I’ve kept this magazine article since 1993, and now I know why.
On the cover, Jeff Kennett (the Victorian Premier at the time) stood naked, addressing a crowd of people. My eyes were telling me one thing. My brain was telling me it couldn’t be true.
In 1993, Photoshop was 3 years old. I started using it in 1996.
I haven’t trusted the authenticity of a photo since the late 2000’s, when my Photoshop skills had improved considerably.
– I don’t believe product photos.
– I don’t believe advertising images.
– I don’t believe your holiday photos. Hell, I don’t even believe my own.
I assume every image has been retouched. It might be something small:
– white balance correction
– removing a pimple
– cropping, straightening or fixing perspective
Or, it could be a more significantly change that alters the image’s meaning.
With the sh$tstorm over retouching recently, I see a through line from the it-can’t-be-true image of Jeff Kennett, to where we are now.
Retouching isn’t new. Even old-timey black and white photos were altered. It’s about time we all caught up.
My advice to you is this:
Assume a photo isn’t telling the whole truth until proven otherwise. Not the other way around.
When a client asks for a change you think is going to look awful, you can try to talk them out of it. Sometimes, you end up sounding defensive, even if you’re not meaning to.
ELMO’s 2024 HR Industry Benchmark report is live. The report surveyed HR professionals across Australia and New Zealand to uncover trends, challenges and opportunities for 2024.
Compare the two artworks in this post. You might recognise the artist as Keith Haring. On the left is his Unfinished Painting, created in 1989.
If you want people to open something you’ve mailed them, use this simple trick. It’s our signature move. And it’s so simple.
For the VIP event, we created invitations, menus, wine list, table numbers, place names and illuminated paper lanterns, which decorated the long tables.
Why? You need a timeframe. Let’s look at another example. You spend two hours cleaning outdoor teak chairs. You bought them 30 years ago, second-hand.
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It’s short and sweet. Estimated reading time < 90 seconds…