Filters - to use or not to use - that is the question

Hollywood brought us stars and fantasy and the characters were made to continuously look beautiful. They used makeup potions and lotions, face lifts, body sculpting and airbrushing etc. Filters were used by professional photographers to control light, reducing or increasing it. They also edited photos during the development process, to create flawless and socially acceptable images.

With advancement in technology, the masses have social media and smartphones. Now anyone can become a “star”. First it was platforms like Facebook then YouTube, now there is Instagram, Snapchat and Tiktok etc. A “normal person” can make photos/videos and become an influencer. If one did not get gifts of natural beauty - it's no problem. It can be enhanced not only the old fashioned Hollywood way - but now it can be done faster with filters.

I always believe to each his own - live and let live - that is the long and short of it. What is wrong with a bit of enhancement if it does not harm anymore? If we all have our heads screwed on right - then we can see through the veneer. One could argue that Hollywood and media already offered us a false sense of reality - so what is so wrong with everyone else doing the same via the tools available. What it boils down to - is to what extremes will one take it. All needs to be done in moderation.

Unique photography
With smartphones, altering a photo with the use of filters is at our fingertips. Non-experts and experts alike, can make an artistic or creatively beautiful photo without the use of expensive equipment or specialist skills. Good photography is made easier; now novices can be like professionals (to some exent). Filters can be used to make a photo fun, unique and interesting. This is definitely an advantage.

Good photography
Filters can also be used deceptively, when it changes the true essence or character of what is photographed. It can be overdone - then the photo looks fake when details are made to look hyper-realistic. Some special or known details are lost or unrecognisable. However, when done well most people prefer to look at filtered photos. That could be considered trickery but in today's world most photos are filtered and people love them. Everyone wants beautiful things. Actually that is what we've become accustomed to.

With filtered photos, people look a lot more attractive and landscapes seem to come to life.

Good photos still require a good photographer - not only good tools. 😄

Deceptive imagery
Not only can one become a "star" in their own way via social media platforms - one can also become a beautiful star. First, it was a bit of editing - changing exposure, brilliance, brightness, saturation, shadows, contrasts etc. Now there are many beauty filter apps on the market. One’s colour, eyes, nose, chin, mouth, jaw-line - the whole face and even the body - can be made more "beautiful" in an instant.

The sad thing is that a lot of people - especially the young are negatively influenced by the media. As humans some of us are more or less proned to comparing ourselves to others - especially our peers. This can lead to self-esteem issues and in extreme cases body dysmorphia.

In the real world, one cannot hide for too long. Having an online persona and physical features which are different to real self - in order to meet a partner for e.g. is just simply ridiculous. At some point when people meet - then the real person will be revealed. Someone will then be disappointed. If filters are used to deceive others about one’s appearance, then there are deeper issues at play such as inferiority complex, low self-esteem or identity problems.

To filter or not to filter - this is my example
I made this photo while walking along a river on a cloudy day.

Amstel river - March 2019

In my eyes, it was a gloomy but beautiful spring day and I Iiked the scenery. However, looking at the photo - it is not great. There was a bit more light in reality.

I used a filter to enhance it and I also cropped the photo. The trees reflecting in the water, the houses and even the rower are now more in focus.

However to me this photo is overdone. It looks fake.

When the filter and edit are used sparingly, the photo looks like this.

This is what I saw. I prefer this photo.

Which photo do you like?

Personal experience
When I make photos of myself or family members, I never apply a filter. If I do not like how I look that day - then I don't make photos. Thereafter, I try to sleep better. It is truly beauty sleep. My photos are for family and friends anyway - so who would I be trying to fool by using filters to enhance my features?! 😆

I have never had the experience of being deceived by someone who falsely represented themselves by using filters. However, as I mentioned before the media can be deceptive. I once saw a famous tv presenter, walking a dog. I knew without a doubt that it was him immediately. As I got closer and closer to him, I saw that he looked very aged and tired. I saw him on tv the following week and I had to marvel about how effective filters can be. He looked so much younger.

Final thoughts
In the end, we will have our own individual taste and opinions. There is nothing intrinsically bad about the use of filters. It has been around for a long time in other forms but now it is more accessible via smartphones. It is always a question of how things are used and moderation is often the best way. Like most things, filters will be used and abused until the next great thing comes along. (I hope that will be self-awareness and self-love by those abusing filters).

This is my response to Hive Learner -#hl-w70e1 - re. Filters.

All photos are my own - taken with my iPhone SE 2020