On Reflection!
The Activating Research module has been an interesting journey for me as on previous developmental projects I have been provided with a specific area or subject to research and this channelled my area of investigation. During this task I have felt more free and undirected which sounds exciting but can present challenges.
My motivation, behind researching the area of ‘image manipulation’ and ‘alter egos’, stems from my own professional practice. As a wedding and portrait photographer for over 15 years I have experienced the requests and desires of clients who strive for perfection, fantasy or alteration from their real identity. In particular a case I would like to mention was that of the Mother of a Groom who’s wedding I photographed about 5 years ago. Her request to me was to manipulate all images, in which she featured, to change her teeth. She asked ‘I have a gap between my front teeth I wonder if you would be able to fill the gap so that it can’t be seen’. As any keen businesswoman I agreed to her request in order to keep my client happy and promote my work.
In general I find my clients are aspiring to a fantasy or dreamlike experience through the event of their wedding day. Gone are the days where wedding photography was a means of recording a historical or social event. My experience is that clients are looking for an opportunity to step into an alter ego or to be able to fantasise for one day.
My initial steps into researching this area took me down two different lines of investigation ‘image manipulation’ and ‘alter egos’ and I came to a point where I felt concerned about what I was actually researching. Is my investigation into the ethics of Photoshop manipulation or is it about people who use costume and masquerade to be or step into the shoes of a different type of person? I came to the conclusion that although these are two different lines of enquiry, and there is a vast amount of research that could be carried out into each area separately, the two are intrinsically linked. Both are key to issues that arise within my own professional practice and I am facing increasing requests and desires from my clients that are based on both areas.
Personally I have no moral quibble with manipulating imagery, whether this be through technology or otherwise. From the texts I have found I can see that there is no harm in escapism and in actual fact it can be explorative and therapeutic. I have also seen that the use of technological manipulation is a creative tool for artists and has a definite place in society today. Personally I think that in general people are well informed of it’s presence and I question those who critically paint it in a negative light – are they underestimating societies understanding of it’s context?
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