Picture Imperfect — Digital Image Manipulation Ethics
If you believe the adage, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. What about whenthat beauty is manufactured through digital image manipulation? The beholder doesn'thave as much of a choice then.
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Digital image manipulation - or editing with software that stops short ofmanipulation - has become a routine practice in photography. The range of changes thatphoto editors can make varies from correcting background lighting to transforming ahuman model's body type. The technology and software available today allows amateur andprofessional photographers alike to alter their shots. More complicated imagemanipulation may take the touch of an expert, but some software programs, such asPhotoshop, are commonly used by average computer users.
Some degree of digital image manipulation can be seen as necessary and beneficial tothose in the industry. Becky Olstad is a Photography Instructor at The Art InstitutesInternational Minnesota and says using computer applications like Photoshop is aroutine part of the process.
'There is a general misconception that the use of Photoshop inherently means‘manipulation,' she adds. 'It allows us to control exposure, contrast, colorbalance - things that are also routinely controlled in a traditional darkroom.'
Launched in 1990, Photoshop is the current market leader for image manipulationsoftware and is considered an industry standard. More than 90% of creativeprofessionals have Adobe Photoshop software on their desktops, according to a factsheet from Adobe, the parent company of Photoshop. The onus of any ethical decisionsabout digital image manipulation lies with the photographer or editor, not theapplication, industry professionals say.
Fabio Apelbaum graduated from the Media Arts & Animation program at The ArtInstitute of Fort Lauderdale in 2001. He currently works as Director of Graphic Arts ata television station. Apelbaum says Photoshop is at the core of almost all postproduction projects - and that it is a good thing.
'Photoshop is one of the most commonly used pieces of software,' he says. 'From thesmallest to the largest artwork, Photoshop has delivered an excellent result andperformance to accomplish our needs.'
But the quality of the product has not stopped the debate over how some useit.
The list of celebrities involved in controversial, manipulated photo imagery seemsto grow longer every day, and already includes Kelly Clarkson, Demi Moore, KateWinslet, Beyonce Knowles, and even Sarah Palin. Inches are shaved from waists, hips,thighs, and arms. Skin tones are lightened. Muscle tone is added.
The celebrity angle pushes the issue further into the spotlight. But those whoappear in front of the camera as professionals - the models - are far from immune fromthe digital image manipulation debate.
In one recent dust-up, a size-four model for Ralph Lauren appeared grotesquelydistorted in a company ad, with a head that appeared larger than her waist. In the wakeof the public and media criticism of the ad, the model says she was fired for being toofat. The company refuted her charges and took responsibility for the manipulated imagein the advertisement.
Olstad says there are no industry guidelines or rules that photographers and editorsare expected to follow. Models typically sign documents allowing their image to bemanipulated and used at the discretion of others. But when public figures andcelebrities pose for editorial photographs that are later republished with significantalterations, the practice can be more controversial, Olstad says.
'These types of cases raise this question of whether the subject has any controlover the subsequent manipulation of the image and what the role and responsibilitiesare as a photographer,' she adds. 'It boils down to the photographer's personalethics.'
Apelbaum agrees. At his current workplace, digital corrections are employed butthere is a limit as to how much retouching occurs.
'We happen to be the plastic surgeons of digital media,' he says. 'We will improvetheir defects but make sure to not exceed our rights as artists.'
One of the criticisms of digital image manipulation is that it contributes to thefostering of an impossible standard of beauty. The website About-Face exists to 'resistharmful media messages,' including a section dedicated to exposing over-alteredphotographs called the Gallery of Offenders. A Blog titled Photoshop Disastersencourages readers to submit any 'truly awful piece of Photoshop work' and human modelsaltered beyond recognition are regular features on the site.
Despite the criticism, Olstad says the collective standard of beauty and anyproblems it presents is not the responsibility of photo editors. Adobe photoshop cnet download.
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'I don't think you can pin our society's unrealistic expectations of beauty on anyone person or industry,' she adds. 'Isn't the designer who sends over only size 0's ofthe latest line just as responsible as the editor who prints the photo?'
As technology and software continue to evolve and become more and more accessible tothe general public, use of digital image manipulation and the questions it raises willlikely only increase.
Meanwhile, how can the public know if the they are looking at 'real' images? Thequick answer from those in the industry is - they can't.
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'When you look at a magazine, 98% of what you see in the fashion industry isunreal,' Apelbaum says. 'We have taken the human beauty to an extreme that beautyitself cannot compete with.'
'These types of cases raise this question of whether the subject has any controlover the subsequent manipulation of the image and what the role and responsibilitiesare as a photographer,' she adds. 'It boils down to the photographer's personalethics.'
Apelbaum agrees. At his current workplace, digital corrections are employed butthere is a limit as to how much retouching occurs.
'We happen to be the plastic surgeons of digital media,' he says. 'We will improvetheir defects but make sure to not exceed our rights as artists.'
One of the criticisms of digital image manipulation is that it contributes to thefostering of an impossible standard of beauty. The website About-Face exists to 'resistharmful media messages,' including a section dedicated to exposing over-alteredphotographs called the Gallery of Offenders. A Blog titled Photoshop Disastersencourages readers to submit any 'truly awful piece of Photoshop work' and human modelsaltered beyond recognition are regular features on the site.
Despite the criticism, Olstad says the collective standard of beauty and anyproblems it presents is not the responsibility of photo editors. Adobe photoshop cnet download.
Digital Editing Photoshop App
'I don't think you can pin our society's unrealistic expectations of beauty on anyone person or industry,' she adds. 'Isn't the designer who sends over only size 0's ofthe latest line just as responsible as the editor who prints the photo?'
As technology and software continue to evolve and become more and more accessible tothe general public, use of digital image manipulation and the questions it raises willlikely only increase.
Meanwhile, how can the public know if the they are looking at 'real' images? Thequick answer from those in the industry is - they can't.
Digital Editing Photoshop Software
'When you look at a magazine, 98% of what you see in the fashion industry isunreal,' Apelbaum says. 'We have taken the human beauty to an extreme that beautyitself cannot compete with.'
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