Beauty is only Pixel Deep

[RustBeltRaw]

I find it a bit amusing, when the tool gets the blame.

I think the issue with these tools is really the degree to which they are used or misused.

True. And honestly, subtle edits are probably more insidious than drastic, obvious ones. Ultimately, it's our collective fault for eating this stuff up without bothering to question it. On the other side, the good Mr. Terry Richardson is light on Photoshop, and I hate his style and attitude. Proof that it's possible to bring a lot of the negatives to the table without altering anything in post.

I definitely agree that, in isolation, there is no problem with a body tuned to "perfection" (a whole different discussion) in Photoshop. The marketing and reception of same is the problem.

[Manfred M]

True. And honestly, subtle edits are probably more insidious than drastic, obvious ones. Ultimately, it's our collective fault for eating this stuff up without bothering to question it. On the other side, the good Mr. Terry Richardson is light on Photoshop, and I hate his style and attitude. Proof that it's possible to bring a lot of the negatives to the table without altering anything in post.

I definitely agree that, in isolation, there is no problem with a body tuned to "perfection" (a whole different discussion) in Photoshop. The marketing and reception of same is the problem.

Actually, I think we need to blame the toy maker Mattel and the Barbie doll. It has indoctirnated every little girl, since 1959, with the idea that being 6 ft (183cm) tall with a 39" (99cm) bust, a 18" (46cm) waist and 33" (84cm) hips is the "perfect woman". The blemish free, plastic skin has been inspiring the fashion industry for decades....

[Colin Southern]

Actually, I think we need to blame the toy maker Mattel and the Barbie doll. It has indoctirnated every little girl, since 1959, with the idea that being 6 ft (183cm) tall with a 39" (99cm) bust, a 18" (46cm) waist and 33" (84cm) hips is the "perfect woman".

I didn't know that, but you seem remarkably well-versed in Barbies vital statistics!

Interestingly, I've had the chance to explain to young girls that they're just as good looking as the "cover girl / stars"; once they're dressed up - hair and makeup done - quality photography - quality retouching, there's really no difference. I've always wanted to take one of their photos - lay it up like a magazine cover - print it - them replace the cover of an existing edition so that they can see it in context. For those girls I think it would be a great morale booster.

[GrahamS]

I have Portrait Professional V3............

[Andrew1]

You don't see many complaints when the photographshopper spends a good amount of time doctoring landscapes. As others have indicated the to-do is all about deception. Being photographers you may be a bit more sensitive about and notice related articles but the same things being said about ordinary makeup have been making the rounds for decades. They will be around as long as there are women who are self-conscious about some part of their appearance. Forever.

http://www.complexmag.ca/art-design/...therine-mcneil

[chauncey]

Andrew...I gotta opine on those headshots...they are, without a doubt, the worst I've ever seen.
Almost as if that the photographer went out of his way to make them ugly.

[RustBeltRaw]

You don't see many complaints when the photographshopper spends a good amount of time doctoring landscapes. As others have indicated the to-do is all about deception. Being photographers you may be a bit more sensitive about and notice related articles but the same things being said about ordinary makeup have been making the rounds for decades. They will be around as long as there are women who are self-conscious about some part of their appearance. Forever.

Doctored landscapes do not drive people to anorexia, bulimia, cosmetic surgery, and unhealthy obsessions with perfection.

[Manfred M]

I didn't know that, but you seem remarkably well-versed in Barbies vital statistics!

I have two daughters that got more than their fair share of Barbie dolls when they were young. They hated them and most if not all got "re-gifted" to someone who appreciated them more than they did (there seemed to be alot of takers).

[Manfred M]

Doctored landscapes do not drive people to anorexia, bulimia, cosmetic surgery, and unhealthy obsessions with perfection.

Parents that have intelligent discussions with their children can prevent (or at the very least mitigate) this type of behavior.

Once again we are attempting to treat the outcome, rather than the cause of the problem. I guess there is no cure for irresponsible parenting.

[Colin Southern]

Parents that have intelligent discussions with their children can prevent (or at the very least mitigate) this type of behavior.

Once again we are attempting to treat the outcome, rather than the cause of the problem. I guess there is no cure for irresponsible parenting.

Past a certain age I don't think this works -- peer pressure kicks in, at which point it's virtually impossible to change their mindset (in terms of looks). I still feel it's the parents realm to be setting boundaries though, which is what many seem to be lacking (hence the reason we're seeing 14 year old girls getting drunk and riding around with boys).

[RustBeltRaw]

What you gentlemen are driving at is that if people were smart, we'd have much fewer problems. Very true. Also impractically utopian. Unfortunately, there is no such thing as foolproof, for fools are too ingenious.

...(hence the reason we're seeing 14 year old girls getting drunk and riding around with boys).

A boy who'll pounce on a drunk girl is a much bigger problem than that girl getting drunk.

[Colin Southern]

What you gentlemen are driving at is that if people were smart, we'd have much fewer problems. Very true. Also impractically utopian. Unfortunately, there is no such thing as foolproof, for fools are too ingenious.


A boy who'll pounce on a drunk girl is a much bigger problem than that girl getting drunk.

When they're only 14 it certainly is. Alcohol seems to be a common denominator in a lot of "regret" though; all ties in with low self-esteem IMO.

[RustBeltRaw]

When they're only 14 it certainly is. Alcohol seems to be a common denominator in a lot of "regret" though; all ties in with low self-esteem IMO.

I think it's a little deeper than that. Alcohol doesn't make anyone more beautiful, it just temporarily lowers your standards and barriers. Why can't you reach the same destination with a little mental flexibility?

I think it's cause/effect confusion. People with good lives are perceived going out to bars and drink with their friends, so people go drink to find friends. Speaking as a former bouncer, I have ample evidence against that "wisdom." To my mind, the friends should come before the lowering of boundaries, by any means. To a stranger, you are potentially someone they don't have to care about, and thus will have fewer qualms about using. Putting yourself in a vulnerable position when surrounded by people you trust (assuming they've genuinely earned and deserve it) is no risk at all.

And, full disclosure: my thoughts on this do not come from always handling myself honorably around firewater. Everyone screws up. Trick is to land softly.

[Colin Southern]

I think it's a little deeper than that. Alcohol doesn't make anyone more beautiful, it just temporarily lowers your standards and barriers. Why can't you reach the same destination with a little mental flexibility?

I think it's cause/effect confusion. People with good lives are perceived going out to bars and drink with their friends, so people go drink to find friends. Speaking as a former bouncer, I have ample evidence against that "wisdom." To my mind, the friends should come before the lowering of boundaries, by any means. To a stranger, you are potentially someone they don't have to care about, and thus will have fewer qualms about using. Putting yourself in a vulnerable position when surrounded by people you trust (assuming they've genuinely earned and deserve it) is no risk at all.

And, full disclosure: my thoughts on this do not come from always handling myself honorably around firewater. Everyone screws up. Trick is to land softly.

From a different perspective, I don't normally drink (no great reason -- just don't really like the taste of it particularly) - and have never been drunk in my life. I heard an interesting commentary on alcohol the other day though, that I happen to agree with; they said "in the past, people drank to be social - perhaps to give someone the courage to talk to a girl they like (or words to that effect), but these days (what we're seeing here) is the opposite in that people are drinking to be ANTI-SOCIAL". That's what I've observed too; stats show that in NZ over 80% of the population drink twice or more per week, and by conventional definitions, many are alcoholics. Many of them are becoming a serious problem; long gone are those who "got a little tipsy" and people laughed at them -- we're talking LOUD, violent, vomiting off-their-face "gentlemen" with vocabularies that could practically strip the paint off the side of a building.

Being previously engaged to a recovering alcoholic and addict who slipped off the wagon, I've had quite an introduction to the psychology side of it as well; in most cases alcohol isn't the problem -- the problem is fundamentally due to a number of disfunctions (including low-self-esteem) -- alcohol is simply one of the tools they use to self-medicate with in the hope of escaping reality for a while, but that's probably a topic for a new day (and thread).

My personal observation is that I've never seen anything good come from Alcohol -- at best it costs a few dollars, at worst it costs a whole lot more. Just my opinion -- how others choose to use or abuse it is their call (so long as it doesn't affect my family).

Cheers!

[dan marchant]

The work by the student mentioned in the OP reminded me of this new beauty product.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_vVUIYOmJM - containing Pro-pixel intensifying fauxtanical hydro-jargon microbead extract.