Did you know the images you see in magazines are touched up and photoshopped to be pleasing to the eye?

Manipulation of Images in Media

I am sure you all said yes. Everything we see today has been digitally enhanced. Every face we see is not only cleaned up, but necks are trimmed, the chins are tucked, and eyes are enlarged. Every blemish from the skin is erased, hair is made more glimmery, all this on top of picking the prettiest of models (see Dove Video). It is no wonder media has such a negative influence on the way children perceive themselves and their own self-image.

Photo Manipulation before Pre-Photoshop

But what about the days before photoshop even existed. The photos we see in our history books from the 1800s? Did you know they too were doctored and modified? Did you know Pulitzer winning photos that are now etched into history as the image of some historical event were also modified? Did you know political leaders like Lenin and Hitler frequently modified their photographs to remove people they did not want associated with them? Did you know many of the celebrity pictures you might have seen in magazine is the celebrities HEAD on a different person’s body (See Oprah & Martha Stewart)?

Top 10 Doctored Photos

Times came out with a list of famous pictures that were manipulated. See some examples below.

Civil War Generals 1865 – Extra Man

This is a picture of the civil war generals which we find in many of our history textbooks. It was taken by Matthew Brady, regarded as the world’s first commercially successful photojournalist. Great picture. Great lineup of Generals, yet the problem is not all these men were present when the pictures were taken. A Commander named Blaire was added to the far right after the fact. See Below.

Lenin Addresses the Troops 1920 – Alone? or Not Alone?

This is a famous picture of Lenin addressing his Red Army as they prepare to go to the Polish front during the Russian Revolution. What we, as well as the Russians who saw these inspiring pictures, is that fellow Central Committee members were also present. Leon Trotsky stands on the right of the podium and Lev Kamenev who is behind him. Though they were part of this turning point in history, they were removed because Stalin saw them as threats to his power. They were purged and their contributions slowly removed from the historical records. See the two men below.

Oprah on TV Guide 1989 – Using your Head

Oprah, one the most well known celebrities of our time has graced many magazine covers. However in this TV Guide she is seen in a beautiful dress sitting on a pile of cash. You see it? The pile of cash is so fake right? You are right. See anything else? Take a look at the picture below. That’s not Oprah’s body. It’s Ann-Margaret.

You can find other such manipulations of the beatles, pulitzer photos, kim il jung, iranian missles and more Here: Times 10 Doctored Photos

Horrific Photoshop Mistakes

Still don’t believe that everything you see in media is manipulated and photoshopped?
For your enjoyment. See some horrific photoshop mistakes below.

Photoshop Mistakes – Mutant Baby

Uh… something is not right.

Photoshop Mistakes – Cereal Skin Color

I am not going to comment on this one. There is no way I can win.

Photoshop Mistakes – Jessica Simpson and Her Friend

No one wants to see the guy with Jessica Simpson.

There are tons of such pictures out there. Perhaps I’ll post some for everyone’s enjoyment in the future.

• Do you believe the images you see in media are mostly altered or manipulated?
• Do you think the “beautifying” of people in magazines, photos and billboards have an impact in the way young boys and girls view themselves?
• Which of the top 10 pictures + 3 photoshop mistakes above is the most shocking? Most funny?

Let us know! Comment below.

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