Blog 5: Moral Dilemmas in Media/IP Term 1

A) From the reading…How do you know when an image is fake? Fiete cites 7 different ways to identify fake images. Explain 2 different techniques.

Inconsistency- You can tell if an image has been altered if a section of the image is inconsistent with the rest. For example, if the color, tone and edges of the section don't match up with the rest of the image, then the image may have been altered. Inconsistent illumination and shadowing are things to look for as well, but don't forget that illumination characteristics of a scene can seem inconsistent if imaging properties and other factors aren't taken into account.

Context Altering- context altering is the most common method of image editing. Changing the context of an image is usually claiming that the image is actually an image of something else. You can also change the content of an image by placing an image on a different image to create an image with a new meaning. It's a little tricky to identify an image with altered context. One way is to focus on the part of the image that makes it unbelievable. Also make sure to look for inconsistencies.

B) In your opinion…Can you trust the images you see in the media? Why or why not?
In my opinion, I can't trust the images I see on the media. After seeing many before-and-after pictures of models and products, I don't know what to believe anymore. I can't trust images because I can't tell if they're real or fake, or if it's the real deal, or some lie.

C) In your opinion…when is photo manipulation “OK” and when is it “WRONG”? Explain ONE situation in which photo manipulation is acceptable, and ONE situation in which it is NOT.
It's okay to manipulate photos only when you're doing it with good intentions. For example, retouching old photos; it’s okay to retouch an old photo in order to preserve it because the original is in bad shape, or has bad quality.

It's NOT okay to manipulate photos when you doing it in order to lie to people. For example, manipulating a photo to promote a product, making people think it's better than it actually is, or making the model for a product appear beautiful, so others will buy the product in hopes of looking beautiful, too.

Blog 5: Moral Dilemmas in Media

A) From the reading…How do you know when an image is fake? Fiete cites 7 different ways to identify fake images. Explain 2 different techniques. Two of the seven techniques Fiete explained are context altering and inconsistency. The key to identifying fake images is context altering because when the context is altered in an image then the image has new meaning. Usually when the context is altered it is obvious because there is sometimes another image added that is out of context. Which creates a new meaning for the image. Another clue for identifying fake images is by looking to see if there is inconsistency in color or shadows. Like in the example shown in the article with the family portrait and the grandmother was added in. If you look closely at the image you can see the shadow in the lower portion of her body, proving that the image was altered.

B) In your opinion…Can you trust the images you see in the media? Why or why not? It is very hard for me to trust images used in media becuase most of them are false or fake. They are also sometimes taken out of context and altered to perfection. For example makeup companies always try to make their products seem like they are good products. By having a model use their makeup and the photographer later on altering the picture to perfection, to make their product look good.

C) In your opinion…when is photo manipulation “OK” and when is it “WRONG”? Explain ONE situation in which photo manipulation is acceptable, and ONE situation in which it is NOT.
I think it is only ok to manipulate an image when it is for something simple like if in a picture a person has red eye then it would be okay. In that case nothing is really being completely changed or taken out of context. It would be wrong to manipulate an advertisement because that means that the product is being falsely advertised.

Blog 5: Moral Dilemmas in Media/ IP 1

A) From the reading…How do you know when an image is fake? Fiete cites 7 different ways to identify fake images. Explain 2 different techniques.
There are seven different ways Robert Fiete cited to identify fake images. One way I can tell an image is fake is by the inconsistent shadows, colors, or tone. These are clues to tell you that an image has been altered. Another way I can tell an image is fake is altering an existing image that was captured by a camera. An existing image can be altered by changing the context of the image, such as claiming that an image of a lampshade or changing the content of the image, such as superimposing. For example, when a picture is taken in a dark room it provides an advantage in adding and removing people or background from images taken by a camera.

B) In your opinion…Can you trust the images you see in the media? Why or why not?
In my opinion, I can't trust the images that I see i the media. I can't trust it because the photos that are in the media are always being retouched, for instance Make- up ads. My proof is www.campaignforrealbeauty.com.

C) In your opinion…when is photo manipulation “OK” and when is it “WRONG”? Explain ONE situation in which photo manipulation is acceptable, and ONE situation in which it is NOT.

I my opinion, photo manipulation is only ok when you are taken school pictures of and type of picture and you have scares or acne on your face and it makes your picture UGLY. It is not ok to do photo maniplulation when an image is going to be in the media's eye. Like, pictures of celebrities who are on ads because it is not showing the public what you really look like and it is not giving the targeted audience the right information about the product that they are trying to sell.