Image Manipulation

There are two different types of image manipulation. One is where photos are simply corrected or re-sized using a computer. The second is where the picture is edited in order to create "an illusion or deception (Wikipedia, 2009)".

I used the Picnik software to edit my photo. There were many things that could be adjusted however I kept the changes to my photo quite simple. When editing my picture I changed the photo from landscape to portrait and added a sepia tint. If you upgrade your subscription there are even more ways that pictures can be added to.

Picnik is a user friendly way to edit pictures and generally suits the purpose of resizing images so they are more suitable to be used in other applications.However there are more complex programs available. Adobe PhotoShop is a very popular image manipulation software package and one only has to look on Youtube to see the multitude of tutorials showing you how to make the most of its tools. Programs like Adobe Photoshop are used for simple image editing however they are more often used to adjust the content of the picture. Here are two examples.
This photo was published on the internet shortly after the September 11 Bombings. The photo was quickly dismissed as fake and if you take a second look you can see why.
- The plane is coming in from the wrong direction.
- The plane does not appear to be moving as you would expect
- The shadows indicate the photo was taken pointing north, however the North Tower had no observation deck.

In 2004 Keira Knightley's publicity posters for the movie King Arthur were edited for American audiences but left untouched in England. What does that say about different societies views on body image?

As a teaching tool I think it would be very thought provoking to use this second type of image manipulation with students. Students could analyse the impact that image manipulation has on the beauty industry and even create their own "touched up" pictures. It would be very interesting to uncover the make-believe world that the advertising industry creates for us.