Monday, December 21, 2009

The 'Wonders' of Photoshop

Doesn't it drive you crazy when you see a photo in a magazine or ad that just doesn't look right? When you can obviously tell that some work has been done to make the celebrity or model look more 'attractive?' Or when you watch a movie or see a great photo of someone only to find out later that it was photo shopped? It's pretty disappointing, isn't it? We're told by select people what we're supposed to think is beautiful. What we should strive to look like.

We're smarter than that though, right? Well, I'd like to hope so, but unfortunately I don't think that's really how it is. At least not for a lot of people.

We like to stay fit, work out, and eat well because we want to be healthy. Health is what is most important. Some people, and possibly the majority of us at some point, act in un-healthy ways in an attempt to fit the 'mold' or look like the model on the cover of a magazine. And this isn't just the case for women. Men, too, may be photo-shopped to have a chiseled six-pack or bigger biceps. And I don't think men are 100% unaffected by these photos either.

There was a recent post on jezebel.com that highlights several cases of extreme photo-shopping. I do see a difference between retouching (as long as it is minor) and photo-shopping to make someone look different than they really do. Celebrities and models are paid to look good. They have personal trainers and the ability to work out for multiple hours a day. That's just not possible for normal people with regular jobs and responsibilities. It's hard enough to find time in the day for a 30 minute run or an hour long gym class and then we have to look at these altered versions of reality and feel like that is what we're supposed to be working towards.

Well, really, what is important is that we're happy with ourselves and feel good and our HEALTHY. I do believe that weight is an important part of being healthy, but it doesn't mean we all have to be a size 2.

*****
You might remember my post on Friday about SLEEP! Well, I've found more good press for it today! There is a large feature on the benefits of sleep in the latest issue of SELF magazine and also there was a story on the front page of the Sports section in the NY Times today about sleep becoming a more important issue in the NBA. Turns out several teams have cut out the traditional morning shoot around practice in favor of allowing the players more time to sleep. At first I was like "what? You've got to be kidding me. These guys are paid millions of dollars to play basketball. They can skip a party or two and get an extra hour of shut eye." BUT, after reading the article it really does make a lot of sense and seems to be helping the teams who have halted the practices.

4 comments:

Melissa B. said...

I feel totally cheated when I see that yet another star has been Photoshopped! But then again, I wish I could do that on snaps of me sometimes...SITS sent me by, and I'm glad they did!

That's a Wrap

Jen Feeny said...

Photoshop is very misleading but other times I think it's the greatest thing on earth! I am in marketing so I do a lot of photoshopping and for the most part it is a neccessary evil. (But my field definitely isn't making people look more beautiful or anything)

I got so much sleep this weekend it was glorious!!!

How are you dealing with the cold up there??? BRRRRRR!

Anonymous said...

I know exactly what you mean. I'm a graphic designer who has worked in fashion and spent many hours p-shopping models for catalogs.

It's sad, but the vast majority of what you see in mags is at least mildly touched up. When I look at celebs in print, I just remember that they probably don't look that great when they aren't all filtered. At least it makes me feel a little bit better when I have to skip a day at the gym for whatever reason. :)

Just found you through SITS. This is a great blog!

Julie said...

hahaha i'm glad these big dudes are getting paid to sleep more.

why don't they just go to bed earlier...

haha i wish i got paid to sleep!