Digital Image Manipulation

1. How do digital images play a role in your day-to-day life? 

No matter what you're doing these days, digital images seem to be involved. Every day I see images on my phone, whether its social media or a friend that sent me a pictures. Digital images are an easy way to share your life with the people around you. I can capture daily moments whenever I want to, with ease. 

2. In your personal life? 

I use my camera very often. I use not only my phone, but my digital camera as well. I am constantly taking photos of my family, my friends, and anything else I want to document about my life. I am also constantly taking pictures of things that I intend to incorporate into my paintings or maybe even draw in the future. I get a lot of my ideas through digital images. 

3. In the way you experience your world? 

Digital imagery is a huge part of my life. I couldn't image not having it at my fingertips. For as long as I can remember, I have had my own digital camera. I can easily take any of the pictures I want to, then continue on to upload them to my computer through the SD drive. It's fast and easy, not to mention extremely convenient. I like to use my own reference photos for my artwork and it makes it very easy to get access to the photos and I can even zoom in on the photos to get details. 

4. What are your thoughts on ethics and aesthetics as it relates to photojournalism and digital imagery manipulation?

When it comes to digital manipulation, I tend to go back and forth between my opinions. Aesthetics are how appealing things come off to viewers. It's all about the beauty of the art. Ethics are the rules to what we consider good and bad. Digital manipulation gives the artist free range to change whatever they would like to change about a photo. When it comes down to it, I believe it all depends on what you are trying to pass off for the truth. 

Photoshop is a wonderful tool. It can be used to enhance so many things. A lot of concern in todays world is the way women, and even men, are photoshopped in images. They are shown with perfect bodies and faces. Honestly, I find nothing wrong with photoshopping the body. As an artist, you have the right to do this. As the model, you have already given your permission for these things to be done. I don't find anything unethical about this. It becomes unethical when the public is told that everyone should look like these perfect people when those people don't even look like that. 

When it comes to photo journalism, trying to portray events, or even facts, photoshop matters. If you're claiming something to be true to the public, like relaying important news, the photos should not be altered in a way that makes the situation false. To deceive people with incorrect information isn't ethical in my eyes. They should be accurate representations of what you are trying to communicate. 

5. What are your thoughts on these example of these manipulated mages?

Manipulation of images is a very touchy subject. I think it depends on the intentions of the photographer and those in the photos. As for the historical photos, I suppose it's sometimes hard to get all members of the photo to be there on the same day. I don't see anything wrong with adding a person to the photo until it's to the point where they are changing the course of history. I'm very iffy about the photos where the leaders removed people that they no longer wanted in the photos. They didn't do much other than take a person out of the literal photo, which happens quite often, even today. It didn't affect history, it just affects those who see the photo and don't know there was an extra person there. When they remove objects for visually pleasing reasons, I see absolutely nothing wrong with that.

6. Out of all the examples, which one do you believe has the most impact? Why?

I think out of all of the images, the one with the most impact on me was the one that Hilary Clinton was removed from. Not that I find it shocking or that it really affects us, I just think it says a lot. The country that removed the women from the photo, did it for their own reasoning. Not because they didn't like the women in the photo, but because they were following their laws and beliefs to keep women out of published photos. They were respecting their people and their government. I find it to be impactful because at first we didn't understand why they would remove the ladies. Then we actually had to take the time to learn and understand a different country. It was a moment where they wanted to show their people what was happening in an honest manner, but couldn't because of their circumstances. It makes us take a step back and try to relate to the rest of the world around us, for whatever reason it may be.