Digital Media @ 8:00 am!: Cecilia Project #1 Midpoint Update

Introduction:

“Use a picture,” stated Arthur Brisbane, editor for a 1911 New York newspaper, “It’s worth a thousand words.” At the time, Brisbane was discussing journalism and publicity with his staff. The phrase has been applicable for more than a century, and holds so much truth that it’s sometimes wrongly credited to Confucius. Since its invention, photography has always played an important role in our lives, directly and indirectly. But the versatile technology of the Digital Age has changed how photography is made, used and viewed; photo editing software, most famously Photoshop, have changed the game in more ways than one. If a picture is worth a thousand words, how many words is a manipulated picture worth? The prevalence of photo editing software has affected the culture of photography in many ways both good and bad, but the most daunting may be the adjustment of our perception of the truth.

-In paragraph #2 I will introduce the history of photo manipulation, and how it (unbeknownst to many) dates back to the 1800’s.

-In paragraph #3 I will discuss the abilities that photo editing software nowadays encompasses, and briefly talk about how it is used.

-In paragraph #4 I will list the positive aspects that this kind of software contains, and how it is a benefit to society.

-In paragraph #5 I will list the negative aspects that this kind of software contains, and how it is a hindrance to society.

-In paragraph #6 I will cite several of the most well-known scandals involving photo manipulation.

-In paragraph #7 I will cite some of the effects that a media world that is so saturated in manipulation and editing has on its society.

-In conclusion, I will give some predictions on where we are headed as far as photo manipulation goes (people will place less and less trust in the media, as much of it is unacceptably far from reality) and some ideas on how to get a better handle on it.

http://www.bloomberg.com/image/iVwGQQxkRWK8.jpg

This top image was one of the first big photo manipulation scandals: National Geographic added the camels into the photo and moved the pyramids closer together so that they would fit on the cover of the magazine. What if they had added an elephant (which don't live in Egypt) to the photo instead?

http://i500.listal.com/image/3693400/500full.jpg

Nowadays, all you need to take a good-looking photo is the Instagram app on your iPhone. The app is free. What about the thousands of dollars that photographers spend on equipment?