photojournalism and post-processing

[narlus]

interesting debate here (apologies if it's a duplicate...i did a search and didn't see it posted yet):
http://www.pressefotografforbundet.dk/index.php?id=11708

i gotta say that his defense about RAW converters and camera brands having a different effect is flimsy, at least when you compare the finished vs unconverted files...

[nphsbuckeye]

I like the processed pictures more for personal use, but they won't ever fly for PJ.

One can PP PJ pictures, but it's mainly WB, exposure, and noise. One can't misrepresent a picture by vast PP - that's the main idea.

I thought I read somewhere that NG wouldn't even let the PJs use film such as Velvia because of its super saturation, or maybe I'm just wrong about that...

[Rainyday]

I like the processed pictures more for personal use, but they won't ever fly for PJ.

One can PP PJ pictures, but it's mainly WB, exposure, and noise. One can't misrepresent a picture by vast PP - that's the main idea.

I thought I read somewhere that NG wouldn't even let the PJs use film such as Velvia because of its super saturation, or maybe I'm just wrong about that...

Wasn't it NG that got into such awful trouble a few years ago for "moving" a landmark in the picture? And I'm confused: I thought PJ's used JPEG just because it was faster to get JPEGS to the editors desk. But I guess for a photo essay you could use RAW and take the time to edit the images.

Fascinating article, thank you for sharing.

[S.Horton]

Interesting story.

'Default' + RAW = Required submission?

[chauncey]

One can accomplish a whole lot now with LR and ACR.
Perhaps a little more care with regards to proper exposure might be in order.

[FlyingPhotog]

I think this instance is more like the TIME Magazine cover image of OJ Simpson where TIME was accused of deliberately processing the image such that it looked more "menacing" than the original mug shot.

I don't see anything added or subtracted from the images in the article linked in the OP but I would agree that the initial impact of the images has definately been enhanced (slanted even) by how they were tweaked.

To me, the question is one of use. "Long Form" documentary is a different animal than "Spot News" so where is the line between using images to put forward your take on a situation Vs images intended to be mearly reportage?

Documentaries often have a bias or a slant on things as seen by the creator (can you say "Roger and Me?") and the Producer/Director will use the tools to illiciate a specific response.

[nphsbuckeye]

Wasn't it NG that got into such awful trouble a few years ago for "moving" a landmark in the picture? And I'm confused: I thought PJ's used JPEG just because it was faster to get JPEGS to the editors desk. But I guess for a photo essay you could use RAW and take the time to edit the images.

Fascinating article, thank you for sharing.
Ironic, I know. I think Time has also been at fault for unethically manipulating photos.

Yes, most PJs use JPGs, but, NG is once a month, so they have more time with which to work than a local newspaper with one PJ for all of its stories. Although NG PJ's have much more work to do than a small circulation, they also have more time - although I'm only assuming.

[fishfoto]

Having lectured on photojournalism ethics more than once I really want to jump into this but I don't have 2+hrs to sit down and write out a few pages.

...so what that photog did is unethical in the current field of photojournalism. The 'hand of god' effect is going way to far in post production for photojournalism.

[bsaber]

Having lectured on photojournalism ethics more than once I really want to jump into this but I don't have 2+hrs to sit down and write out a few pages.

...so what that photog did is unethical in the current field of photojournalism. The 'hand of god' effect is going way to far in post production for photojournalism.

I have to agree the post processing has gone too far with that one.

[kitacanon]

As a former PJ, I just for fun pp'd the raw file to suit my version of reality as I would have submitted it...
http://img110.imageshack.us/img110/130/haiti.jpg

vs
www.pressefotografforbundet.dk/img/haiti-2b-w520h346.jpg

[RandyMN]

Do they demand the film negatives also to make sure nothing was altered? My opinion is that a difference exixts between enhanced and altered.

[kitacanon]

Do they demand the film negatives also to make sure nothing was altered? My opinion is that a difference exixts between enhanced and altered.

Enhancing reportage for drama's sake as the series seems to do, is eliciting specific viewer responses which is yellow journalism, old school version before it got called "viewpoint journalism" or "op-ed" journalism, or "participatory journalism"...and personally I think the photographer's use of PS was just plain crude...

I was expected to shoot a scene from many points of view to communicate the views of the various participants as well as to get the "big picture", the shot from my "god's eye-view" as an editior once told me...
It meant for example to get behind the lines of both sides and shoot back in the direction where I came from...
Which of course is the answer to the riddle...Why did the chicken cross the road...?