FAMU Graphics

On Sex, Lies and PhotoShop

Here are brief essays submitted after watching the following video about the application of retouching photos using Photoshop in today’s marketplace.  Each essay discusses both sides of the issue and then weighs in on what is the best way to deal with photo retouching in Magazines versus Newspapers.

And answers the question:  Should the rules be different?

http://video.nytimes.com/video/2009/03/09/opinion/1194838469575/sex-lies-and-photoshop.html

T. Mitchell

There is so much fuss in the industry today over photo retouching. Part of what I see the problem to be is that many people want to take one rule and apply it to all areas of photojournalism- including newspaper and magazine, when, in actuality, the fields are the same but also very different. Photo retouching, then, should also be approached differently.

A major argument is that photo retouching questions the credibility of the organization, whether it be a newspaper or magazine one. And on the other end is the argument that photo retouching simply provides a more polished look that everyone will appreciate. I feel that photo retouching in newspapers should be limited to simply cropping, lightening or slightly darkening an image. Newspapers report the truth and therefore polished looks should be avoided, especially if it is hard-hitting news being reported. Overdone retouching becomes biased and then untrustworthy.

Magazine writing is more of feature writing. Photo retouching is often done only to touch up the subjects. I think limiting of retouching may be done by consent of the subject being required; but there is conflict because the subject has also signed a release form. Photographs published in magazines should be treated with limited retouching, such as with newspapers, when the nature of what’s being reported is undoubtedly serious.

The issue of retouching model and beauty ads is another problem. In my opinion, that issue has been argued on but it won’t be until this society reforms that it can be resolved. It’s often argued that retouched images of models promote a standard of beauty and when young girls feel they don’t meet the standard, their self-esteem is lowered. But I wonder where are the people, besides the parents, who encourage the young girls and assure them of their own unique beauty. I don’t believe the retouching of the models in newspapers and magazines is the problem. I believe its the thinking of our society that is the root problem in this issue.(20)

C. Onyeozili

Today’s world continues to gain knowledge of its surroundings, yet it manages to grow increasingly superficial. It claims to be more accepting of a way of life or a people, but it cannot accept the way it looks. The main cause for the negative outlook is the media.

There are numerous means through which the media reaches it audience. The television, Internet, magazines, and sometimes newspapers are some of these means with which the public’s way of thinking about itself is altered. The issue that is most tackled or focused on is the issue of physical beauty. Somehow, it has become an unwritten law that the closer one’s figure and size are to a skeleton’s, or that the fairer in complexion or the longer the hair, the more beauty he or she possesses. Today, all magazines alter or retouch some or all parts of their images before they are made available to the public.

As discussed in the video Sex, Lies and Photoshop, even models who are chosen above other individuals for their unique beauty, still do not measure up to the ideal look that the public has learnt to expect. Yet, on the other hand, most of the same public, somehow, believes that the characteristics of true beauty are only those portrayed by magazines, and at times newspapers. This belief is strong, so much so that every year, younger and younger individuals are depressed by their physical appearance that they undergo any and all processes necessary, whether risky or not, to achieve the ideal look.

Not all magazines or newspapers are extreme when it comes to altering images. Also, [newspapers] definitely do not go through the lengths that magazines do. Magazines are more about individuals and ideal topics or situations, where as newspapers are more about real life and real situations. Because magazines aim to promote their ‘ideal’ message across, it is their job to make sure all necessary steps are taken to carry the message forth. Nevertheless, magazines should draw a line between real and unreal. Newspapers might aim to improve image color and quality, while magazines promote unreal images as real and this continues to affect the public negatively.

There is no law against retouching images, but as mentioned in the video, why not include the name of the retouching artist. The more educated the public is on photo retouching, the wiser its image of beauty will become. It might also reduce the feeling of inferiority in many individuals.(20)

I. Morgan

Currently, public officials in France are attempting to pass a law on disclosure of information about retouching images in magazines. This issue is two-sided that has a negative and positive effects on the industry. The professional who retouched the image will receive accreditation but models reputation may be in jeopardy.

A professional using photo shop has retouched just about all images of models in magazines. This can be misleading to viewers thinking that these models in magazines are flawless and you must have a certain look. In reality, fixing blemishes in the skin or removing body fat using photo shop has altered these images. The retouching of images can create a super model appeal to any individual.

On the other hand, these models are the victims and will suffer from exposure of the extent of the retouched image if the law is passed. The advertisements in the magazines might lose public interest because of its un-artificial models. For instance, viewers will see a model in a magazine wearing a certain style of clothing that fits perfectly, but under the image it will be revealed to the public that the image has been retouched.

The professional who retouched the image on photo shop will receive recognition for his or her work. This can be beneficial to that individual, but will harm the models reputation. America portrays super models to have certain standards of body structure in order to be in magazines, but the individuals who retouch the image are the real geniuses. The industry will be forced not to discriminate against any individual of any size and body shape because of the capabilities of adobe photo shop.

Retouching of an image in a newspaper may be considered to be ethical if that image needs to be censored by making alterations. A newspaper may have an image that is too graphic to publish so the professional must retouch it. Newspapers don’t seem to use photo shop much; they mainly deal with raw images. There is no need to retouch an up close image of a politician who is giving a speech that exposes any dental flaws they may have. This is image is for news purposes only to give viewers a visualization of the event.

I personally don’t think that retouching of images should be disclosed in any form of media because it is not causing harm to viewers. There is not enough evidence to show that the public is concerned about images of models being altered to fit the standard of fitness in magazines.(20)

P. Williams

Magazines do not have to expose their secrets on how they images more attractive them they really are originally. I believe several companies want to keep their audiences drawn into their audiences drawn into their magazines. The company wants the audience to believe anything they will publish in order to make money. The business world is about money and having an excelling company.

Magazines should give the photo editors credit for their work with the images. The audience needs to see the truth and realize that everything is not as beautiful as they appear. In addition, photo editors retouch the image make people and items look fake because they fix them up in photoshop and then their work is publish. I feel they should receive recognition for their work so the readers can see that everything is not perfect. In today’s world, there are many photo-retouching functions out there that can be used to make individuals look prettier, sexier, and younger.

Most of all, individuals such as designers and photo editors need to be acknowledge because their work is extremely unique and help bring the magazine company money to their business. If the photo editor receives credit then they can make money from other companies as well and everyone will be making money. Individuals in the business world should stick together and help each other survive since there is much competition.

In conclusion, I realize that most of the newspaper images are in black and white. To continue, the only editing they would have to do is retouch the pixels on the photo. Although, newspaper have a few color images. In general, I believe that the rules should be different between magazines and newspapers because it still would not amount to the work a photo editor would have to do for a magazine since all the photos are in color. In magazine the usually have close ups on celebrities. For instance, they hide their acne and wrinkles just to show that they are perfect which they over exaggerate in the images. I believe telling the audience the truth and giving photo editors recognition for their creativity.(17)

J. Philson

My option on retouching photos is both good and bad. There are many ways in which retouching images that can be positive and negative. On the positive side retouching can help someone who is not photogenic look more photogenic. With retouching they can take away bumps, scares, or bruises. They also can make a place or an item such as a car, house, or even a pair of shoes to look more appalling to the eye. It also would help images that are not quite as good as they should be. Retouching images opens up so many more doors to image world. With retouching images a person could take a group of pictures and transform them in to one new picture. I don’t think that America would be ready for a world of images as they are without any retouching done to them.

On the other had there can be a lot of negative effects to retouching pictures. For one they can be misleading, hurtful or just all around not true. Because of the world we live in a person my retouch an image for the wrong reasons. If someone was jealous of a person they could pay someone to retouch an image in a way that would end that person carre or scare their image. They also could exploit a person and them a bad name. This could also could give a person the power to single handedly destroy a company or business. These are just a few negative things that retouching an image could do to a person, company, business, or family. This type of thing happens every day. That’s why there are certain rules for retouching images.

I believe that the rules should be changed though. The rules that are in effect now give the person who is retouching the image to much leeway. I think that the rules should be change to where the person who is retouching the image has to sign their name or post the original image along with the retouched image. These rules would help the magazine and newspaper industry a whole lot in my eyes.(18)

C. Wilson

Why shouldn’t the person who does the retouching be named under the photo? Every photo put in a magazine has had work done to it. I do not think it is fair to only have the photographer named. It takes a lot of work to know how to use Photoshop. The final photo is never what it started out to be. I think that it is more work that the graphic designer do than the photographer. It is like doctors and nurses, a nurse may do just as much work as the doctor but do not get recognized for anything. I think that they should at least get paid more.

How dark really is Beyonce? Every time she is on the cover of a magazine she is a different color. I think that changing these photos is bad for our society. In Photoshop, there are tools that can alter a woman’s body so that it would appear as if she is smaller or bustier. This photo paints a picture of being perfect, and nobody is perfect. The younger generation is diseased with false information, false photos, which makes them think that is how they are supposed to look. Younger kids pick up magazines more than newspapers. There is way more edits in a magazine than a newspaper.

How to the people in the photo feel about this? How can you recognize yourself as a completely different person? I think they do not realize what their photos are doing to society. Most of them probably want to do it only for the money. For example, the Jessica Simpson situation, when she gained weight the world went crazy. The world was so used to seeing the photos of her really skinny, and when the photo of her being fat just looked really odd.

I think that there should be some laws or restrictions against retouching photos. For example, people can get sued for false advertisement, so the same should apply for retouching photos. There can be small changes to the photos. Skin color, body size, or the face should not be altered in photos. I know that these laws would help our society but at the same time put some people out of work.(16)

C. Daniels

I don’t think it should be mandatory for magazine companies to list if and/or when they retouch an image.  I understand the argument of how it affects people’s perception of reality and I know it does have a significant affect on the youth in our nation.  But, the problem that I would have if this rule were implemented is that we still wouldn’t know which images are actually retouched and which ones aren’t.  Editors can insist all they want that their respective images are not retouched, and there would not be any real way to tell if they are being dishonest or not.  Furthermore, if this rule were in place, what would the implications be for those images that do not have “retouch credits”?  Would we then, as a society, say that only these pictures are those of true beauty or perfection?

What I suggest is that we need to increase the awareness of this issue, and people should just take into consideration that this is going on and make their own judgments.  In other words, people need to take these images at face value (no pun intended) and be open to the possibility that they may be digitally enhanced.  As a society, we have to be able to say “okay, no one looks like this (not even the models)” and just move on from there.  This kind of reminds me of a few years back, when companies started placing “do not attempt” disclaimers on their commercials.  For example, they would show a new Dodge truck driving vertically up a mountain and parking once it got to the top, with a “do not attempt” message on the bottom of the screen.  I thought it was ridiculous that companies felt that they needed to tell people not to try these stunts done by professionals.  I don’t know about anyone else, but I am 100 percent certain that I would not have tried that, or any other stunts, without the disclaimer.  All I’m saying is that we don’t need to be reminded to not try a senseless stunt we see on TV, and we definitely don’t need to be informed every time an image has been altered.(17)

C. Salaman -The deception of technology

Every day technology makes advances that seemed imaginable in the past. However, when does mankind’s luxury become a flaw? Technology has become almost mandatory for the basic survival of society. Mankind has become truly dependent on technology. One way society uses technology as a mainstream for life is within the media.

In the video, sex, lies and Photoshop, the director was able to show how much of an effect media posses on society. Billboards, magazines, poster, etc. all have become a major influence in creating their idea of “Beauty”. Within in the video they were truly able to bring home a mind blowing point. Perfection could only be produced through computer software. The same technology that is used to maintain communication amongst a people is also contains a negative effect. An ideal body is even altered to some degree. This day in age even a super model isn’t good enough for a spread in a magazine, or placed on a billboard. The only form of perfection is seen through computer alterations.

While watching the video I realized that photo alterations could in fact posses a negative effect within society. However, in company with the negative undertone come the unbelievable wonders a photo alternator can create. Before watching the video I had no idea that one could alter from the freckles on a person’s face, to the overall body from of a model. Within the video one could see how the photo engineer could take a photo and completely transform the picture into the eye candy we see within the magazines and billboards.

Technology never seizes to amaze me. I feel as if the retouching industry is attacking the current photo altering situation the best way possible. Within the field of graphic design one is able to take one graphic and transform it into a master piece. I still find it amazing how one could change of eye color, hair color, the location of the person, etc. simply through a computer. Photo alteration has truly grabbed and maintained my attention. After view[ing] sex, lies and Photoshop along with being amazed, I was also surprised at the influence a simple photo could posses.(15)

I. Brown

Retouching pictures using Photoshop has become an issue looked at by many, for reasons that deal with the self esteem of people looking at these magazines, and because it gives wrong impressions, others believe that it benefits the product and that people should not pay so much attention the false beauty.

Some argue that women’s self esteem is lowered considerably by looking at a picture of one of these altered models for just a little while. Portraying women who have been altered and retouched is giving men and women false believes about what the average person should look like. The people who side with this issue believe that there should be a disclaimer stating the extent to which the Retouch application has been used, in order to help people realize what is realistic and what is not.

The other side of the issue argues that what makes a product more appealing is that people want to look like the person modeling the product, whether or not the product will really work for them. By depicting women or men who are ordinary and have nothing special about them products are not going to sell because it would be pointless to buy something that is not going to improve your look, or how you come off to others. It is all part of the advertising scheme. By having a disclaimer that the model has been photo shopped, and edited, it is going to take away from the beauty of advertising and trying to sell the product.

The best way to deal with the retouching issues is to have people be aware that it exists in our magazine advertising industry, but not every picture should indicate if it was retouched out not. Just like kids should be able to differentiate what is real or not in cartoons, women, especially the ones negatively affected by the altering of pictures, should be able to realize what is authentic and not in the models. The rules should just be included maybe once in the whole entire magazine. It should be a brief paragraph stating that some, to most pictures have been retouched. But the way the rules are today that advertisers do not have to indicate when they are retouching the pictures, should not be changed.(15)

V. Fyfe

After watching the video regarding retouching of published photos in magazines I can honestly say that it opened my mind to the negatives if the graphics industry. According to the documentary is has gotten to the point where health officials and psychiatrists in France want to establish laws preventing the publishing of images that promote health disorders, such as anorexia and bulimia. Looking at this issue from a common person’s point of view I can understand the concern with the retouching of images. The video made an interesting comment stating that looking at a woman’s magazine from 1-3 minutes can alter someone’s self esteem. That goes to show just how strong of an impression that retouching photos in magazines can be on an individual. However, at the same time I can also understand the reason in which it is done.

Speaking as a person who wants to go into the advertising/marketing industry I can understand why it is necessary to have flawless images when trying to promote a certain product. The core motive behind having such images is to attract the consumer’s eye. People want to buy products that seem to make them beautiful and flawless; otherwise marketing strategies would not be effective. I honestly don’t think that the rules should be different because there are so many other types of media that affect the common person besides print work such as television, internet, peer pressures, etc. If one was to make an argument about photos in newspapers and magazines, he/she might as well go as far as to attack them all.

Retouching images is a part of the industry. It is what people do to get the results they want, which is ultimately consumer’s money and profits. That is what sales and advertising is all about. There are so many more severe issues to worry about than someone altering a models appearance for a magazine cover. What psychologists and health official should focus on is helping their patients to not be so easily waivered by the media. It will probably be a good idea for them to make more documentaries such as the one we watched for this assignment to inform people on the realities of the media; that there is no reality in the photos shown. It is all magic and manipulation done by talented graphic artist who get paid to do so.(16)

E. Dunston

In the New York Times video, it was explained that the application of retouching images in Photoshop is very common in today’s market place. It was stated that every picture in a magazine has had some retouching done to perfect the image. Retouching images In Photoshop is good to an extinct because the images are cleaner, and more appealing to viewers. The application of retouching images can make a person look taller, shorter, bigger and smaller. It can also get rid of bloodshot eyes, bags under eyes, blemishes, freckles, etc. Anything that is less than perfection is retouched.

What’s wrong with this? This has caused problems because it altars the viewers mind about what beauty really is. No one could ever be completely flawless .Not even the models that are portrayed in these retouched magazines could ever meet the standard of perfection. These retouched images makes the viewer think I’m not tall enough, I’m not pretty enough, why are my hips so big. In return gives them low self esteem because they will never measure up to the girl in the magazine with the bikini on. The retouched images in the magazines gives people mixed messages that they could never amount to.

In my point of view, I feel that magazines/ newspapers should let readers know whether images have been altered. By letting readers know whether images have been altered it gives them a more realistic idea of what real beauty really is. And doesn’t alter their mind and give them mixed messages. People will no longer be mislead to buy products that will never make them meet the standards of the girl/boy in the magazine that has been retouched. People will no longer feel like they have to meet the standards in the magazine in order to be beautiful. And know that beauty comes in many shapes and sizes. There will be less people trying to meet a standard that could never be met. And less people with low self esteem because they don’t have that perfect body and skin that is portrays in the magazines/ newspapers. (15)

R. Porsche

What is beauty, what is perfection, how can we achieve them, are they attainable? Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and perfection is a matter of opinion, therefore yes we can attain both beauty and perfection. The question then becomes whose opinion of beauty and perfection we are trying to achieve. According to the video France is attempting to implement a new law that states that in magazines and images the amount of retouch should be disclosed. In the photography world, retouch is the amount of times an image is altered from its original state; usually retouch is done to hide flaws, or weed out physical imperfections. France is doing this so that youth particularly teenage girls and boys won’t have a misconstrued idea about the realistic possibilities of beauty. Studies have shown that looking at images about beauty that have been altered or retouched have a negative effect on the view. Girls that looked at magazines for more than three minutes had lower self-esteem in general.

Should the rules be different? Yes the rules should be different there is no need for the bandwagon effect. True if magazines said look we retouched this image a thousand times, or we only retouched it ten times, there is no universal law on beauty. If France implements a system that works for France than more power to them, but what works for one group is not guaranteed to work for another. Now if America or China do similar studies and receive similar results then there is no problem with trying Frances method.

Coming from a viewers stand point it would be nice to be reminded, when starring at a billboard or a magazine cover, that everything that glitters isn’t gold. It would be nice to be reminded that what we are looking at is an illusion and not real. However the only problem is that self esteem is just that ones opinion about ones self. While outside forces can influences people it is up to that individual to say, “Yes I am beauty” or “I am perfect the way GOD made me,” because at the end of the day “No object is so beautiful that, under certain conditions, it will not look ugly.”(17)

B. Lyle

Retouching photos in the media industry is something extremely common and something that we are over-stimulated with on a daily basis.  The issues of retouching and the concern of it giving a negative unrealistic view to the general public have been an ongoing heated topic for a number of years.  Even before becoming a graphic designer in-training, I could see both sides of the industry about Retouching photos for advertisement.

In today’s marketplace, there are numerous artists who spend countless amounts of hours on retouching and airbrushing magazines and other media for the several reasons, it is their job to do so, they are trying to convey a look towards society and, most importantly of course, they are trying to make money.  This look in which in the industry portrays is that human beings are meant look have a look of sheer perfection; a superficial identity based one looks, body size and sex appeal.  All of this is to gain to attention of the regular everyday member of society and to arouse their curiosity of a said product or brand.

Unfortunately, the down fall of all this retouching and displaying a model that glamours a person that is nearly flawless and infallible sends a negative message to viewer about how one’s body should look.  Retouching images have set the societies standards of how a person should look in their everyday life to a level and near impossibility.  Paradoxically, this type of industry self-perpetuates itself by subjecting the high standards of human imagery to the public which it negatively affects because of being unable to achieve set level of “perfection” yet continues to buy into.

Perhaps the best way to deal retouching in magazines versus, perhaps have similar rules about imagery. I agree with the video about placing rules for companies who specializes in selling products using models, such as letting the reader know that a certain image has been retouched and/or airbrushed, and for the sake of newspapers, pictures used for people who articles are about them.  The rules perhaps would be more enforced with magazine companies rather than newspaper companies, simply because the nature of a newspaper is to in people of the news and the nature of a magazine is mostly to entertain the reader.(16)

K.Hogan

When it comes to Photoshop it is really fun to use and its used in a wide variety of ways like making flyers, creating posters, and doing what it does best which is retouching photos. You see the works of photoshop everywhere around the world but two places that you see the photoshop the most are newspapers and in magazines. There have recently been some problems with the use of photoshop and its uses to retouch and doctor photos. Retouching photos in magazines and newspapers can be really beneficial because it can enhance the different ways that a photo looks to appeal to the public people tend to buy something that is pleasing to them. People are able to make something presentable and worthy of viewing if certain aspects are fixed such as repairing a torn edge on an old photo or correcting color imbalances within them.

The way that using photoshop to enhance photos can be bad is that the public isn’t getting the true story behind the image. The use of photoshop takes away from the natural flow of the overall photo. People tend to gravitate to things that look natural. People don’t want to buy a newspaper or magazine if it doesn’t look natural to them. Besides the magazine designed to show the odd and extraordinary people wouldn’t want to see doctored photos. As I see it I truly think that the use of photoshop actually helps enhance the publication being sold. Whether a photo looks natural or not I enjoy all of the photos that I see when I look in either a magazine or newspaper. I don’t think that there should be a problem with doctored photos in such publications.

In all photoshop has its pros and cons just like everything else in the world. People would rather buy magazines and newspapers with natural undoctored photos than the ones that a person can clearly tell is fake. People with creative minds would buy the magazines that explore the creativity that photoshop provides. There really isn’t a problem with retouched photos retouching makes them better.<(15)

D. Hughes

They say beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. Sex, lies and Photoshop is a video produced by Jesse Epstein which focuses why we should know the truth behind these images which are published in magazines and news papers. There are many different opinions of if magazines and newspapers should let readers know if images have been retouched. Ken Harris a photo retoucher who says every image we see on the day to day basic has been altered some twenty or thirty times to alter our minds of what beauty is. This means that the celebs we look up too or wish to look like aren’t as beautiful as we think they are. They have flaws just like us but their photos are edited to hide their flaws. It is true that no one is perfect, but when one views majority of they major magazines and newspapers we see perfect people. What these retouchers do is make these people look like the ideal perfect picture from making these models freckles look more attractive, legs look long or shorter according to the person to make them more beautiful. In some cases they use multiple photos of different people to make one perfect image.

According to a 2002 New York Times article about body-conscious athletes, boys as young as 10 are bulking up with steroids and seventy percent of girls report that images of models in magazines influence their definition of a perfect female body. I do believe that the rules should be different because it is lowering the self esteem of many individual and causing many younger teens to use products to change their appearance to which they believe will make them become more perfect which doesn’t exist. I do believe that the retouchers should be credited for making these figures to look perfect so that the viewers of the magazines and newpapers know the truth and accept themselves more. According to this video the only way to a perfect image is through air brushing through Photoshop. So I feel that the truth should be revealed, because when these people are seen in there the person there just like us.(15)

V. Ashley

When it comes to photo retouching, I think of it as a work of art causing controversy in our youth and in our daily news. With the introduction of photo retouching, there have been studies to show the increase in self-esteem issues in today’s youth. It can go without saying that the constant exposure to the “perfect image” can seriously push those with low self-esteem to take drastic measures to try and live up to something that isn’t even fully real. Not to mention the problems that can come out of important things, like our news, being retouched and causing conflict between nations. Can you image something like a retouched image leading to a conflict between two nations and how that could possibly play out if no one noticed that the photo had been retouched.

The way I see it, when it comes to things for entertainment purposes like advertisements or magazines, some credit must be giving to the person doing the retouching or at least let the public know if the photo has been retouched or not. However when it comes to our news, something that informs the people, it should never be retouched. I can understand why companies would want absolute perfection when selling a product, but they have to understand the image they are portraying to the public. Too many problems can come out of retouched photos in our everyday news. There have several stories popping up with photos being retouched to make a country seem more powerful than it really is. Whether if it is adding more rockets to a picture, or adding fake fireworks like China in the Olympics opening ceremony. Just like television, radio, and in the future, Internet, there needs to be some type of regulation on the retouching on photos depending on where they end up. Although it may not seem like it, we are affected by the constant bombardment of the media, and it is surely taking a turn for the worst. Hopefully something will be done about this retouching revolution, at least in a way that it won’t be as bad as it now.(20)