JUST BECAUSE YOU CAN...

...does not always mean you should. The ethics of beauty retouching - how far is too far! This topic has perplexed me for sometime and I know it does not take much to freeze me into the headlights but I think it really requires a bit of thought(the ethics that is). The following video shows a normal speed (I wish) sample of a retouch job. Now for the sake of showing techniques I show what IS possible, but think for a moment about what you require for delivery to your client. A nip and tuck here and there never hurt anybody - maybe. I enjoy post production work. Truly I do!

But ask yourself what you are doing and better yet why you are doing it. It has never been intended to be there as a reason for poor photography - more about making great photography even greater. Taking it to places that excite ones imagination not to mention the workflow advantages and do overs. I am appearing at PhotoPlus 2009 and have 2 sessions, one on HDR and the other on Glamour Retouching. We'll dig in and show how we can solve problems as a retoucher and we may also ask a few questions about when and why? Enjoy

RETOUCHING - ETHICS!?

Recently, the New York Times aired a video on some ethical questions about Beauty retouching.  You should check it out.  It begs the question of how far is far enough when it comes down to how we influence our children about role models and "un-achievable" goals for the sake of advertising.  As a father of an 18 year old daughter and a professional retoucher I am confronted with this question every time I pick up my mouse and begin to work on an image.  After a while you come to the realization that first of all it is certainly not only the retouching of an image that creates this issue, but let's just focus on those aspect of it.  At the end of the day it is YOU the retoucher that decides how far to go and wether or not you choose to use the bat to hit a softball or crush some ones skull.  It is not the bat that is the problem.

I promised to keep this rant as short as possible, but we typically give the client what the client wants and don't really worry too much about the ethics and leave that to the client - maybe-maybe not.  This video does mention one important thing (I think) along with the ethical questions it poses.  Why don't retouchers get credit on images where retouching has taken place???  This brings me back to the change in times that digital has fueled in that retouching can be a large part of the image making process and perhaps by giving the retoucher credit it would not just give credit where it is deserved but also help readers understand that in some cases the image does not reflect reality - really!  Check out the video and ponder this the next time a client asks you to piece together a fashion image from 4 separate photos of the same model to get the very best part of each and ask yourself - should I get any credit and does the reader dererve the right to know that something was done to retouch this image???

Books and Things

For those of looking for something to put on your Christmas list,

here are a few items I would recommend for post production work

in the way of Retouching and HDR.

• Black & White Mastery, John Paul Caponigro
  
• HDR Mastery, Ben Wilmore
  
• Restoration & Retouching(3rd edition), Katrin Eisman
  
• HDRi Handbook, Christian Bloch
  

Welcome

This blog is dedicated to the advancement and better understanding of all things HDR (High Dynamic Range) and the fine art of Retouching...it will provide information relative to and assist those readers interested in advanced techniques and information in these areas.

You have no doubt asked why airhead?  Well, it comes from a Thomas Dolby song that my best friend and listened to with fun and enjoyment before he passed away over 5 years ago, so in memory of Will we have "AIRHEAD"...

Sit back and enjoy the information as I hope to bring you (at the very least) help you understand more about HDR, how to achieve it and the options you have in generating your images as well as some of the finer points of retouching.  Essentially techniques in developing the skills needed to become a digital artist.

Cheers

Chris