What is ethical photography?
Ethics in photography interest me. If you take a shot of an ugly person and Photoshop the blemishes and the setting is that not fraud in a way? And the viewer. Is it honest to show that persons picture as a true representation of that person. I think it is dishonest in a way. I know everything is touched up but where is the line.
Also I like to take images that the subject is not aware of to avoid posed photographs. Is this ethical? I know if you are in public you have the right. I am not talking commercial photography just for personal use.
I guess who is ugly and who is beautiful? It is in the eye of the beholder after all.
Here is an example. I found a picture of an elderly lady who is a friend of the family. She has a skin condition on her arm which was obvious in the picture. I used Photoshop and seamlessly stamped it out. When I gave her the picture she looked puzzled although she really liked the image. I felt kind of funny about it. There was no money involved nor did she ask me to alter the image but it felt weird. I am just starting out in my Photography career and I want to be aware of any rules or guidelines that may exist. I have enclosed the images.
Frank X Gilg
Also I like to take images that the subject is not aware of to avoid posed photographs. Is this ethical? I know if you are in public you have the right. I am not talking commercial photography just for personal use.
I guess who is ugly and who is beautiful? It is in the eye of the beholder after all.
Here is an example. I found a picture of an elderly lady who is a friend of the family. She has a skin condition on her arm which was obvious in the picture. I used Photoshop and seamlessly stamped it out. When I gave her the picture she looked puzzled although she really liked the image. I felt kind of funny about it. There was no money involved nor did she ask me to alter the image but it felt weird. I am just starting out in my Photography career and I want to be aware of any rules or guidelines that may exist. I have enclosed the images.
Frank X Gilg
Views: 8
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by Matthew Palma on -
yes everything is photoshoped now a days but it is to make the picture better meaning brighter colors, shaper images, and to bring focus to a specific area. what you did was photoshop out an entire arm because you didnt like it, i feel like unless a person actually comes up to you and asks you to fix something on them or take something out is when you should do so other then that i think it is disrespectful to do so.
yes you can argue that magazines do the same thing but they do it to portray beauty and to sell it to people, a money making business.
-
Permalink Reply by Frank X Gilg on -
I agree with you. I had no motive but when she looked at it it felt wrong. I have had this discussion with others and there is a mix of opinion. Any image we view is with an eye toward improvement but fixing people unless asked should be avoided, if I get you right. It is all new for me and I appreciate your input. No arguing here!
-
Permalink Reply by KenJyi on -
I dont think of it as drawing a line, it's actually more of a compromise between the photographer, subject and/or client. From the details you've shared (and my personal experiences) my opinion is that you inadvertently told/showed her that you think her arm is ugly or that it bothers you to some extent; after all, you took the time to visually correct it. I assume if she had a problem with her arm she would hide it with long sleeves or something. I understand your intention is to show her in the best possible light but photoshopping out a physical blemish may not be the best approach. Like Mathew said, most of the time it's just adjusting colors, brightness, etc. and hiding blemishes is for selling something. There are methods to hide things in a photo such as cropping, bokeh, strategic objects in the foreground and clever angles; a pro once told me Photoshop isnt 'the way' it's a last resort.
© 2013 Created by alice.
