The Trend of Photo-Manupulation

Photo-Manupulation

(source: http://yahyasheikho786.wordpress.com/2009/08/11/when-alarmists-talk-perfect-sense-about-cyberwar-“imagine-no-lines”-beyond-the-beyond/)

Photo-manupulation has been around us since the technology of creativity improved. The invention of some software has allowed people to manipulate document or pictures (photographs). The impact of visual on a viewer comes directly from the old belief that said, “camera never lies” (Lester 1999). Further, on the chapter, Lester explained that camera has faithfully and unemotionally captured a moment in time. The improved and advanced technology allows them to easily manipulate pictures or photographs. Back in the past, camera might never lies, but today,

pictures might say the untruth. However, manipulating the photographs is prohibited regarding the ethical of photojournalism. Therefore, the Webster University Journal stated some ‘Do’s and Don’ts” guidelines in editing photographs in their article “Policy for the Ethical Use of Photographs”.

DO:

• - Burning and dogging to control tonal range
• - Color correction
• - Brightness/ contrast control
• - Cropping and frame photos to fit layout
• - Touch of dust and stretches

DON’T:

• - Changing color other than to restore the looked of subject
• - Flopping a photography
• - Cropping a frame to alter its meaning
• - Adding/ removing object within frame

Do not assume that expert will not make any mistake. Experts are human too, who makes mistake, unconsciously. Since there are some issues of misinterpretation and misunderstanding the object regarding the photo-manupulation, it has been prohibited to the ethical of publishing. So, it is wise when you take some political ethics before expressing the creativity into photographs. Creativity is not necessarily need to be negative.

References:

Lester, PM 1999, Chapter Six: Picture Manupulation, Photojournalism Ethics, viewed June 16, 2010, http://commfaculty.fullerton.edu/lester/writings/chapter6.html

Policy for the Ethical Use of Photograps, Webster University Journal, viewed June 16, 2010, http://www.webster.edu/~barrettb/journal_ethics.htm