Assignment 5

I believe that we are all aware of the fact that many photos are digitally enhanced in the media. However I think that some are easier to catch than others.
Mr. Lackaff uses the example of a family photo of the royal family of England, where Prince Williams face was enhanced from looking glum to smiling. I have to admit that if I saw this picture that I probably would not be able to tell. However, when told about the alteration, I could understand why they would want to portray Prince William this way. Many people look up to Prince William and as we all know, we sometimes tend to assume that the people that we look up to have no flaws. We always think that they are happy and that their lives are close to perfection, but the truth is they are human just like us. They have their good days and their bad just like anyone else. I think that because people feel this way, the media gives them what they want to see.
Even though the media is giving people what they would like to see, I personally feel that the photos taken should be left alone. I know that in photos people are wearing makeup, which covers up some of their natural image, but with enhancement the person’s image can be changed drastically. I do not know if anyone remembers, but one day we watched the process of what the model had to go through to have her picture posted on a billboard. The model came in with no makeup and her hair not done. She had black circles under her eyes and freckles and her hair was messy. When they were done you could not see any of her imperfections. The dark circles disappeared and so did the models freckles. Her hair was also done nicely done. But they were not finished. After taking the models photo they widened her eyes and changed the shape of her nose. Looking at her before the makeup and enhancements and then looking at the final product, you could not tell that it was the same person.
This causes problems because not everyone realizes how much work goes into making these models or celebrities flawless. Some go through any lengths, including surgery to achieve this perfection. The truth is that you can go through surgery, but you will always have pores, freckles, sometime dark circles under your eyes or even blemishes. As humans will never have a flawless complexion. And we will never have the ideal body. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and not everyone views the same body types as being beautiful.
I personally enjoy celebrities outside of their working environment. They are dressed in casual clothes and not covered up by tons of makeup. They show us that they are real people too.
If a magazine or publication has the funding to purchase the resources to make the alterations, I believe that these alternations would be available to them at any time. Even though I disagree with the process I feel that in some cases they have the right to make the alterations. For example, before a model takes a job she is aware of the fact that alterations could be done and agrees to that process when he/she accepts the position. I do not have all the information about the photo of the royal family, but I believe that the photo should not have been altered unless permission was give by Prince William. The picture may have been taken by the paparazzi.


Link: http://www.cosmogirl.com/currentissue/
~This link is to the most current issue of CosmoGirl magazine. It takes you to the front cover with Miley Cyrus. I believe that this picture was altered because her complexion has no flaws. Her skin tone is even and you cannot notice any freckles or blemishes. Even with the proper makeup, you cannot make a persons complexion this even.