‘Best shot’ fixes of modern-day photography threaten human genuineness

Shimbo Pastory

This article was published in The Citizen Newspaper, Tanzania on April 23rd, 2024.

Since its inception, photography has always had a permanent seat at the table of human affairs. Regardless of the nature of human engagement, photography has been a paramount tool to help humans through the numerous development that have come after it.

Photography has claimed indispensability in both sciences and arts fields of human inquiry and activity.

While photography, both as a scientific inquiry and artistic adventure has massively evolved through the centuries since the year 1822 when Joseph Nicéphore Niépce took the first photo, its place in the society 202 years down the line has also grown, that there are generations that will never think there was a time when there were no cameras.

Apart from keeping memories, we cannot but acknowledge that it has massively contributed to the historical growth of print media as it added aesthetics.

The impulse to dig deeper into the reality of our times as pertains to photography has been motivated by the desire to evoke constructive thoughts as danger looms.

As such, this is not at all a condemnation of modern photography. I genuinely appreciate it as one of the most important fruits of science.

Afterall, who is not impressed by a good photo of nature, other persons or themselves?

Today, photography assists human memory in keeping records of what happened, when, where, and who was involved. The society has as well grown so fond of pictures that events are not complete without them. A key social impact is that how people would appear in the photos determines how they dress and carry themselves about.

Nonetheless, the vulnerability of the human person has skyrocketed in our times as we leave behind us almost everywhere (especially in developed cities), photographic footprints of our appearances in those places.

Threats of manipulation

Modern mélange of technology has widened the possibilities in handling as well as mishandling images. Once impossible avenues in photography gradually became narrow, and in recent times have evolved into complex specialized fields.

Think of the many possibilities of manipulating an image or a photograph today, especially a human photograph. These beautiful evolutions come with some new social implications, and exacerbate those already existing.

A French photographer, Gilles Peress once said: “I don’t trust words, I trust pictures.” But today I won’t say the same, as pictures are no longer what they used to be.

At the moment it is scary, as anybody’s image can be made into anything and edited to be anywhere with no sign that will outrightly point out the fakeness.

Equally, one can be made to appear in any different way, this can go on and on uncontrollably in a split second. This has social implications as it has affected many people’s lives. More and more people are becoming photophobic today, disapproving of their images being taken because of this and many other reasons.

In addition, modern possibilities in photography have made it possible for people to own false appearances, which sometimes they are forced to sustain for the rest of their lives, even at the cost of their wellbeing and comfortability.

Aside from conforming to other people’s appearance, the newest trend in town is filtering human images to make them appear ‘flawless’ or ‘perfect.’ Images would then be edited to increase and decrease body features and to match the physique of what is being promoted as the ‘perfect body.’ This is highly influenced by social media, which is the first destination of most photographs today.

Two months ago I experimented with a filter for the first time. I chose the bald filter, as it was a style I haven’t worn for about 15 years.

It was shocking to me how real it was despite the fact that my head was full of hair.

I was surprised and shocked at the same time, as I quickly realized how much of what I see online as people’s pictures can possibly be unreal.

Upon sharing the photo on my social media it stirred engagement by my friends who thought without doubt that I had a haircut.

Applications such as Snapchat, Instagram etc. have effects that can a person look older, younger, of a different gender than they are, and with different physical features as well.

I can foresee a future where people will no longer be proud of how they look without manipulating their appearances for a social show. Instead of promoting appreciation of one’s appearance, the priority is on the social presentation as we want to appear before other people.

What we can do is to inculcate in our young people positive self-image, highlighting for them the value and power of natural beauty.

To safeguard one’s dignity, it is also an admonition to be watchful of awkwardness so as not to end up being victimized by random people who will photography anybody around them without their consent.

On the higher level we need laws and rules regarding photography for everyone’s good. In Europe for example, there are specifications in the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) which is deemed the strongest privacy and security law in the world.

In one of its articles the GDPR points out that with identifiable persons from a photo or video, it is considered personal data and should be treated as such, kept secured and not stored for longer than is needed. Sharing such personal data with third parties requires permission from the person. This can be a good model to start before photography causes bigger problems in the society.