It's ALL an illusion... And that's OK!

Today's pop culture scandal: W Magazine manipulated that image of Demi Moore on the cover.

Seriously, people.  Movie stars and "beautiful people" are only beautiful for two reasons:

1. Limitless access to million dollar stylists, makeup artists, personal trainers, personal chefs, personal masseuses and personal therapists to keep the stress wrinkles away.
2. Photoshop.

They're not trying to pull a fast one on you.  This is not illicit behavior.  It's called SHOW BUSINESS for a reason.  The business of putting on a show.  Let's face it; no one wants to watch ugly people on a 45 foot screen.  Ugly people included.  The way that you check your emails in the morning, read up on new trends in the market and take meetings with your boss, movie stars do their morning yoga routines, have an egg white omelet made to order for their body type and take meetings with their personal trainers.  It's their JOB to look good FOR YOU.

Take a look at these links and tell me, honestly, that you prefer how Beyonce looks before being Photoshoped....

Glenn Feron Portfolio

More Examples...

I've been asked on several occasions how I feel about the "ethics" of Photoshoping.  I'm indifferent.  As far as I'm concerned, a digitally captured image is not a direct representation of what you look like anyway.  I've known many people who are not considered particularly attractive in real life who look amazing in pictures and I've know people who turn heads at the clubs who just aren't photogenic.  It's not black and white.  As a photographer - an image creator - my job is not always to show the true you but to create a great image.  The image - the art - will outlive you.  You might be depriving future generations of a moment in time if you protest the manipulation... Which, by the way, no one ever does.

The only thing W Magazine is guilty of is being sloppy.  REALLY sloppy.  Unethical, though?  Nah....

Read the whole article here: The Frisky

And does anyone wonder how Demi feels about all this???

 Point of clarification: I see beauty in all things and people.  I DON'T agree with the Hollywood standard of beauty.  This blog is not about "beauty" as a whole but about image manipulation and entertainment.  If you want someone to blame for the media's unrealistic portrayal of beauty you need only look in the mirror.  WE'RE the ones buying the product they produce.