Blog 5 - The Impact of Photoshop

 Photoshop has impacted many viewed people, things, and art. It has changed the business industry, the music industry, the media and entertainment industry, and other things. Photoshop has its advantages and disadvantages. According to the article, The Impact of Photoshop on Society, photoshop "had a huge impact on society" in the sense that it changes people's perceptions of who they are, what they believe in, and what they can create. A negative impact of photoshop on society is the edited photographs of models mentioned in the article. This action gives people visual imagery of something untruthful. The photos are well-edited, but they show unrealistic features that affect many people on how they view their body and skin color. However, photoshop can be positive in the sense that it can be used, as a creative form of art, such as graphic design, web design, and other creative ways (Eveiblog). The article Is Photoshop Destroying America's Body Image?, talks about the pros and cons (mostly cons) photoshop has on America's body image. Even though many consider photoshop being part of "the beauty industry," there is not enough evidence to suggest "the rise of eating disorders and other body image pathology," it is something that affects many people. It is also something that needs to be changed (Diller). How 25 years of Photoshop changed our perception of reality gives a small insight into photoshop and also talks on how the creation of an "unattainable image of beauty" affects many as well. It also talks about the campaigns against highly edited and retouched images (Brändlin).

I think photoshop is a great creative tool, but I do agree with what the three articles said about body image. I am okay with the beauty/fashion industry using photoshop to remove "stray hair," remove hair in the wrong place, adjust the colors, change the color of the clothes, and maybe sharpening some parts of the image. However, I do think as well that highly retouched photos change our perception of our body and affect our health and well being. The retouched photos show an unrealistic body and an "'unattainable image of beauty,'" which in reality is hard and impossible to accomplish. However, I do not think denouncing photoshop will be the answer. I think people who create "unattainable images of beauty" should be sued since it is in their power to make a difference. Photoshop-like is mentioned in one of the articles can be positively used to create "new forms of art."

I did not want to edit an image of a person, therefore I decided to use a photo I took of fall decorations. I decided to invert the image and play around with the burn and dodge tool. I also played around with it’s brightness and contrast. I also tried an adjustment layer.