French photographer and director Romain Laurent started making portrait-based GIFs as a way to produce work outside his commercial jobs, a spontaneous project that would encourage him to produce consistently for himself rather than clients.

What do superheroes do when they’re not busy fighting bad guys and saving the world from destruction? Perhaps they’re drawing strength alone in the peace and quiet of the great outdoors. That’s the premise of French photographer Benoit Lapray‘s photo-manipulation series “The Quest for the Absolute.”

A visitor looks at pictures of French photographer Jacques-Henri Lartigue (1894-1986), on July 1, 2013 during the 44thd annual Rencontres d'Arles photography festival in Arles, southern France. The event runs until September 22. (Photo by Boris Horvat/AFP Photo)

French celebrities show off dresses made with chocolate at the Paris chocolate fair on October 27, 2021 in Paris, France. From left: Gennifer Demey, a weather forecaster; Isabelle Vitari, an actress; and Alicia Aylies, Miss France 2017. (Photo by Laurent Viteur/Getty Images)

French fashion designer Julien Fournie (R) poses with his Czech model Michaela Tomanova during the shooting of a film designed in place of the fashion show on June 30, 2020 as France eases lockdown measures taken to curb the spread of the COVID-19 disease caused by the novel coronavirus. (Photo by Franck Fife/AFP Photo)

Emily Ratajkowski filming DKNY commercial on January 20, 2017 in New York City, USA. The 25-year-old model braved the freezing New York temperatures as she wore just a black lace bra and matching French knickers, with a pair of clumpy biker boots. (Photo by Startraks Photo/Rex Features/Shutterstock)

A man lying on the ground is assisted by French policemen during clashes bewteen English and Russian supporters in the Old Port of Marseille, France, Saturday, June 12, 2016, before the UEFA EURO 2016 group B match between England and Russia. (Photo by Daniel Dal Zennaro/ANSA via AP Photo)

Paris authorities began draining the Canal Saint-Martin, a popular waterway that attracts tourists and revelers in the French capital's trendy northeastern 10th arrondissement, for the first time in 14 years, Paris, January 5, 2016. (Photo by Christophe Geyres/SIPA Press/Newscom)