burning and dodging in the darkroom
and dodging while exposing
using slow or fast shutter speeds
or fast / slow films
developing the film ( or paper negative or glass plate &c)
a certain way ... in a certain developer because it may do something
"extra special" ( or not )
toning bleaching

... its all manipulation

who cares what awards are given out for mastery of their process ...
its a process just as much as the traditional ones ...