Photography, since its inception, has always been a popular hobby and for some a profession. Often the photographer utilizes a variety of lenses, shutter speeds and light settings to capture that perfect image. Once the image has been captured on the film, the film then is chemically developed which allows for the image on the film to become visible.

Often, the only way that the image could be enhanced was by setting up certain props or scenes behind the image that was being photographed. In addition, some professional photographers would use an air brushing technique to touch up the photograph.

However, now through digital photography, the ease of touching up or manipulating the digital photo has become easier. This process is known as manipulated digital photography and can be easily accomplished through software that can add or subtract to the digital photo. When discussing the process of manipulated digital photography it is important to know what is this technique and the associated pros and cons that swirl around this procedure.

What Is Digital Photography?

Digital photography differs from standard photography in that the visualization of the photograph taken does not require the use of a chemical developing process. A digital camera is equipped with a computer that allows for the image to be electronically captured.

Specifically, the images are captured by a digital camera by utilizing small colored dots. These dots are known as pixels and when blended together represent the image that the digital camera has captured.

Generally, the quality of the pictures taken by digital cameras is not as defined as conventional cameras. Therefore, the digital cameras have not completely replaced the cameras that require the use of chemicals to develop the film.

What Is Manipulated Digital Photography?

Because the pictures are composed of pixels it is easy to modify the photos that are taken by a digital camera. The modifying of images taken by a digital camera is known as the process of manipulated digital photography.

Generally, the picture can be electronically inserted into a software program that allows the user of the software to modify or manipulate the photograph. For example if there is a picture taken of an individual with telephone wires behind them, the software user, through manipulated digital photography, can erase the telephone wires and replace those telephone wires with the same colored pixels that represent the color of the sky.

Pros

Those that argue for the use of this technique known as manipulated digital photography will assert that photographers have always manipulated their photos. They will assert that generally the backgrounds used behind the subject being photographed were placed there by the photographer.

In addition, those that argue for manipulated digital photography will maintain that many of the photographs and portraits are posed. These controls, they argue, are manipulative in nature.

Cons

Those that argue against manipulated digital photography will state that the integrity of the photograph and the fiber of the photography industry has been compromised through this process. They base their arguments on the fact that this technique undermines the integrity and complexity of taking great photographs. They cite the fact that in order to gain a distinguishing photograph, it takes a great deal of patience and use of a critical eye to capture the right image. They further assert that by simply changing the color of a pixel diminishes the integrity of photography.