Photoshop:

There's a difference between "touching up" and completely changing a person in a picture. For some reason some professionals, don't know the difference. Ok so if a person has a scar, distracting mark, wrinkle or two, sunburn, etc it is totally acceptable to retouch their skin so that the picture for the magazine, ad or movie poster looks more appealing and in result, sells. But when a person's body suddenly becomes completely distorted to a point of no return, that's where the line is drawn. I'm all for using Photoshop to retouch small imperfections, but morphing bodies is another subject.

Not only does the picture affect the individual themselves, but society as a whole. Most importantly, younger women and teenage girls. Ads and covers place a negative body-image upon many girls, resulting in extremely low self-esteem across the world.  We basically unconsciously try to look like the  airbrushed, porcelain celebrities that appear on covers, although it may only be 50% of the actual celebrity. All in all, Photoshop is great for retouching and fixing small things that would originally push people away, but almost completely morphing a person's face or body is just unacceptable and unrealistic.

http://designtutorials4u.com/top-ten-photoshop-controversies-and-disasters/

http://dslrfairytale.com/2012/01/19/photoshop-controversy-where-do-we-draw-the-line-on-beauty-manipulation/

http://boston.cbslocal.com/2012/02/14/adeles-vogue-magazine-cover-causing-controversy/

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2048375/Self-Esteem-Act-US-parents-push-anti-Photoshop-laws-advertising.html

http://www.latimes.com/features/image/la-ig-photoshop2-2009aug02,0,4042697.story

Composite Pictures

Larry Lessig- TED talk response

Larry Lessig brings up a very good topic about copyright and remixing. He describes the laws has no common sense as well as it doesn't make any sense. He takes note of how our culture, right now, uses remixing and editing as a way we speak, think and are. Going along with that,  it limits creativity to an extreme.

Copyright laws have gone to an extreme at this point. Our creativity is limited to such an extent, that every single thing on the internet seems to somehow be illegal. 

Sometimes, I'll be on a website such as flickr and a really interesting picture captures my eye. I think, "Oh, that would be a super cool wallpaper for my computer!" or "I kinda want to try and draw that." But no, I can't copy it because of copyright! I'm not trying to sell this picture in any way. I just want to look at in some other form then that specific website. 

Youtube used to be pretty lenient with songs used on videos too. Within the last few years though, they became super strict. I just want to put a stupid song on this hilarious video I made of my friends and I, Why can't I do that?! It's not hurting anyone in any way. I just don't get it. 

I definitely agree with Larry Lessig and basically every word he says in this nineteen-minute video.

Philly Adventure

My walk around Philly was quite an adventure.

It was pouring, it was the first time I've taken the subway here, I went by myself and I was completely soaked.

First, I hopped on the Broad Street Line subway at Cecil B. Moore station and got off at City Hall Station. I'd heard that Chestnut Street and Walnut Street area was the best to walk and shop along, so I made my way to look around the area. I was basically just walking around for about two and a half hours and I found it very enjoyable, even though I was soaked from the rain. I went to a couple stores/shops and picked up a few flyers and what not. Of course, with my luck, my camera ran out of battery after I took about 15 pictures and the pictures I took were not the best quality because I needed to make sure my camera didn't get wet, but I tried my best with the condition given. 

I stopped by a store called Ten Thousand Villages and found myself looking around for a really long time. Ten Thousand Villages is a non-profit organization that sells natural and recycled products made by artisans from disadvantaged countries. The unique crafts, decorations, plates, bowls, art, jewelry, scarves and more are fascinating to look at, and it's a plus that the organization is fair trade and environmentally sustainable. It is a great feeling to know that with every purchase of a product, the artisan receives the fair amount of profit they actually deserve for their craft. I bought green tea and I can't wait to try it.

I loved seeing the art all around the area as well. I liked looking on the sides of some buildings and in alleys where graffiti/street art was placed upon the walls.

After walking around mindlessly for a couple hours, I decided to head back. Again, it was the first day I had used the subway here. I thought I would be fine, but on the way back I accidentally got on the Broad Street Line express and I wondered why we went past so many stations without stopping. I then realized that I meant to go on the local line. So I got off and went on the local line and finally got back to Temple, drenched in rain. 

I definitely want to go into the city as much as I can while I'm at Temple because there's so much to do! I can't wait to go to nice restaurants, visit museums,  attend concerts and sporting events and spend hours shopping around this year!