals as elephants into tree trunks and zebras into piano keys. For Thomas Barbéy “visionary inspiration and imagination is not a technical skill learned in school.” Rather, it is something that only a creative mind can think up to take it from a dream to reality. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 5.5/10 - Popularity: 93% | Activity: 65% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Tech](https://www.trendhunter.com/tech) > [Photography](https://www.trendhunter.com/photography) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Surrealist Photography:** Disruptive Innovation Opportunity: Explore the use of surrealism in commercial photography to create captivating and unique images. - **Whimsical Art Pieces:** Disruptive Innovation Opportunity: Incorporate whimsical elements into various forms of visual art, such as paintings or sculptures, to evoke imagination and wonder. - **Manipulated Photography:** Disruptive Innovation Opportunity: Develop new techniques for manipulating and altering photographs to create original and dream-like visual experiences. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Fine Art:** Disruptive Innovation Opportunity: Integrate surrealist photography into fine art exhibitions and galleries, expanding the boundaries of traditional art forms. - **Advertising and Marketing:** Disruptive Innovation Opportunity: Utilize surrealistic photography techniques in advertising campaigns to create attention-grabbing visuals that leave a lasting impression on audiences. - **Fashion Photography:** Disruptive Innovation Opportunity: Experiment with surrealist photography concepts in fashion shoots to create visually striking and unconventional images that push the boundaries of traditional fashion photography. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Surrealist Beauty Lines](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/toiletpaper-magazine.md) - [Statement Street Art](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/surreal-street-art-1.md) - [AI-Generated Real-World Transformations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ai-generated-world.md) - [AI-Generated Poetic Photo Series](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/emilio-alarcn.md) - [Playful Modern Art Shows](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/brent-estabrook-debuts-storytime.md) - [Surrealist Shopping Experiences](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/dreams-is.md) - [Otherworldly Wooden Art](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/wooden-sculptures-1.md) - [Surreal Artist-Inspired Tech Accessories](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/salvador-dal-collection.md) - [Public Art Displays](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/paul-anthony-smith.md)