In this corner we have the shouters who question the ethics: The ‘Truth Seekers!'
And in the opposing corner are the digital arts defending their work: The ’Who Cares!'
Ready! Fight!
Alright, back to business. We’ve all heard it, and we’ve all seen it. Someone somewhere makes a comment about some picture or other having obviously been photoshopped.
So what comes then?
Well there seem to be conflicting understandings between our two groups. One group, the Truth Seekers, feel that images should not be enhanced or manipulated in anyway, and there are legitimate arguments for that.
For example, in Bonnie Meltzer’s article: “Digital Photography; A Question of Ethics" (yes it is from 1995/1996, however, it is still relevant even today) she raised questions about why we edit or feel that we should edit photos.
“I can make reality unreal and, conversely, make fantasy seem real.” (Meltzer)
There are always reasons for editing an image: Restoring an old family photo, removing those pesky blemishes from school photos, and so on. So what is it about seeing or realizing that the picture that appeared in the newspaper was edited that bothers us so much? When is it too much?
Truth. Some would say that it is because for things such as news, for images to be edited to better suit whatever point journalists are getting across is unethical. In this instance I tend to agree.
But let’s change gears for a moment. What about when it is not for the news? What if it is, say, for modeling or advertising? This is where it gets much, much more grey for people.
Here is a part of an article from a photographer from the ‘Who Cares?!’ team:
“What about when an interior photographer like myself moves items of furniture in a house, or adds a bowl of fruit to a room to enhance the image? What about when we add make up to a model before a shoot or re-arrange a wedding dress? None of these images tell the story of a scene as it was when we arrived at it. All the alterations were made manually to make the image more pleasing” (Stubbs).
Enhancing ourselves, or the world around us to get the ‘right’ image is something that we have done for a lot longer than most would care to admit, and more frequently than we often think about. What about the last time you moved furniture around, or rather why did you place it where you did to begin with?
It is true, your living room is likely not being published in home and garden magazines across the country, however, what is a painting? Would you consider it an accurate depiction? So how is photo-editing software, like Photoshop, different?
None of these questions have easy or stable answers, but being aware of both sides of the argument may give you or someone else helpful insight the next time you see an article about photo’s being edited. And so I leave you with one final quote:
“Photo manipulation is not just about using the technology--it is about understanding our society.” (Meltzer)
And in the opposing corner are the digital arts defending their work: The ’Who Cares!'
Ready! Fight!
Alright, back to business. We’ve all heard it, and we’ve all seen it. Someone somewhere makes a comment about some picture or other having obviously been photoshopped.
So what comes then?
Well there seem to be conflicting understandings between our two groups. One group, the Truth Seekers, feel that images should not be enhanced or manipulated in anyway, and there are legitimate arguments for that.
For example, in Bonnie Meltzer’s article: “Digital Photography; A Question of Ethics" (yes it is from 1995/1996, however, it is still relevant even today) she raised questions about why we edit or feel that we should edit photos.
“I can make reality unreal and, conversely, make fantasy seem real.” (Meltzer)
There are always reasons for editing an image: Restoring an old family photo, removing those pesky blemishes from school photos, and so on. So what is it about seeing or realizing that the picture that appeared in the newspaper was edited that bothers us so much? When is it too much?
Truth. Some would say that it is because for things such as news, for images to be edited to better suit whatever point journalists are getting across is unethical. In this instance I tend to agree.
But let’s change gears for a moment. What about when it is not for the news? What if it is, say, for modeling or advertising? This is where it gets much, much more grey for people.
Here is a part of an article from a photographer from the ‘Who Cares?!’ team:
“What about when an interior photographer like myself moves items of furniture in a house, or adds a bowl of fruit to a room to enhance the image? What about when we add make up to a model before a shoot or re-arrange a wedding dress? None of these images tell the story of a scene as it was when we arrived at it. All the alterations were made manually to make the image more pleasing” (Stubbs).
Enhancing ourselves, or the world around us to get the ‘right’ image is something that we have done for a lot longer than most would care to admit, and more frequently than we often think about. What about the last time you moved furniture around, or rather why did you place it where you did to begin with?
It is true, your living room is likely not being published in home and garden magazines across the country, however, what is a painting? Would you consider it an accurate depiction? So how is photo-editing software, like Photoshop, different?
None of these questions have easy or stable answers, but being aware of both sides of the argument may give you or someone else helpful insight the next time you see an article about photo’s being edited. And so I leave you with one final quote:
“Photo manipulation is not just about using the technology--it is about understanding our society.” (Meltzer)
Works Cited
Meltzer, Bonnie. "Digital Photograph; A Question of Ethics.". N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Mar 2014. <http://www.fno.org/may97/digital.html>.
Stubbs, Nick. "Photography Ethics and Photoshop; Photographer or "Digital" Photographer?." All Things Photography. N.p..Web. 28 Mar 2014. <http://www.all-things-photography.com/photography-ethics.html>.
Meltzer, Bonnie. "Digital Photograph; A Question of Ethics.". N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Mar 2014. <http://www.fno.org/may97/digital.html>.
Stubbs, Nick. "Photography Ethics and Photoshop; Photographer or "Digital" Photographer?." All Things Photography. N.p..Web. 28 Mar 2014. <http://www.all-things-photography.com/photography-ethics.html>.