Altering Photographs for Advertisements:

Why it’s wrongChristine Celia

Section 6

History of Photo Altering:

Manipulating photographs is nothing new in our society.• Started to become popular in the 1980’s.• Today changes in photographs are much

more drastic compared to the past due to advanced software.

Programs Used:

Adobe Photoshop

Corel Paint Shop Pro

Photoimpression

Why Photographs are altered:

To enhance the looks of

people and/or objects

To avoid trial and error in photoshoots

To save time and money on advertisement

s

To make companies

more efficient

Why is this a problem? Women already live in a society

where they feel they need to look perfect.• Some altered photographs give people the

belief that “perfect” is unhealthy. • This can be dangerous to people’s health.

Can cause people, specifically women to have anxiety and be depressed.

Why Is This a Problem? (Cont’d)

These advertisements are not realistic.• May make consumers believe that a product

can do something to an extent that it cannot. False Advertising.

• Can cause unhappy customers.

Advertisements:RALPH LAUREN AD TWIGGY OIL OF OLAY AD:

How this problem can be fixed:

Understand that companies will not stop altering photographs.• However they should not be altered to the

point where the image of the human body is distorted.

Advertisements should come with disclaimers.• Would make consumers realize that their

results from the product usage may not be as drastic.

Youtube Video: Dove Evolution

Works Cited: BlackCode. “Photo Manipulation With Adobe Photoshop And Its Effects

On Society.” Computers Zine.8 May 2010. Web. 10 Nov 2010. http://computerszine.com/photo-manipulation-with-adobe-photoshop-and-its-effects-on-society

"Dove - Evolution Commercial." youtube. Web. 10 Nov 2010. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hibyAJOSW8U&feature=related>.

Ki Mae Huessner. “11 Photo Editing Flubs: Ralph Lauren Ad Sparks Controversy.” Abc News/Technology Ahead of the Curve. 8 Oct 2010. Web. 10 Nov 2010. <http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/AheadoftheCurve/11-photo-editing-flubs-digitally-altered-photo-disasters/story?id=8780937&page=1>

Pfanner, Eric. “A Move to Curb Digitally Altered Photos in Ads.” The New York Times. 27 Sept. 2009. Web. 10 Nov 2010. <http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/28/business/media/28brush.html?_r=1>

Tracey, Sam. “Altered Photos harm consumers, should come with disclaimer.” The Daily Campus. 2 Feb 2010. Web. 10 Nov 2010. <http://www.dailycampus.com/commentary/altered-photos-harm-consumers-should-come-with-disclaimer-1.1111227>