“The camera never lies”. An eternal question debated in photography is what is allowed to be changed in an image. The debate blossomed again when someone discovered that the official picture of the Japanese government had been retouched. The white shirts of two ministers were seen between the waistcoat and trousers in the original picture and had been removed. May appear to be a very harmless change that in no way affects the image’s content or message.
So what can be changed? Artists who use the photographic medium often make extensive changes to their works. Photographs have always been retouched to remove dust, stains, etc. In addition, it has always been possible to perform all kinds of changes in photographic images. Much of the work in the darkroom consisted of reinforcing the message in an image by highlighting the essentials of the subject. There are also countless examples of how manipulations of how photographic images have been used for political purposes. Since it is very difficult to determine whether an image has been changed, it is important that the viewer always is vigilant and considers the message that the image conveys.
The question is highly relevant in today’s digital world with the introduction of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Nowadays, it is extremely easy to change photographs and movies. People and details can be removed and added without it being possible to detect the change. The risk of manipulation is imminent.
In the end, it is probably only the image creator’s moral framework that sets the limits. However, this is not unique to photos and videos. The same has long been true for written text. Here there is some protection in the freedom of press legislation, which probably needs to be updated due to the introduction of AI.
I am fascinated by the possibilities of retouching away disturbing elements in the images. What used to require many hours in the darkroom or at the retouching table can now be fixed in seconds. A few years ago, I photographed the ice at Hanö Bay and in one picture Karlo Pesjak had set up his camera on a tripod and took pictures of Stenshuvud. I have always been bothered by his photo bag adversely affecting the composition. Adobe’s new functions in Lightroom quickly fix the problem and suddenly the camera bag is gone. Is this change of image acceptable? I see no problem with removing disturbing details, as long as the change does not affect the message of the image.
It’s an exciting time we live in. What will the image and film consumption of the future look like?