History Of Photo Manipulation

“I am far from saying that a photograph must be an actual, literal and absolute fact...but it must represent truth.” - Henry Peach Robinson. BG/HISTORY X

Photo manipulation dates back to some of the earliest photographs captured on glass and tin plates during the nineteenth century. The practice began not long after the creation of the first photograph by Joseph Nicéphore Niépce, who developed the heliograph which made the first photographic print from a photo engraved printing plate. Back then, traditional photographic prints would be altered using various methods and techniques that involved manipulation directly to the print. These manipulations included retouching with ink, paint, airbrushing, or scratching the film during developing.

Photo manipulation involves altering photographs with various techniques to achieve “perfection”. Itself covers a variety of methods that have changed over time, but the two techniques people are most familiar with are “retouching” and “airbrushing”. The two could be used interchangeably although the latter actually refers to the older method of using a physical airbrush on photographs. The two are defined as “to make small changes to a picture, photograph, etc., especially in order to improve it,” and “to represent something as being different from how it really is.” It’s interesting that the former includes in its definition; “especially in order to improve it”, but this definition is engrained in all of us, we expect that airbrushing is essential to improving every image we

The retouched photos give magazines a dramatic, creative and provocative visual boost that can generate higher sales. That's why it's tempting to change photographs to maximize their ability to grab eyeballs. Controversy can often result, which can inflict long-term damage if readers feel duped. Photo manipulation experts use such capabilities to improve marketing strategies and conduct intensive trainings to individuals who wish to create impressive illustrations for personal or career purposes. Even economic giants and institutions, big or small, put great importance to a digital artist’s ability to manipulate photos to render the desired message to potential or target audiences. Digital photo manipulation deals great impact on both the subject and the viewer since it actually helps the person gain self-esteem, and it can give the image dimension, plus a virtual makeover; however the fact that it could also destroy a person’s confidence in real life, incur false self-acceptance, and distort people’s perception of beauty should also be