World’s Best Manipulated Figure Photogs: CURTIS, VANCE, BARULINS, PORTER, MENG & BANKI / 2025 Art Collectors Choice Awards
Artists from 49 countries competed in the 2025 ART COLLECTORS CHOICE AWARDS. 15 international art collectors scored 50 categories of online images covering drawing, painting, sculpture, digital and photography.
The winning works will be revealed in this column one category at a time.
The ART COLLECTORS CHOICE AWARDS winners in CATEGORY 45. MANIPULATED PHOTOGRAPHY — HUMAN OR ANIMAL represent
USA, LATVIA, SOUTH AFRICA, MALAYSIA & HUNGARY.
BIO of 1st Place Winner:
Born and raised in Northeast Pennsylvania, fairly close to where the TV hit show “the Office” is based.
My focus is wildlife, macro, and nature photography. Some of my best shots come from when I’m out alone with no plan or direction. My style is simple, get as close as I can to the subjects in question and capture as much detail as possible. I’ve been shooting since 2012, and I’m not slowing down anytime soon. You can see more of my work on instagram @_ericcurtis or my website www.ericashtoncurtis.com.
WINNER WEBSITES: CATEGORY 45. MANIPULATED PHOTOGRAPHY — HUMAN OR ANIMAL
1st Place ERIC CURTIS USA www.ericashtoncurtis.com “Praying Alien” Manipulated photo.
2nd Place — Tie DAVID VANCE USA http://www.davidvanceprints.com “Romina” Photo, manipulated.
2nd Place — Tie IGORS BARULINS LATVIA www.barulins.art “Party” 70x140cm Digital photography.
3rd Place — Tie ERIC CURTIS USA www.ericashtoncurtis.com “Look At Me” Manipulated photo.
3rd Place — Tie DAVID VANCE USA http://www.davidvanceprints.com “Gladiola” Photo, manipulated.
4th Place — Tie ERNEST PORTER SOUTH AFRICA https://www.facebook.com/ernest.porter.7 “The King’s Reflection” Manipulated photo.
4th Place — Tie CHAN POOI MENG MALAYSIA stuart.fit@gmail.com “A Fierce Cattle Egret” Lightroom manipulated photo.
5th Place — Tie CHAN POOI MENG MALAYSIA stuart.fit@gmail.com “Peaceful Living” Lightroom manipulated photo.
6th Place BIANKA BERNADETT BANKI HUNGARY/ USA https://bankibiankabay.wixsite.com/bodypaintingshow/ “Dia De Los Muertos” 24x36” Photo of body paint, embellished with acrylic.
See hundreds of winning images and corresponding contact info to all the artists here:
In 2025, ART COLLECTORS CHOICE AWARDS had submissions from these 49 countries: Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Bosnia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Denmark, Egypt, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Herzegovina, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, Russia, Slovakia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Turkey, UK, Ukraine, USA, Zimbabwe.
15 international art collectors asked to score art:
Jason Stuckless — Toronto, Ontario
Kene J. Rosa — Los Angeles, California
Michael Gregg Michaud — Los Angeles, California
Alec Wilder — Los Angeles / Las Vegas / New Orleans
Eddie Dyer — Los Angeles / Las Vegas / New Orleans
Thomas Zora — Las Vegas
Ron Lundin — Naples, Florida / Chicago, Illinois / Vail, Colorado
Jay H. Brewer — Orlando, Florida
Alan McMullen — Fannettsburg, Philadelphia
Brian Townley — Waco, Texas
Aimee Unakis — Georgetown, Illinois
Jordan Wallace — Georgetown, Illinois
Carole Hatcher — Rancho Mirage, California
Jan Gold — Roseville, California
Karen Valentine — Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Mitchell Antesky — Toledo Ohio
