DU's "It's photoshopped!" insta-experts are sort of lame.

[jpgray]

Every real embarrassing McCain photo is given this treatment by some pompous codswallop who pretends to Adobe trace evidence expertise, even on low-resolution, otherwise-unremarkable photos published by -major media sources-. We don't need this righteous brigade on every embarrassing McCain campaign photo, because such vigilance is mostly unnecessary: the lousy fakes are self-debunking, the good photoshops are better revealed by sourcing their already published originals, and the real stuff that just -looks- outrageous gets a tragic number of kicks as a result of "it's photoshopped!"/"no it isn't!" flamewars, which can last for a dozen posts or more.

Shame! Shame I say! If you have an opinion about potential grandmaster photoshoppiness, at least check the source. Failing that, at least check your credentials, realize that you are not an expert, and leave off the pretense of certainty one way or the other. Such arguments between "experts" clog up the thread in question and moreover promotes what is essentially a trivial "OMG look at this photo!" thread to the top of the forum. Again and again.

</crotchetiness>

[Fenris]

1. This post was edited!

I'm an expert on post editing and I KNOW you stealth edited this post.

[TheCoxwain]

2. They are sort of lame ....but they have actual photoshopping skills..

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

3. This is not just a DU phenomenon.

http://www.evacommentary.org/images_capdoc/gendo,kozo_looks-shopped.jpg

[bushisanidiot]

11. rofl!!

:rofl:

[evlbstrd]

4. I work with Photoshop daily.

It's my job. And, I make none of the aforementioned pronouncements.

[jpgray]

8. That will probably speak well for your continued sanity

:)

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

5. Though this thread may be directed against me, I agree

I am a hands-down not doubt about it actual expert on digital photo retouching and I get tired of arguing with people about it.

What is particularly annoying is people saying very good P'shop jobs are "obvious." (The Palin girl giving the finger, for example, is fake but not at all "obvious." It's a perfectly respectable job for internet resolution purposes.)

But since today's most notable photoshop controversy involved me saying something was doctored (which it was) but that nonetheless depicted something actual you may be in the comical position of chastising an actual expert for speaking from a perspective of actual expertise.

Life's funny that way.

[jpgray]

6. That speaks to the necessity of being extra-clear on a message board

In other words, "photoshopped" and "retouching" have different meanings on the internets--if it's an actual shot that has nothing extraneous added "retouching" is probably the word to use, even though "photoshopped" is technically accurate. Given that misunderstanding and/or misinterpretation is a regular internet thing, clarity can rarely be too excessive. Also, for the record, this was no direct reference to any one post.

:hi:

[Captiosus]

13. Here's the thing though.

If we're talking about the thread I think we're talking about, I agree with Kurt's use of the word "Photoshopped" in regards to the picture.

Retouching with photoshop would be doing something like clearing off some wrinkles with the healing brush tool (or: what Newsweek didn't do for Palin *snicker*). The picture in question had a completely separate lighting source added to it, which was evident by shadowing on the foreground of the crowd.

That's not just retouching. That's doctoring. It's not as bad as a Faux News doctoring, but it's still doctoring. We just happen to call doctoring, "photoshopping".

[grantcart]

7. well my reply was not to disagree with the technical aspect of doctoring

the photo - which it looks like it was - but that calling it 'photoshopped' means that it doesn't represent what actually happened so in circumstances where the photographer or editor has simply improved the quality of the image by 'photoshopping it' it is more accurate to call it 'retouchced' than 'photoshopped' so we are in agreement in everything but the terms.

[Bucky]

9. Your sig file is an obvious fake.

Pfff, now I'm cooler than you.

[juno jones]

10. There is actually a program out there that detects altered pixels.

That said, I have not seen the results of its use on questionable photos like the disputed one of Palin's kid giving the other kid the finger.

The recent McCain one in the WSJ is probably real tho.

[BlooInBloo]

12. I dunno what "codswallop" means, but it sounds kinda dirty - i LIKE it!

:rofl:

[slampoet]

14. Please continue to advance the GOP talking point that there is no such thing as an EXPERT......

....and talk about it like you have no idea it is just a way to get everyone working for minimum wage.