How Photographs Lie
I think that it is a pretty fair statement to say that "photographs lie". All of the time photographers distort and change their images to change color, light etc.. I think that it is perfectly acceptable to change small things like editing out pimples and other blemishes - as long as the model approves of doing so. But, it is really easy for photographers to take editing much too far; just like in the Dove commercial. I think that it is unnecessary to completely change the way that someone looks in an image, even on a billboard.
Although some photographers make a living spending hours on Photoshop changing someone's appearance, I do not think that it is necessary. With photography and technology growing rapidly, there are so many people who know how to do simple, everyday things in photoshop. Also, with videos, tutorials, blogs, etc, it is so easy to find simple way on how to edit photos. A lot of what is done in photoshop can sometimes be pointless.
With all of the editing and detailing done in photographs for celebrities on the cover of magazines, internet articles, etc...it can give viewers a fake view of what “perfection” looks like. Even though simple changes like editing pimples, hair, imperfections, etc, it is very easy to actually overedit images and make too many changes, completely altering the way people look.
Although some photographers make a living spending hours on Photoshop changing someone's appearance, I do not think that it is necessary. With photography and technology growing rapidly, there are so many people who know how to do simple, everyday things in photoshop. Also, with videos, tutorials, blogs, etc, it is so easy to find simple way on how to edit photos. A lot of what is done in photoshop can sometimes be pointless.
With all of the editing and detailing done in photographs for celebrities on the cover of magazines, internet articles, etc...it can give viewers a fake view of what “perfection” looks like. Even though simple changes like editing pimples, hair, imperfections, etc, it is very easy to actually overedit images and make too many changes, completely altering the way people look.
Above is a picture of Kate Winslet. On the left is the cover of Vogue magazine’s cover. To the left of the magazine, is a photo of what Kate actually looks like. Viewers/Fans have seen what celebrities actually look like and they have also seen what celebrities look like on the cover of magazines. It is clear to people that the pictures are not the same.
The below photo is a side by side comparison of a before and after photo showing just how photos are manipulated in photoshop. Not only are simple things like colors and lighting altered in photoshop, face structure, color, features, etc. are all changed. The woman’s face is altered so much that she is almost not even recognizable as the same person.
The below photo is a side by side comparison of a before and after photo showing just how photos are manipulated in photoshop. Not only are simple things like colors and lighting altered in photoshop, face structure, color, features, etc. are all changed. The woman’s face is altered so much that she is almost not even recognizable as the same person.
Not only are the appearance of some models completely altered in images, so are the complete make-up and structure of people. A lot of people have heard so much about how airbrushed people are all the time to be made to look thinner. Alright, so a little thinning out isn’t too bad...but what about losing an entire limb?
The above picture is a completely altered picture of a woman modeling clothing for Ann Taylor, a widely known women’s clothing store. Although the focus of the image is to be on the clothing being worn by the model, it is just the slightest bit noticeable that the model seems to be missing one arm.
So, in conclusion, I do think that some photoshop alteration can sometimes be necessary for little things. But, photoshop can be so easily overdone and it can completely alter the way that some people look. When the way someone looks is changed so much that they look like a different person, it is overdone in my opinion.
Bibliography:
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2013/12/12/photoshop-parody-beauty-ads_n_4433198.html#slide=594124
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/17/celebrity-photoshop_n_4107587.html
So, in conclusion, I do think that some photoshop alteration can sometimes be necessary for little things. But, photoshop can be so easily overdone and it can completely alter the way that some people look. When the way someone looks is changed so much that they look like a different person, it is overdone in my opinion.
Bibliography:
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2013/12/12/photoshop-parody-beauty-ads_n_4433198.html#slide=594124
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/17/celebrity-photoshop_n_4107587.html