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I'm in quite a big class as it is so when we all pour into the auditorium above Costa, it becomes obvious that there is more than one class here for this session. This is going to make for an interesting lesson because I have a feeling it's going to turn into a slight debate at times but I sit there clutching my mocha and wait for the show to begin.
Annnnd here comes my favourite bit, all the later comers. Chris has a no lateness policy and for those of us who have sat there and been witnesses to people arriving late to Chris' lessons and the outcome of that are sat there cringing. He just shakes his head looking displeased.
Post Production has been going on since the dawn of photography. This to me is news. Obviously I think 'Well there was no photoshop' It turns out the original photoshop was bleach, ink and brushes. Turns out it's dated back to the 1860s where the first use of post production was recorded.
A photographer called George Hurrell is really famous for his Hollywood Glamour photos. They look absolutely flawless. Hurrell was originally a painter who in the beginning had absolutely no interest in photography but was encouraged by his dearest friends to try it. Chris explained to us that to 'edit' photos like this you would have ink, bleach, a selection of brushes and a set of magnification glasses. You would have to look really closely when bleaching away blemishes, removing unwanted shadows because you would ruin the photograph.
Annnnd here comes my favourite bit, all the later comers. Chris has a no lateness policy and for those of us who have sat there and been witnesses to people arriving late to Chris' lessons and the outcome of that are sat there cringing. He just shakes his head looking displeased.
Post Production has been going on since the dawn of photography. This to me is news. Obviously I think 'Well there was no photoshop' It turns out the original photoshop was bleach, ink and brushes. Turns out it's dated back to the 1860s where the first use of post production was recorded.
A photographer called George Hurrell is really famous for his Hollywood Glamour photos. They look absolutely flawless. Hurrell was originally a painter who in the beginning had absolutely no interest in photography but was encouraged by his dearest friends to try it. Chris explained to us that to 'edit' photos like this you would have ink, bleach, a selection of brushes and a set of magnification glasses. You would have to look really closely when bleaching away blemishes, removing unwanted shadows because you would ruin the photograph.
Moving forward to the present day, every image is retouched. It could be minor things like Blurring, spotting, dodging or burning even adjusting the brightness and the contrast are all counted as retouched image. However, this doesn't mean that is the only thing to happen to images.
Chris begins to show us some photos that have received a lot of backlash over the years. As soon as he mentions this, I instantly think of Dior. I've always seen their campaigns with RIDICULOUS eyelashes. It's painfully obvious they've been retouched in the photos and that very, very few people are blessed with eyelashes like that and those who are tend to be male (My little brother has eyelashes to die for). He then tells us because of the amount of complaints this received it was then banned. I agree with this. I remember there was a time that any mascara advert was unbelievable. The models were clearly wearing eyelashes etc. So for the purpose of selling a product, I think over use of post production is bad as it shows an untrue and unobtainable result from a product you are paying for.
Now, Chris shows us a couple of videos of a time lapse of an image being retouched. The first one is really scary. The end result looks nothing like the model who was used for the original image. During post production they thin out the model's face, reshape the nose, move the eyes slightly and make the eyes larger. They even take out the freckles. This strikes a nerve with me. I've always hated mine growing up, but to see them taken off of someone
Chris begins to show us some photos that have received a lot of backlash over the years. As soon as he mentions this, I instantly think of Dior. I've always seen their campaigns with RIDICULOUS eyelashes. It's painfully obvious they've been retouched in the photos and that very, very few people are blessed with eyelashes like that and those who are tend to be male (My little brother has eyelashes to die for). He then tells us because of the amount of complaints this received it was then banned. I agree with this. I remember there was a time that any mascara advert was unbelievable. The models were clearly wearing eyelashes etc. So for the purpose of selling a product, I think over use of post production is bad as it shows an untrue and unobtainable result from a product you are paying for.
Now, Chris shows us a couple of videos of a time lapse of an image being retouched. The first one is really scary. The end result looks nothing like the model who was used for the original image. During post production they thin out the model's face, reshape the nose, move the eyes slightly and make the eyes larger. They even take out the freckles. This strikes a nerve with me. I've always hated mine growing up, but to see them taken off of someone
As a young girl I used to look at these glossy magazine images think that this was perfection. I used to pine to look like this. To hair the perfect skin but I couldn't because I had freckles. To have big bright blue eyes but I couldn't because I have greyish blue ones. I used to look at the really skinny models and think that that was the only way to look beautiful. Thankfully I had my dad who worked as a model for a while who told me about all the work that would go into making these people look perfect. He'd tell me how bad their skin was before the make up was put on them. He taught me that looking like I've just stepped out of a glossy magazine isn't a realistic girl. Luckily I had this kind of upbringing. Young girls are a target for advertisements like this. We live in a time were we think it's ok to air cosmetic surgery adverts after 4pm on a children/teenage prime viewing time.
There was a photo of Beyoncé before post production. She had bad skin, slight lines around her eyes and mouth. Everyone began losing their minds over this. Saying how bad it looks. Yet these were the same people who a minute ago were agreeing with the statement I made previously. Beyoncé isn't in her 20s anymore. She's done more world tours/tv appearances/music videos/movie roles than we've probably had hot dinners. It's important to remember how stressful her job actually is. Yes you can argue that she gets paid well enough to deal with it, but that doesn't mean the human body won't react to aging, stress and lack of sleep that comes with her job.
Post production can be bad for a make up artist. Especially if you rely on someone to edit the work you've done on lips for arguments sake. If you are relying on the post production to clean this up it means you should be producing high quality make up.
There was a photo of Beyoncé before post production. She had bad skin, slight lines around her eyes and mouth. Everyone began losing their minds over this. Saying how bad it looks. Yet these were the same people who a minute ago were agreeing with the statement I made previously. Beyoncé isn't in her 20s anymore. She's done more world tours/tv appearances/music videos/movie roles than we've probably had hot dinners. It's important to remember how stressful her job actually is. Yes you can argue that she gets paid well enough to deal with it, but that doesn't mean the human body won't react to aging, stress and lack of sleep that comes with her job.
Post production can be bad for a make up artist. Especially if you rely on someone to edit the work you've done on lips for arguments sake. If you are relying on the post production to clean this up it means you should be producing high quality make up.
I don't know how I feel about severe photoshopping I think it deters from the original image. I think it should be used to enhance what's already there instead of completely annihilating the original image.
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