[Leica] Photoshopping for "truth" fatigue

[lrzeitlin at gmail.com (Lawrence Zeitlin)]

"By framing a portion of a total scene in a camera viewfinder the
photographer makes an editorial judgment about what "truth" will be
presented to the viewer."


So "truth" is whatever the photographer and his/her editor decides it is.
Editorial license in photos has always been the case, from Mathew Brady's
faked Civil War photos, to Hitler's joyful dance at the French surrender
during WW2, to Joe Rosenthal's raising of the flag at Iwo Jima to OJ
Simpson's black face, to the present Economist cover. So unless photographs
are taken by decorticate idiots who are too stupid to have an opinion or a
political or social agenda, the answer is NEVER to take any photo as a
totally objective representation of reality. Unless, of course, the
photographer qualifies under the above criterion. How many Luggers will
admit to that?


But I think that this discussion has gone on long enough. Cynics and true
believers will never agree. Anyone who wants to continue it will find ample
opportunity on one of the philosophy blogs listed in the following URL.


http://www.epistemelinks.com/main/mainblog.aspx


Larry Z