Photography Alterations (In Magazines): Homework Highlight #4

This critical thinking assignment was about how magazines use Photoshop, and other photo editing tools, to change pictures, and whether or not there is a time when it is appropriate.

These may seem like soft subjects to you, but as a (Mass) Communications major, these types of things are at the foundation of media ethics.

Here we go...

"The altering of photographs is very disturbing; especially with the great lengths they go to these days. It would be much better if the photographers learned how to use light and shadow, and other photography techniques, in lieu of blatant trickery. 

You know, learn to be a professional photographer. 

I find it particularly disgusting that they take already attractive people and turn them into something society holds up as a standard people try to attain; when in fact nobody can look like that, because if they could the photographers and magazines would not need the extensive airbrushing and manipulation techniques they use. 

 

I think, in this society, it’s pretty well known by the majority of adults that all magazine content is airbrushed to some extent. I don’t, however, think that children of a certain age understand it, and when they see those covers while standing in the line at the grocery store at very impressionable ages they are indoctrinated with a warped idea of what they think society believes is beauty. I find it rather tragic.  

 

Sometimes alteration of photos may be appropriate if they are trying to remove something from it that wasn't supposed to be there (maybe a dog “photo-bombed” an otherwise perfect shot.), which seems unlikely in this digital age, because you would know it immediately and re-take the shot. (in the case of professional photo shoots), or if they are trying to make a statement. 

However, if the photos are manipulated too extensively, other than just changing the light of the overall photo, or perhaps removing a blemish, then it should be stated somewhere in the photo credits. 

When altering of photos goes so far as adding things in that aren't there, or removing them, for the purpose of clear deception, I think there is a real problem, and it should be exposed. 

But then, I’m not even a supporter of adding and removing things from photos (like people, for example) and passing them off as legitimate original photos even in the most "innocent: of cases, which now can be done with just a smartphone app."

Not groundbreaking...but you should read the pap the other students write...
Literally two sentence answers saying that they have no opinion.
We're required to read and comment on at least two a week to even get our assignment graded...*jabs self in eye*

So far we have been heralded by students for having interesting content. *pats self on back*...so just because YOU don't think it's interesting...