Photoshop: Altering Images, Altering Minds

The dramatic transformation of Sally Gifford Piper after her image underwent Photoshop

Photography is--or is supposed to be--unlike any painting or drawing. The original idea of photography was thought to be a "mirror image." This idea is the beauty of photography; it tells the truth, and nothing bu the truth. Unfortunately, that concept is being slowly disintegrated.

We now see media through photoshopped glass, but we are told--or are supposed to assume--that it is reality. What are we supposed to think when we see someone with absolutley no flaws or blemishes whatsoever if we assume its real? The immediate self-comparison is almost unavoidable, and as time goes on, the issue seems to just get worse.

A Dartmouth professor of computer science, Henry Ford, specializes in digital forensics and photo manipulation. When Ford was asked about his thoughts on the issue, he quickly affirmed the truth.

"The more and more we use this editing, the higher and higher the bar goes," Henry told ABC news in August of 2009. " They're creating things that are physically impossible."

Julia Roberts Lancome advertisement
which was banned in the UK for
absence of disclaimers for being
heavily airbrushed.

Physically impossible they are, and as technology continues to grow and advance, Photoshop will keep erasing the truth little by little. Currently, almost every image we see has been manipulated in some shape or form. Just last year, photoshopping has reached an all-time high. The undeniable fact is that photoshopping has gone completely overboard; even industry professionals agree. Ken Harris, a professional photo editor could not agree more.

"Every picture has been worked some twenty to thirty rounds of going back and fourth between the editor and the client and the agencies. [The images] are perfected to death," Harris explained.

These industries aim to make unattainable beauty look normal. The community is a subject to these lies and is almost always in near unavoidable self-comparison. We are a society determined to fix our never-ending list of flaws.

What will happen in years to come? What idea is this giving to younger generations?

Dr. McAneny of the AMA (American Medical Association) was inquired about her ideas on the subject.

"We need to stop exposing impressionable children and teenagers to advertisements portraying models with body types only attainable with the help of photo editing software," she responded.

Impressionable children and teenagers are impacted by the madness and its obvious; their imitations are proof.

Studies show that today, twenty-eight percent of girls are editing their own photos before posting them to social media. How do these girls feel about themselves in real life when most of the photos of themselves are edited to mere perfection.

Faith Hill, Redbook magazine
Source

Almost every day, we are a subject to photo manipulation's negative impacts. A picture is worth a thousand words? That may be true, but those words have become enormous lies. Aren't photos supposed to tell the truth? Has photo editing gone too far?