alt Hacker NewsSure — but people reasonably distinguish between photos and digital art, with “photo” used to denote the intent to accurately convey rather than artistic expression.
We’ve had similar debates about art using miniatures and lens distortions versus photos since photography was invented — and digital editing fell on the lens trick and miniature side of the issue.
Journalistic/event photography is about accuracy to reality, almost all other types of photography are not.
Portrait photography -- no, people don't look like that in real life with skin flaws edited out
Landscape photography -- no, the landscapes don't look like that 99% of the time, the photographer picks the 1% of the time when it looks surreal
Staged photography -- no, it didn't really happen
Street photography -- a lot of it is staged spontaneously
Product photography -- no, they don't look like that in normal lighting