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In an interview on The View after this GQ cover appeared, Barbara Walters asked Jennifer Anniston, "What happened to the girl next door from Friends?" Anniston replied, "She's there! Photo-shopped!"
A brief mention of the photo-shop effect in the last article with regards to physical appearances (see 'All the Wrinkled Ladies' sung to Beyonce's 'Single Ladies') would not be complete without a follow-up on the digitally enhanced face. Photo shoots no longer solely rely on the traditional make up brushes, mascara wands and concealers. Rather, editing tools have become the biggest choice in putting one's best, albeit, 'altered' face forward. Teeth are straightened and whitened, lips are enlarged, lines are removed, the face is contoured. The following You Tube takes you on a quick tour of a transformation.
What level has the bar been raised for young girls to seek perfection when it may not even be attainable outside of a printed picture? How important is it to look so much better in a photograph than in the mirror? What's next: a wrinkle free grandma advertising an arthritis drug while staring back at us through thick eyelashes from the pages of Good Housekeeping?
Orlando photographer, Jen Adams, deals extensively with brides for her wedding shoots. She notices a change in the expectations of the bride now more than even only a couple of months ago. "Sometimes, they want their photo to look like a magazine spread," Adams says. "I try to get people to look their best through techniques and certain tricks of the trade." This, she explains, is achieved by shooting at certain complimentary angles, downplaying any negative assets or simply leaning forward and keeping the shoulders back in their pose. Enhancements may include removing puffy eyes and blemishes, some 'de-noise' or softening but importantly, striving to capture them "as they are" and getting them back to their reception.
At the rate of technology today, perhaps in ten or twenty years from now, we will only be communicating via video over our computer monitor. Then we will be able to photo-shop our own image and be a perfect specimen of a magazine cover model! Just don't answer the doorbell.
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