We live in a time where modern technology is constantly improving. The average person has access to photo editing applications on their phones and computers. Technology has made it simple for us to make changes to our own photos or photos from the internet without having any prior experience with photoshop.
Some people may use photo editing tools to lighten, brighten, or change colors in their photos. Some photographers use photo editing technology to enhance their photos for artistic purposes. Others, however, may use photo editing technology for more malicious intent. This is why it is important to be aware, and keep a keen eye for photo manipulation.
In a New York Times article Christine Haughney she states "the increased manipulation of images has conditioned readers, already accustomed to digital effects in movies and on television, to expect not an accurate photo, but an image that's a heightened version of the truth." The article goes on to quote the editor in chief of Esquire magazine saying that people feel impulsed to manipulate photos to improve on reality, and make photos more beautiful.
The real problems arise when photojournalists use editing tools to change the meaning of the photo, context of the photo, or use it to mislead consumers. This type of misleading photo manipulation can commonly be seen in advertisements. If a product looks great in the photo, consumers will buy the product, only to find out it doesn't look quite like the picture promised.
Filters
While examining photo manipulation for the lesson this week I began to wonder, are filters a type of photo manipulation? On many social media apps now there are filters available to every user, built in to the camera screen. Instagram, Snapchat, and even Facebook all have their own filters.
Some filters are obvious by adding cat ears, a beard, glasses, even distorting your face into different shapes. Other filters can be quite inconspicuous, sneaky enough that the average person might truly believe that the photo is real. This can lead down a rabbit hole of self comparison; comparison to a false reality.
In a Forbes article by Lela London she discusses the harmful toll filters can take on the average social media consumer. "In 2018, researchers discovered 55% of surgeons are now seen by patients looking to improve their appearance for selfies (up from 42% in 2015) and that the pervasive nature of filtered images regularly trigger body dysmorphia." The article also features a Beverly Hills surgeon named Paul Nassif, who says that "public thinking has changed. More people are embracing fillers and botox to recreate the effect of filters and other photo editing apps."
Recently there has been a push-back against photo manipulation in beauty ads. More brands are moving away from retouching the models in the photos, rather just editing the colors of the clothes or the background if deemed necessary for their creative shot. Among social media platforms a movement called filter drop has been started. The challenge encourages women to post pictures of themselves with no makeup and no filter in attempts to show how extreme the difference is between the filtered photos. The photos are being posted along with the hashtag #FilterDrop.
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| Picture source: Upworthy |
False Realities
In addition to photo manipulation in the media and heavily filtered photos on social media, we are also living in a time where communication platforms are heavily relied on to replace face-to-face communication.
The pandemic introduced us to a new level of isolation. We were all staying home, working from home, and learning from home. This made it necessary for platforms like Zoom, Facetime, and Skype to replace communication that may normally happen in person.
An Atlantic article describes this as "augmented-reality filters." I found this article absolutely intriguing as the author describes using crazy virtual filters to keep themselves entertained during the pandemic. This ranges anywhere from virtual walk throughs of an art galleries, filters on Zoom that feature your backdrop as Bikini Bottom (the under sea world in Spongebob Squarepants), and virtual-reality fashion and interior design games.
The articles states that the pandemic seemed to have accelerated augmented reality filters, and has even made a platform that lends tools that allow people to create their own effects as well, without any coding experience.
My biggest takeaway is that there is a difference between manipulated or filtered photos being portrayed as a reality, versus for artistic purposes. The reality is that photo manipulation and filters can cause long term damage to mental health, and can also damage the credibility of photojournalists. As journalists and consumers it is important to keep a close eye out for photos that may have been manipulated, or for photos that may look too good, bad, or crazy to be true.
I like the idea of people posting non filtered photos, if you can actually believe the photos are completely pure of filters and or make up! I do believe it has and does continue to do damage to people young and old because of the unrealistic expectations they have set.
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