What are the Risks of Photoshopping Pictures and How to Avoid Them?
The world of digital photography has revolutionized the way we perceive images. Photo editing softwares like Adobe Photoshop have opened up limitless possibilities for photography enthusiasts and professionals alike. However, this technological advancement also poses a great risk. With the advancements in digital imaging, comes the risk of photoshopped images.
Photoshopped images refer to any photographs that have been altered or manipulated extensively using image editing software. Manipulated images often portray an incomplete or a fabricated version of reality. Despite the advantages, such as improvement in image quality, there are significant risks associated with photoshopped images. Here are some of the risks of photoshopping and the measures that can be taken to avoid them.
1. Lack of credibility
One of the greatest risks of creating a photoshopped image is that it may lose its credibility. Since photoshopping allows users to create entirely new images, it can sometimes be difficult to differentiate between a genuine image and a manipulated one. This poses a significant challenge to journalists, photojournalists, and other professionals who rely on photographs to tell a story.
Solution: always ensure that the images are authentic and not heavily edited, especially when they are used for journalistic purposes.
2. The ethical challenge
As photo editing software has become more accessible, there has been a noticeable increase in the number of manipulated images being posted on social media or used for advertising purposes. The creation of these images brings up an ethical challenge. By modifying an image, are we deceiving the viewer and misrepresenting reality?
Solution: The best way to avoid ethical issues with photoshopped images is to limit the amount of editing, use it only for enhancement purposes or with the informed consent of all parties involved.
3. Harm to self-image
One of the significant risks of photoshopped images is the psychological impact they can have. Photoshopped images often present an unrealistic and idealistic view of the human body, which can be quite harmful to one’s mental health.
Solution: It is essential to recognize that not all images of the human body need to be perfect, and realism is far more important when it comes to self-image. Instead of altering one’s appearance, embrace natural beauty.
4. Legal liabilities
The creation and distribution of fake images can also lead to legal repercussions. For example, manipulating an image to present a person in a negative light or in a manner that could be seen as harassment can lead to a lawsuit.
Solution: Always obtain permission before editing someone’s photo and never post anything that may be deemed offensive, discriminatory or defamatory.
5. Plagiarism
Editing a photo or manipulating it drastically can be viewed as plagiarism. Using someone else’s work without permission is never a good idea and could lead to a lawsuit or legal penalties.
Solution: Only use images that you have permission to edit, and always credit the original creator.
In conclusion, while it is tempting to turn to photo editing software to improve the quality of pictures, it is essential to recognize the associated risks. A photo that has been heavily edited or manipulated can cause harm, confront legal liabilities or even impact the credibility of the image. As a key solution, always scrutinize images to ensure they remain authentic and can portray an honest view to the viewer. There are many other options than heavy editing such as natural light, angles, positions or lens effects that can enhance your picture qualty without compromising its authenticity. Balancing the value of a picture with its risks will provide better outcomes for its intended purposes.