Ethical considerations
This assignment raises the dilemma between using some altered content and only including true unaltered images. In doing so, it raises the question about the validity and ‘truthfulness’ of an image that has been altered.
On the basis of the previously completed exercises, my view is that the answer will depend on the circumstances of an individual assignment and the use of the image. My personal preference is to keep the image adjustments and corrections to the minimum where possible; however, this often depends on the assignment and how well it is possible to convey the key message without altering the image content. In some circumstances it might be necessary to make some changes to the image.
Through the previous exercises I developed a checklist that helps to make a quick assessment on whether alterations are totally necessary.
Before approaching this assignment, I followed the checklist:
1) What is the rationale behind making these adjustments and why are they needed? The rationale: the individual elements (such as, the blue sky, two surveillance cameras, a torn and scratched paper / surface with an image of a man coming through it) are challenging to find together and in one location. The best approach is to shoot these images separately and combine them into one image. Also, the torn paper/ surface element would need to be digitally altered to achieve the desired visual effect. The whole concept of the book is about alteration: alteration of the mind, behaviours and attitudes, breaking human resistance, suppressing human spirit, at the same time as the resistance to these pressures and influences. Therefore, the digital manipulation actually suits the subject and the key theme very well and could be helpful to convey the message – it seems a reasonable solution for the execution of this visual image.
2) Is the reason strong enough to justify compromising the truth? As above, these elements are what I need to explore the idea of the Power and Control. There are possibly other combinations of images that exist but I would really like to try this combination first.
3) What is the smallest level of enhancement that the image requires?
Putting these elements together in one frame; two sandwiched images to create a torn- paper element of the cover.
Based on the above, I decided that this assignment requires creating a digitally manipulated image combined of some separate elements- pictures. One element (torn and distorted paper with an image of a man) will need a deeper level of digital manipulation as the whole idea is to portray something distorted, broken, blurred and confused.
Although my preference remains not to use too many alterations with my images, I made a decision to use some alterations for this assignment as this seem to be the best suited technique to convey the message of this assignment.
