Nah, there is no cheating. You're pointing a machine at a three-dimensional space, which is inherently perceived differently by every creature, and you're turning it into a static, composed rectangle of pixels or pigments using algorithms or chemical reactions. Every picture is a manipulation by nature, which is also the beauty of it. Also, these images you've shared are phenomenal!
I enjoyed reading your reply as it has a valid argument in it. Thank you for stopping by and that you appreciate the photos posted. :)
I followed you.