Connecting Essay 1

This image is from the magazine Redbook, a womens magazine which specialises in fashion, healthy eating and keeping your body in good condition. In order to appeal to this target audience, an attractive woman was placed on the front cover in an effort to convince the audience that they can look like this woman. Airbrush techniques have been used in order to make her skin appear smoother and wrinkles have been removed in order to make her appear younger. The model's arms have also been made skinnier in order to make her appear more attractive. The woman becomes a goal for many members of the audience to achieve as they begin to believe that they can achieve this look and lifestyle if they buy the magazine. The two images contrast dramatically against each other, causing the the edited one to appear fake, however this is a common form of hyperreality and commonly tricks audiences into believing that this is a real representation of a person.

This is one of my images. It features a simple portrait before and after the effects of Photoshop. The first image appears different to the last. Within the first image, the face appears pale and blemishes on the skin are apparent. The next image eradicates these features through the use of dodging and burning techniques. Areas of the face, such as the jawline, nose and cheek bones have been enhanced in order to give a more defined look to the face. A black and white filter has been used with soft light in order to create smoother tones within the images, removing contrast from the face and leaving it smooth.

Both of these images connect as they focus on the same subject matter. The same dodging, burning and airbrushing techniques are applied within both images to make the person seem closer to the model standard of appearance that is being featured in magazines and advertisement. Both images link under the same form of hyperreality which causes the audience to have misconceptions about what is a real and what is a fake representation of appearance. Each image strives to make the model more masculine or feminine as it is more accepted in the world of fashion photography. Both have negative effects on the audience as they cause them to strive to impossible standards.