Title: Air - brushing makes publications photo -happy
We’re all aware of how photo – shop is used to manipulate people’s waistlines and take years off someone’s face. We know how this makes magazines photo – happy!
Photo manipulation in glossy magazines has always been an area for debate with the issue of promoting false body images and the likes. Airbrushing models and celebrities has become so popular. High-resolution images can make a publication look more appealing and therefore lure in the reader. When is it ok to draw the line? Has it already gone too far?
These glossy images have strayed further and further from anything resembling reality. Retouching techniques that were once used mainly to erase blemishes or stray hairs have become tools for fixing human body distortion, shrinking waists and vanquishing years, turning models and actresses into leggy dolls of literally inhuman proportions.
Daniel Montgomery has been involved in the beauty industry for over 5 years, and is an OMC Global Elite Stylist. He styles for photo-shoots on a regular basis. He says; “The worst case of air brushing I seen was when I was working on a bridal shoot that I had done for a national Bridal Magazine, which had been airbrushed within an inch of it's life, it made the hair look awful; it lost its sharpness and natural texture.”
But there's a growing backlash against this Barbie fiction of almost every model, actress or celebrity. Every body who knows women’s magazines understands that fashion is supposed to be fantasy, an escapism, but how does it make us feel when middle-aged celebrities and teenage actresses all look as if they're about the same age and weight?
Roy Wong has been working in the beauty industry for almost a decade. Three days a week, you can catch Roy at the MAC department in Brown Thomas. The rest of the week, he’s busy on fashion shoots for the print industry with his portfolio including the Evening Herald, Social & Personal plus the weekend supplements for The Mail on Sunday, Irish Independent and so on. He admits, “I’ve seen some photo-shop cases where skin has been smoothed out, and deep lines in the skin become almost non-existent”.
A Manhattan-based photo re-toucher told NEWSWEEK, "We're always stretching the models' legs and slimming their thighs", speaking anonymously for fear of professional backlash. "Sometimes I feel a little like Frankenstein."
This conflict between glossy magazines and individuals is a consent battle. Kourtney Kardashian was reportedly furious over photographs that were published in the American version of OK! Magazine.
The photographs were evidently photo-shopped and had even airbrushed away her post baby curves.
The photo shows Kourtney with her new baby Mason just one week after giving birth. Understandably she was still carrying a fair bit of weight, but OK!'s editor obviously doesn't think a bit of curves or “extra fat” will sell magazines.
The headline reads, "My diet secrets – lose 10lbs in 10 days", but Kourtney says she never even spoke to the magazine.
"They doctored and Photoshopped my body to make it look like I have already lost all the weight, which I have not," Kourtney told Women's Wear Daily.
To add to the backlash Kate Winslet has too had some conflict with photo editors in the past, but her ageing she can now understand the need for photo manipulation.
Back in 2003, Kate was outraged at airbrushed photos that appeared in Vanity Fair magazine; Winslet’s rep told GQ magazine "Kate is furious at suggestions that her body has been airbrushed. She is in terrific shape and what you see is how she looks or she would never have agreed to pose for those shots."
Kate Winslet appeared in an advertisement for Lancôme, where the whole video advertisement as well as the print version of it was completely airbrushed. She recently admitted to British Vogue that “I’m more aware of things like wrinkles on my face. They’re becoming much more pronounced; because that’s the muscle I use most when acting.”
What does this controversy with the need for perfection say to those who are unfortunate looking?
However, some celebrities are slowly beginning to step out against the false image of truth that is being portrayed in the media.
According to Ezine Articles they reported that “The increasing obsession with absolute bodily perfection could be taking a different direction, as many models and celebrities make the choice to forget the airbrush in favour of exercise and skin care products. Celebrities such as Victoria Beckham and Britney Spears are just some of the A-listers who are deciding to take a stand against digitally altered photographs. This will come as a pleasant surprise to the many concerned that glossy magazines project unrealistic goals that many people want to attain. But just how are celebrities looking good without having their imperfections wiped out at the click of a mouse?
There has always been a false image of the truth painted in magazines, but celebrities are beginning to recognise the negative impact this is having on the readers. If they’re happy with their looks why can’t they embrace changing it with any digital manipulation?”
In a recent interview with Harper's Bazaar, Victoria Beckham stated, "I didn't want to rely on retouching. I wanted to look at those pictures in 20 years time and say wow, look, after three kids, I didn't look bad!" Similarly, Britney Spears released a number of pre-airbrushed photographs to be shown alongside digitally enhanced ones to prove just how easily photographs can be doctored. In the altered images, it can be seen that she has had her tattoo removed, her waist reduced, her thighs slimmed, her bottom made to look smaller and any signs of cellulite rendered invisible. The message from both these celebrities is clear. Many glossy magazines present a false image of the truth; absolute perfection is not achievable.
If further proof were needed that celebrities are just like us, country superstar LeAnn Rimes has stepped into the spotlight to discuss skin conditions, such as psoriasis - of which she is a sufferer. Other skin conditions that have been brought to the fore include acne. Actress Jessica Simpson has been a sufferer for many years and is now a spokesperson for many of those affected, encouraging them to seek out affordable and effective acne treatments.
I believe that airbrushing will always continue to be a prominent role in photo editing. The fact that celebrities are raising awareness about this controversial topic doesn’t mean it’ll out a full stop to it. Celebrities on social media networks are more frequently releasing photo comparisons. (We don’t know if this will make photo editors in those glossy magazines photo-happy!) Not everyone has the skills to wipe away imperfections at a click of a mouse, and the fact that celebrities are embracing their natural beauty has to be admired.
Offline Sources:
Daniel Montgomery
Roy Wong
Online Sources:
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