A Commentary on Photo Legitimacy

I think you just have to ask the questions: Who is the intended audience, and what is the purpose of this photo? If you are presenting a photograph as historical record, journalism, or evidence then of course you should make sure you stick to basic development adjustments that stop short of changing the content in any way. Cropping is fine (although it is not journalism with integrity if you choose a crop because it gives a false impression by omitting an important detail... but this is true of how you compose the photo as well). Other development adjustments are also acceptable, including black & white conversions and stylized color conversions like cross-processing... as long as the treatment is not intended to inject some editorial statement (for example... a photograph of a politician that has been altered to be as unflattering as possible... with the intention of making them look evil). Some newspapers and magazines are fine with treatments that make an editorial statement as long as the photograph goes along with an editorial or feature article, and not a news article.

Now if you are taking photographs to present as art, with no journalistic or historical intent, then you are limited only by your imagination. But what about travel photos or wedding photos? Is it okay to clone out some power lines or a piece of trash from an otherwise wonderful photo? I think so... especially when it is just a few photos you want to print and frame. If you plan to submit a photograph to an historical archive, then you should be up front if you have manipulated it by removing things like power lines... or better yet submit the pre-manipulation version.

As far as things like portraits to be used on a website, book jacket, or framed on the wall... I think it's perfectly okay to do whatever the subject wants to make the photo look its best. Personally I think the techniques that involve reshaping the jaw, moving the eyes, making the nose smaller, etc. are a little creepy; but I regularly do a little skin-smoothing on portraits.

I guess to make a long explanation short: It's okay to let art be art, but think before you develop something to present as reportage or historical record.

I would add that when it comes to photography competitions, it's up to the organizers to set the rules.

Sean