I choose the picture of dark smoke billowing from several buildings (#2) because it illustrates the ease with which an image can be manipulated so as to elicit an emotional or psychological response. Anyone with a basic familiarity of the features available through Photoshop could have doctored this image. I also choose this picture because it focuses on current events (the ongoing struggle between the Israelis and Lebanese). This knowledge will filter my understanding of the news I hear on CNN, CSPAN, and other news media.
This picture originated from a Lebanese reporter and highlights Israeli’s air raid on Lebanon during the summer of 2006.The artist manipulated this picture by adding more and darker smoke so as to create the impression that the Israeli bombing campaign was more severe than in reality. Additionally, the photographer probably wanted to gain recognition for his work. By making the picture appear more dramatic, the photographer maximizes the chances that his/her picture will be shown in the news media.
This manipulation was harmful to the extent that it damaged the Reuters' reputation as an impartial and respected news agency dedicated to providing the highest quality news coverage. Moreover, it was damaging to those individuals who saw this picture and were misinformed about the severity of the conflict. Finally, this manipulation was harmful to Israel. Those who saw this picture were more likely to harbor resentment towards Israel as the dark smoke created the impression that Israel was inflicting excess pain and hardship on the Lebanese.
This picture originated from a Lebanese reporter and highlights Israeli’s air raid on Lebanon during the summer of 2006.The artist manipulated this picture by adding more and darker smoke so as to create the impression that the Israeli bombing campaign was more severe than in reality. Additionally, the photographer probably wanted to gain recognition for his work. By making the picture appear more dramatic, the photographer maximizes the chances that his/her picture will be shown in the news media.
This manipulation was harmful to the extent that it damaged the Reuters' reputation as an impartial and respected news agency dedicated to providing the highest quality news coverage. Moreover, it was damaging to those individuals who saw this picture and were misinformed about the severity of the conflict. Finally, this manipulation was harmful to Israel. Those who saw this picture were more likely to harbor resentment towards Israel as the dark smoke created the impression that Israel was inflicting excess pain and hardship on the Lebanese.
2 comments:
Max,
This is great post. I agree that such a manipulation of a picture is harmful to both the publication source and the country. It is unfortunate that a photographer would do such a thing in order to receive attention. I look forward to having lunch with you soon!
-Brittni
That's an interesting take you have on that. I was the least "impressed" with the "digital enhancing" of this picture because to me the editing was all too too obvious. I can even tell which tool was most likely used to doctor this one up: it was most likely the pattern-cloning tool (which I used often). The cloning was done in such away that instead of "sreading" the pattern to make it look like more random smoke, it was more like "stamped" so that it was obviously the same pattern done three times over. However, I agree with the feedback it would elicit from viewers of the image.
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