"Are these really photographs?"
I get that a lot! And yes, they really are photographs--mostly of objects and surfaces I've run across while exploring industrial areas of Seattle.
To enhance each image, I've chosen to use just a few general digital tools that can only be applied to the whole photo. I don't let myself modify or alter discrete details within a piece because for some strange reason that feels like cheating. For me, for the piece to be truthful, the forms and colors need to already exist somewhere within the original photo, so my task is less about altering the subject and more about coaxing forth the beauty within it.