Ethics in the Age of Digital Photography

Ethics in the Age of Digital Photography : Ethics in the Age of Digital Photography By Dana Kiner

An Overview : An Overview There has been a dramatic shift over the past quarter century in technological advances in production, manipulation, and dissemination of images that have transformed the practices of the visual world. Viewers no longer believe what they see. Whether it is in movies, advertisements, TV shows, magazines, we are exposed to images created or changed by computers.

The Issues To Ponder On : The Issues To Ponder On Do you think it is ethical to digitally manipulate images of photographs using computers? What is ethical and what is not? Do you think photojournalists & visual production managers should be held accountable to certain ethical standards?

Historical Perspective : Historical Perspective In the 1860s, The first American instance of an altered image was by Mathew Brady’s photography company. The company placed a portrait of Abraham Lincoln’s head on the body of John C. Calhoun, a Southern slavery supporter. Joseph Stalin had enemies removed from images. In the Golden age of photojournalism, W. Eugene Smith combined negatives to change the impact of images for Life Magazine. He did this by dissolving the chemical down to silver molecules to lighten or completely removing elements from images.

Background : Background The National Press Photographers Association (NPPA)- founded in 1947, is a professional society dedicated to the advancement of photojournalism, acknowledges concern and respect for the public’s natural-law, right to freedom in searching for the truth and the right to be informed truthfully and completely about public events and the world in which we live.

NPPA Code of Ethics : NPPA Code of Ethics Be accurate and comprehensive in the representation of subjects. Be complete and provide context when photographing or recording subjects. Avoid stereotyping individuals and groups. Recognize and work to avoid presenting one's own biases in the work.

Ethics Continued… : Ethics Continued… Resist being manipulated by staged photo opportunities. Editing should maintain the integrity of the photographic images' content and context. Do not manipulate images or add or alter sound in any way that can mislead viewers or misrepresent subjects.

Ethics Continued… : Ethics Continued… Strive to be unobtrusive and humble in dealing with subjects. Think proactively, as a student of psychology, sociology, politics and art to develop a unique vision and presentation. Work with a voracious appetite for current events and contemporary visual media.

Ethics Continued… : Ethics Continued… Respect the integrity of the photographic moment. Strive by example and influence to maintain the spirit and high standards expressed in this code. When confronted with situations in which the proper action is not clear, seek the counsel of those who exhibit the highest standards of the profession. Photojournalists should continuously study their craft and the ethics that guide it.

So what is ethical?Degrees of ChangesElectronically to a Photograph : So what is ethical?Degrees of ChangesElectronically to a Photograph Dodging-(Decreases the exposure for areas of the print to make lighter.) Burning-(Increases the exposure to areas of the print to make darker.) Global color correction-(A color correction in a digital image that affects the entire image.) Contrast Control-(Obviously affects the contrast of an image.) “These changes are neither ethical nor unethical…they are merely technical.”

Terms to Consider : Terms to Consider CREDIBILITY Is it believable? What do you have without it? How can you damage it? Example: Reputable news organizations caught lying. CONTEXT What is the whole surrounding of the event? Where is the photo run? Example: THE NATIONAL ENQUIRER

1982 Controversy : 1982 Controversy

The Five O’clock Shadow : The Five O’clock Shadow

The Digitally Altered : The Digitally Altered

The Golden Rule : The Golden Rule The basic principle is “Do not lie.” Be “fair and accurate” Follow strict ethics

Quotes…John Long Ethics Co-Chair and Past President NPPA : Quotes…John Long Ethics Co-Chair and Past President NPPA “No one has the right to change these photos or the content of any documentary photo. It is our obligation to history to make sure this does not happen.” “Real photos can change the hearts and minds of the people. Real photos can change how we view war and how we view our society.”

Show Society the Truth : Show Society the Truth

References : References http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Press_Photographers_Association http://www.upress.umn.edu/Books/G/gross_image .html http://www.globaljournalist.org/stories/2009/07/01/ethics-in-the-age-of-digital-manipulation/ http://nppa.org/professional_development/self-training_resources/eadp_report/eadptxt.html http://www.mpjconnection.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/ea1.jpg http://designobserver.com/images/Anne-Richards.jpg http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3065/3251256723_3951a60914.jpg http://gg-art.com/trahow/photos/33642l1.jpg http://www.whosdatedwho.com/what/magazine_view.asp?ID=236 http://www.bountyfishing.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/loch-ness-monster-fake.jpg http://www.sree.net/teaching/images/lat2.jpg