Digital Alterations

This essay will discuss the links between photography and censorship and how the photographer and the media uses this to distribute images of a atrocity to the masses, when is it appropriate to censor images and when is it not? Do ‘controlled’ images affect the meaning and how we view them or do they simply allow us to not get desensitized? Photojournalists play a key role in the media their role is to photograph the events that take place in front of them but is it always appropriate to keep taking that image, “a photograph passes for incontrovertible proof that a given thing happened” (Sontag, 1979, p. 5) photography provides the evidence that the event happened why should that be withheld from the viewer. There is always a reason why a photographer may self censor and this essay will explore this by looking at ‘Will Stacey 's’ Photographs Not Taken. In the digital age with everyone having a phone which is capable of taking a image citizen journalism has been on the rise since the invention of the smartphone allowing more and more people to document the possible news that could unfold in front of them, but are the images that come out of their smartphone more true to life and unfiltered due to the fact that they may not be educated in photography thus they don’t hunt the ‘perfect’ shot they simply recorded what unfolds in front of them, to look further at this the essay will look at Stuart Allans and Einar Thorsen’s ‘Citizen journalism Global perspectives’ to gain a

I do believe that the advent of digital reproduction has changed the art of printmaking. According to the book, “Exploring Art: A Global, Thematic Approach,” by Margaret Lazzari and Dona Schlesier states that printmaking is the method of creating a variety of images and designs and then printing them onto paper. As technology has advanced over the years, so has the process and creation of art. For instance, artists are now able to make sculptures from computer-aided programs and print them into three-dimensional forms (Lazzari and Schlesier 79). I personally think that this three-dimensional printer takes away the artists touch. Yes, it is their creation and it will still become a beautiful piece of artwork, but it’s missing the physical touch from the artist themselves.

However, some argue that the removal of manipulated photos will make it harder for models, actors, singers, and other performers because they then feel the pressure to alter their bodies to become acceptable for the media. This is false for two reasons. The first reason is the fact that if photoshopped images are not allowed in the media, or if they at least had to have a disclaimer, than it will make it acceptable for more models and other performers to become a part of the business that they wish to take part in because there no longer is a need to live up to unrealistic expectations and body image is destroyed. Another validated reason is that when every body image is acceptable, then the people who were the only acceptable models and other performers would have equal

It is said that “The true content of a photograph is invisible, for it derives from a play not with form but with time”. This makes me think that the real content of a picture, which is what the photographer tried to express, is not evident to perceive unless an explanatory text is provided. In fact, I believe that our perceptions of pictures changes over time as the historical context do. In addition, our opinions are never fixed as they are influenced by our environment. Therefore, when looking at a particular picture at a given time, it is certain that our perception of it will be different in the future based on what happen between the first time and second time we saw it.

When the photography was initially developed, it was used as the most realistic tool to show the real portrait of any person or the object. However, in this digital age with the advancement of the internet and computer softwares the images are manipulated and used in an unethical manner. This paper discusses the various ethical considerations in the use of digital images.

Photos are just recorded information and how it is presented is actually based on individual interpretation by the photographers themselves. It is not absolute reality because the viewers themselves are not there to witness the event; therefore it is not entirely factual. The meaning of a photo illustration is also dependent on viewers' individual views and assumption. As the old metaphor says, "is the glass of milk half full or half empty?"

Legally, the issue has been brought up that alterations and the deceptive nature of an edited photo can potentially violate consumer protection laws in the US, specifically the Federal Trade Commission Act (“FTC Act”) and the Lanham Act. The FTC Act of 1914 covers methods of unfair competition, and it was changed in 1938 to include “unfair or deceptive acts or practices” declaring that unfair or deceptive methods of competition that affect commerce are unlawful. Little change or clarification has been made to its wording since 1964, making it difficult to keep up with growing technology (Brown 94) Unfortunately, a lot of the wording in the document assumes that speech is the key offender in deception rather than the image. However, the United

Since these modifications were made by the Supreme Court some states that wanted to restore the death penalty incorporated them in their new death penalty laws. The Supreme Court did not demand that each of the alterations appear in the new laws. So, some of the new laws include discrepancies on the procedural modifications found in the Gregg decision. The ten-year suspension of executions that had started with the Jackson and Witherspoon decisions concluded on January 17, 1977, when Gary Gilmore was executed in Utah by firing squad. Gilmore did not contest the death sentence he was given. Following Gilmore’s execution, Oklahoma was the first state to use lethal injection as a manner of execution. Five years later Charles Brooks would be the

Quinn expresses a fundamental concern with the validity and objectivity of journalism with the coming of the digital age, and the increasing role that digital/information technology plays in media that reports or represents reality. Quinn begins his 2004 paper with the mention of the transition of non-digital/traditional photography into mainly digital photography with respect to journalism. More than just the changing of the photographic platform and format, Quinn notes the role that computer software that specializes in photographic manipulation in journalism. Early on, he contends, "Technical advancement has helped photojournalism be more effective in may ways, but has also created ethical challenges in making deception expeditious and less transparent." (Quinn, 2004, 1) The article explores this ethical quandary. Digital technology, photographic software, and digital manipulation are tightly integrated into modern photojournalism, among many other industries and fields. Quinn challenges readers to consider and explore the ethics of photographic manipulation and the implications upon perception. He presents the digital manipulation as having a positive and use; furthermore, that at this point in history and in the profession of photojournalism, it is unavoidable. Quinn clearly additionally presents the issue as loaded with negative ethical implications and

There is lots of laws over the world and one very important one for images and photographs is the copyright and patients act 1988 this act gives the person that created the image full copyright of it as they created the image so they have the full rights for their image which means how it is used and distributed. The law was invented around the same time that the photocopiers came out which meant that machine allowed people to copy other people’s work so they created the law so that they could not copy anyone’s work without their permission. The person that created the work will be able to have their work protected for 70 years from the date they have died. If you take someone else’s work and copy it or slightly change it you are breaking the law and you can sued for doing this through a court which you can receive a fine which can be up to £5000 from multiple fines from different offences or imprisonment which could have the maximum term of 3 years or more.

The editing of images is not good for society it is prevalent because laws do not recognize the dangers of image editing. In the hands of the media, images can be seen by everyone including kids. A lot of images used in media can make kids believe in an unrealistic standard. The images used by the media can also be used to spread rumors that are not true.

Skin is considered flawed if it doesn’t conform to that picture-perfect ideal. Editing a photograph to conform to our unrealistic expectations distorts our perception of ourselves.

How can manipulating photograph's affect the media? In my, opinion it has a tremendous impact in the world of communication. It can influence a person's impression of someone of importance. For instance, the fabricated anti-war protest photo of Jane Fonda and John Kerry is an ideal example of propaganda Fauxtography.

In today’s society, technology and art go hand in hand. Art has been around for a long time but technology such as computers are still very new. These two mediums have comingled and now evolve and effect the other. Art has changed to reflect the vast improvements technology has contributed to communication and the ability to create using digital space. Technology has also changed with artist pushing the boundaries of what is technical possible in the digital realm. Much of today’s art is created and presented in digital formats. The question of whether digital art is truly art has risen among many critics in the art community.

In the last decade computer technology has been introduced to photography yet again challenging the meaning