,Photoshopping reality, is said to have a negative effect on women’s self-image. With digital photography, Photoshopping has become a possibility, which means that nowadays several photos would have been edited. Body parts would be adjusted and imperfections in the skin would be smoothed out, so that a perfect photo could be delivered to the magazine editors. These beautiful photos could possibly have a negative effect on women’s self-confidence. Is this so?
Photoshop; what is that?
For editing photos, Adobe Photoshop is the most well-known software program for both private individuals and entrepreneurs. Photoshop can get the best out of the image. This way, imperfections can be eliminated and in principle everything can be adjusted, from color to design. There are different editions;
- Design Premium
- Design Standard
- Web Premium
- WebStandard
- Production Premium
- Master Collection
Editing photos with Photoshop, which are placed in various media magazines, is said to occur frequently. In the documentary ‘Limited Durability’ you see how photos can be edited and documentary maker Sunny Bergman gives her outspoken view on this phenomenon.
Documentary by Sunny Bergman ‘Limited Shelf Life’
In the documentary ‘Limited Durable’ by Sunny Bergman, you see how photos can be edited. This documentary would have had a lot of impact. The documentary focuses on the use of Photoshop for editing professional photos. Sunny Bergman indicates that several photos would now be edited before they were placed in magazines. According to Bergman, the use of a program such as Photoshop detracts from reality and reality, with far-reaching consequences. For example, the woman would compare herself to this ‘almost perfect image’ of women as seen in the media, resulting in insecurity and a poor self-image. Sunny Bergman is annoyed by ‘the prevailing image of beautiful women, which shows fewer and fewer similarities with women of flesh and blood’. Is Sunny right? She has started the Photoshop Free campaign , with the aim of being honest about the extent of image editing . 9 magazines – such as Yes, Esta, Viva and Top Santé – participated in this campaign by placing a logo with the photos. Whether or not edited with Photoshop. Bergman himself indicates that he has difficulty with the process of growing older. The wrinkles on her face, the physical aftermath of having children and fat rolls seem to bother her quite a bit. Her time as a photo model is definitely over. Sunny also calls the fact that the construction workers no longer whistle at her an annoying science. According to her, the latter is confirmation of the fact that she is getting older. Did this personal frustration influence the way her documentary was created, the content of her plea and the underlying reason for the ‘Unlimited shelf life’ foundation?
- Does the woman actually feel threatened and insecure in general by the beautiful photos in magazines such as ‘Playboy’?
- Would the man also feel threatened and insecure by beautiful men in the media; like the beautiful photos, beautiful advertisements and sexy video clips?
- Does Photoshop really have a negative effect on self-image?
- Would readers unanimously prefer ‘real’ photos with pimples, blemishes and cellulite?
“Women look to other women for comparison.”
Women often seem to look at other women for comparison. Both on the street and on TV and in the magazines. Is she prettier, slimmer, cuter or more attractive than me? And if these questions can be answered with ‘yes’ by themselves, this can have a negative effect on the woman’s self-image. Why does a woman ask herself these questions? And why is the answer too often ‘yes’, while ‘no’ might better reflect reality? What is the added value of comparing yourself to someone else anyway? Female insecurity? Does this apply to every woman? Of course not, luckily not. Not every woman asks herself these questions and compares herself to other women. Women can indeed look at other beautiful women with respect and admiration for their beauty, without comparing themselves and therefore feeling inferior. In addition, appearance is not the only quality a person can possess and Sunny Bergman seems to focus somewhat on this in her documentary.
To be a successful model, the quality of beauty has been important throughout the centuries. ‘Photoshopped’ or not; Readers cannot and should not compare themselves to a top model. An ideal image is not created with these photos or video clips. Can be seen on the street every day, which is an average appearance. If one wants to measure oneself against the qualities of others, one must compare with the person on the street. This is a general fact, known to everyone. Women who feel inferior because of photos – edited or not – in magazines, should perhaps work on their own self-confidence.
The woman would complain about the ideal image as shown in the media. Do men complain too?
Partly because of the documentary mentioned, it is now a much discussed topic. ,Many, women agree with the initiative and endorse the negative effect of edited or unedited photos in magazines and on TV. Others interpret this view as ‘complaining’. If women actually complain about the possible creation of an incorrect ideal image, do men complain the same way?
Beautiful men can be seen in many magazines, on TV, in the fashion world and in video clips. For example, several beautiful male photo models are always required for the new Calvin Klein collection, who may represent an ideal image for men. Beautiful men who represent products and work as models. Photos of these men are probably also edited with Photoshop. Does this give the average man anorexia, bulimia or poor self-image? It is remarkable that in practice many men do not meet that ideal image. The average man with a small belly is not asked to model for a fashion designer. Does this make the average man insecure? Do we hear the men complaining about this? Has a foundation already been established? Perhaps Sunny can also involve the men in her research, so that a more realistic picture can be created?
,Photoshopping reality, has a negative effect on women’s self-image?
According to Sunny Bergman’s documentary ‘Limited Shelf Life’ this is an established fact. In general, other women seem to have a negative effect on a woman’s self-image. Comparing oneself to others can in itself have a negative effect on self-confidence. Stop the comparison and start enjoying looking at beauty: edited with Photoshop or not.
- A lack of self-confidence has a negative effect on self-image. The external influences that increase this feeling of insecurity in some women, such as photos of beautiful women, beautiful women on the street, in video clips, etc., are not the cause of this insecurity.
- ,Photoshopping reality, has no negative effect on the woman’s self-image.
- Being proud of one’s own qualities, instead of being jealous and insecure about the qualities of others, has a positive effect on the self-image of every person.