For my photo editing project I decided to create my own
twin. Photo editing software is used for many different alterations, touch-ups and
tricks for the intended audience. Some more subtle than others, I went for a
less subtle approach and opted to alter images to make my image appear twice.
This created the illusion of my twin being out with me and my friends. I chose
this route; because I felt that smaller photo manipulations have become such a
norm in our social media, people have gotten to the point where they feel they
have to label images they have not edited as they are fewer in number. In this
case I am referring to the #nofilter that has become so popular. Small photo
manipulations have also been so popularized that in many cases to be a successful art or
fashion photographer you also need to be highly skilled in 're-touching' in
order for your art to be beautiful.
Photo manipulations such as the one I did have many uses,
creating art, or simply to create an interesting story. Although in some
magazines and tabloids there are similar edits to make it as though someone was
someplace they shouldn't have been. Which as reporters, is lying to their
audience, morally this should be unacceptable because these doctored images can
be used to create an image of someone, like a celebrity, that mislabels them or
influences how people perceive them. Smaller edits are also a major part of
photography. Having an un-'retouched' image in a magazine has become novel and
daring. While in the history of photography photo editing mostly ended at
dodging and burning. Crating something amazing and gravity defying was a matter
of timing and negatives rather than now, in the digital age, someone can simply
use their phone to capture and create interesting images. While in our digital age, we cannot run out
of film, and we can always alter images after the fact with little difficulty.
I don't believe my images could fully convince people who
know me, but without seeing the originals, someone could believe I had a twin
or relative with a close resemblance. As an experiment I decided to post one of
the pictures on Facebook, with the comment "Doesn't my cousin look like
me?” to see my friends and family's reactions. The result was rather amusing,
and in some cases believed it, even if just momentarily. Even my own (actual)
cousin posted "Is this a daughter of your dad's sibling?” Some were
confused simply because I had identified the other image of me as my cousin, by
stating this it created a different context to view the image. In cases where someone
did not know me personally this context could simply justify why two similar
looking people were in the image. Along with the idea of why would someone want
to create an image like this, or why would you put the time into duplication
yourself in an image. Many people would assume it is unedited simply because
they assume human indifference and laziness. I chose also, to not edit other
parts of the pictures so there would be less of a chance to 'get caught' trying
to be true to the lighting and flash photography as possible.
Edited pictures:
Originals:
Facebook's reaction to when I posted one of the pictures:
All images taken by me and with permission.
