Left to right: Original and Retouched
Young girls are constantly being bombarded with images that give us the impression that Celebrities look flawless and lead 'perfect lifestyles'. Although we all know that the images we see are retouched we still can't help ourselves from making comparisons.
Young girls are constantly being bombarded with images that give us the impression that Celebrities look flawless and lead 'perfect lifestyles'. Although we all know that the images we see are retouched we still can't help ourselves from making comparisons.
When I was 16 I lost 2 stones from just skipping and doing step up's on the garden wall. I did it religiously everyday and if ever there was a day I missed I would do double the amount the next day. I got obsessed with what I ate and drank and completly stopped eating crisps and chocolates (which I loved). I led a very strict diet regime.
Looking back on it I guess I didn't go the right way about it but I did loose 2 stones. Now I'm a bit more lenient with what I eat and now I think more about proportions rather than the actual type of foods I'm consuming, never the less I'm still conscious about how I look and still find that I compare myself to other girls.
Left to right: Original and Retouched
When I decided that I was going to diet 8 years ago I was heavily influence by the media, I had got it into my mind that I wanted to look like the images I saw on the magazines and television in order to be liked more and to lead a similar lifestyle. Very naive but very true.
Its amazing and very disturbing what retouching can do! The images in this post are of the originals and of the retouched outcome. I used photoshop which is a program used in Design and one that is commonly used for retouching. In the first image you can see that I have uneven skin tone, my eyebrows look sparse and fair and I have a few scars on the top of my head. The second image is completely retouched - I've filled in my eyebrows more, given myself more lashes, made my skin look even and flawless and slimmed down my nose ... I look completely different.
What are your thoughts on retouching, and magazine images in general? How do these images make you feel? Do you think its just magazine images that make young girls and women feel inferior and like there not good enough? Or do you think there are other factors that play a part?
I hope you like the post, it will be good to hear your thoughts x
for me its expected for magazines and professional photo shoots
ReplyDeleteVery true, I guess they do have to actually sell them lol
Deleteugh, i hate how much pressure magazines put on young girls and even girls who should know better. it's ridiculous!
ReplyDeleteI know but us girls will never stop comparing ourselves to the images that are put in front of us x
DeleteI personally think both untouched images in the post look waaaay nicer anyway!
ReplyDeleteThank you x
DeleteNice post, got me thinking. I wish I could do the re-touches like that, why not make yourself better, right?!
ReplyDeleteI only know the basics lol x
DeleteThanks for your comment! I'm not from Germany but from Holland. Some Dutch words are very similair to German words. Love your post, keeps me thinking. Xx
ReplyDeleteOOops sorry I recognised some words so thought you were German. I would love to visit Hollandxx
DeleteVery interesting post, got me thinking!!
ReplyDeleteBTW,Thanks for stopping by and commenting!You have an amazing blog too ( so much food for the mind) and I'm following you!!
Love
Juneli from Fashionably Yours
http://fashionablyyours-juneli.blogspot.com/
It's a subject that I find very interesting so thought I would see what other peoples thoughts on it were x
DeleteI love this post. I am a huge advocate of full disclosure when it comes to the retouched images of celebrities!
ReplyDeletehiraschaos.blogspot.com
Thank you x
Deletegreat blog dear:)
ReplyDeletePlease visit, comment, and follow me if you feel interested. Love your blog. Kisses.
Have a sparkling day!
xoxo.
Am following x
DeleteNice post, its all about moderation I think!
ReplyDeletehttp://whatkimmididnext.blogspot.com/
Thank you for visiting my blog, Following you x
ReplyDeletehttp://whatkimmididnext.blogspot.com/
No problems...and thank you x
Deletesuch an great read =) i bet it is an interesting project to study xo
ReplyDeletepebbz | www.pebbzblog.blogspot.com
It was. Thank you for the comment x
DeleteThank you for your comment, I'm now following your blog it's really great.
ReplyDeleteAnd I agree that there is so much pressure on girls that sometimes it makes them take extreme measures to achieve 'perfection' when no one is perfect!
http://thesecretblogger-2011.blogspot.com/
No such thing as perfect x
DeleteThis is a great post!! I have done one similar and it is great to hear that a lot of people feel the same. It is really bad how the media tell us how to look and even more so that celebs don't show their true beauty. I think the original of both yourself and any celeb is by far prettier than any retouched airbrushed image I have ever seen. Heidi Montag is a prime example of how out of hand it can get! One of the reasons why I now dislike Kim K (after being obsessed with her) is noticing how airbrushed she is. WOW this is a bit of an essay SORRY! look forward to your future posts my lovely xx
ReplyDeleteNo problem, its nice to hear other girls opinions. Heidi looks awful now, she was much better with her natural features and 10 ops in one day ouch! x
DeleteTo be honest I don't think it's completely wrong to retouch images for magazines/editorials/shoots because we all know it's not real. Sadly, young girls believe it and are hugely influenced therefore are more and more selfconsious. Hopefully this way of thinking changes! Great post xxxx
ReplyDeleteI completely agree to what you said. Retouching is wrong, why can't people accept themselves as they are and love the beauty of the flaws?
Deletehttp://styledestino.blogspot.com
Very true,us girls can never stop comparing ourselves to each other, to celebrities....its something we do x
Deletewow what a huge difference it makes. I agree with Princess Naheeda tht its wrong, but its gotten so much in the system that its hard to let go of it now.
ReplyDeletelOVE URE blog.
http://styledestino.blogspot.com
I guess there are two sides to every story x
DeleteIndeed interesting.. Can we have tutorial of that? ;)... Just kidding... As said by all here the difference was expected but then seeing the before-after difference on this post gets you wondering.
ReplyDeleteA tutorial lol, I would have to out that up on youtube which would mean bearing my face to everyone lol.x
DeleteSo pleased I found your blog via mine, lol! This post especially is thought provoking and relevant, I like how you've interlaced your own experiences. Looking forward to exploring more :) xx
ReplyDeleteI have more posts on it coming soon x
DeleteNice post! I've written a few papers in the past for school about the media and body image, and its effects. I pretty much expect for there to be retouching to celebrities in pictures etc, and realize that that's part of "the business", but there are young impressionable people out there who it can and does effect more than adults (not saying that adults aren't effected, but younger people tend to be the main targets when it come to body image)
ReplyDeletehttp://beautyonthedaily.blogspot.com/
I think even young people are aware that images are retouched, but they still compare themselves to the images x
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