Digital Manipulation

Ever since the technology of reproducing photographic images was invented manipulation has been an issue. In the beginning of the 20th century many photographers experimented with this new medium and the role of the image was not clear. Was a photo merely facts reproduced visually or should it be viewed as fiction?

The answer, of course, is: It depends! Photography clearly can serve both purposes. Today the line between fact and fiction has become even more of an issue. Most of the time we know how to distinguish between fact and fiction because we have learnt that different media bring facts and others fiction. We all expect that the images we see on a news broadcast are factual, unless we are told otherwise. Likewise, a billboard, we have learnt, is fiction.

But are any photos or images really factual? There is always some manipulation involved in the process. Just the photographer’s choice of subject and the angle questions the notion of objectivity and to some extent factuality.

If we take it one step further and look at the whole process that starts after the photo has been taken, the notion of reproducing facts becomes even more questionable. I know from my own experience that manipulation is the first thing that happens once you get your digital photos into your computer. I usually like to change the brightness and color of my pictures to make the picture look nicer. I tell myself that I am just trying to bring out the “true” colors, but isn’t this manipulation? Not to talk about cropping a picture to remove some disturbing element, like an ex girlfriend.

I think it is important that we all question the images we are being shown, as we should question anything someone tells us. Always keep in mind that the sender of a specific message has a specific intention when bringing any message to you. And with the emergence of digital editing manipulation has become very easy to do well without anyone really being able to prove that manipulation in fact has taken place. Beware.