Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2007/04/17
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]I wrote the following to post after reading the article aout the Toledo Blade photog and the shot of the baseball team praying, but then went on to read some of the other related stories, such as Photog Hajj who enhanced contrast of a dull photo of smoke over Beirut following an Israeli raid. Nothing added or deleted, just pumped up a rather dull photo, and was criticized because the smoke was blacker. Another article says burning in a background is OK. What is impermissible manipulation -- setting the digicam to vivid color? Using an enhanced color slide or print film? No Velvia in journalism!! How about selective focus with a wide aperture lens -- that will make background items unrecognizable. Does purity of journalistic photography require that only the most natural contrast, color, etc settings be used, and the depth of field be maximized? My initial thoughts: It is interesting, more for what you can read between the lines. If the ethics rule is not to change the editorial content, then arguably his manipulation did not violate the ethics rule -- merely cleaning up distracting non-essential background elements. How much of that particular controversy was being a matter of rivals getting a chance to embarrass their competitor? Obviously the Editor was embarrassed by the whole situation. But I do see how it would be easier to adopt a no manipulation policy to avoid having to argue whether changes are purely aesthetic or editorial -- I'd probably do the same. These aren't new issues -- digital just makes it easier and more prevalent. Is it unethical to dodge or burn in a distracting element to make it less noticeable? About 30 years ago PopPhoto showed a comparison of two copies of a Cosmonaut group picture -- one Cosmonaut had been airbrushed out in the picture as it later appeared in Russian school textbooks. IMHO, the photographer should inquire as to their policy before submission, and advise them that a photo had been manipulated, possibly submitting before and after prints -- the Editor should be able to make an informed choice. Tom On Apr 17, 2007, at 2:46 PM, Tina Manley wrote: > NPR has an interesting segment on what should and should not be > allowed when altering photos digitally; > > http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=9626782 > > Tina > > Tina Manley, ASMP, NPPA > http://www.tinamanley.com > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information