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Wednesday, August 20, 2008

"I Was There. Just Ask Photoshop"

Last week, the New York Times ran a very interesting piece about Photoshop titled the above. Instead of the usual trickery and celebrity air brushed talk, the author focused on regular people and the increasing practice of erasing unwanted people or adding others not originally present to family photos.

I am not one to alter or harm a photo, although I am a HUGE fan of artwork that does. (
Ask those that know me, I can't even delete a digital image and fill up and save all of my cards. Yes, I know I can save them to the computer, which I do, several times, and reformat, which I never do.) The only time I ever destroyed a photograph was when I broke up with an ex. Gathering all of the photos with him in them, I burned them all over a raging fire. I did cut up one, but it looked silly, so I think that too went into the flames.

Oddly enough, the essay talks starts out talking about a woman from Rochester! I'll share a quote from Alex Williams' piece, as it's that good and intriguing:
REMOVING her ex-husband from more than a decade of memories may take a lifetime for Laura Horn, a police emergency dispatcher in Rochester. But removing him from a dozen years of vacation photographs took only hours, with some deft mouse work from a willing friend who was proficient in Photoshop, the popular digital-image editing program.

Like a Stalin-era technician in the Kremlin removing all traces of an out-of-favor official from state photos, the friend erased the husband from numerous cherished pictures taken on cruises and at Caribbean cottages, where he had been standing alongside Ms. Horn, now 50, and other traveling companions.

“In my own reality, I know that these things did happen,” Ms. Horn said. But “without him in them, I can display them. I can look at those pictures and think of the laughter we were sharing, the places we went to.”

“This new reality,” she added, “is a lot more pleasant.”

... Read more here.

Thanks to Keith Johnson for keying me in to this!

ABOVE IMAGE: BACK IN THE U.S.S.R. Grandpa always wanted to visit the Soviet Union (circa May Day, 1937), and with some digital help, it’s almost as if he’s there. Illustration by The New York Times; photographs by Bettmann/Corbis (historical image) and John Henley/Corbis (man waving)

3 comments:

NYC taxi photo said...

The New York Times, hey I'm in there. No but really, I actually am.

inserting link and shamelessly self promoting myself here: http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/08/19/a-taxis-eye-view-of-the-city/
my name is about the fourth line down

yeah I'm ecstatic, and therefore kind of annoying!! hurrayyyyy!!

Anonymous said...

ANTHONY AND THE MAGIC PICTURE FRAME: One Father's Gift to His Son Becomes a Christmas Gift for All America's Children

With his father's help, a young man in Seattle stepped back in time to have historic experiences. He met Lou Gehrig, FDR, Jonas Salk, Thomas Edison, and even his own great-grandfather at Ellis Island in 1907 and learned secrets to their strength of will, dedication to purpose, and love of country. The result, accomplished through advanced digital photography and historically accurate text, is Anthony and the Magic Picture Frame.


If your dad told you he could put you on the Moon with Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, would you believe him? And what if your big dream was to jump into the cockpit with Charles Lindbergh as he took off for his historic flight across the Atlantic Ocean -- would you say, "Dad, can I please have that for Christmas?"

With his father's help, a young man in Seattle did step back in time to have these experiences, as well as meet Lou Gehrig, FDR, Jonas Salk, Thomas Edison, and even his own great grandfather at Ellis Island in 1907. He learned the secrets to their strength of will, dedication to purpose, and love of country.

Photographer and author Michael Class made all of these magical things come true for his 12-year-old son, Anthony, by using advanced digital photography. After securing permission for photos of historic moments -- and endorsements from people in those photos -- he placed Anthony in the cockpit of the Spirit of St. Louis with Charles Lindbergh, on the moon with Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, in the laboratories of Thomas Edison and Jonas Salk, on Normandy beach on D-Day, at Ellis Island, and much more.

Father and son worked together for nearly four years to capture and compile adventures with 20th century American heroes. The result is a museum-quality history book, Anthony and the Magic Picture Frame, full of photos and stories of Anthony "meeting" and learning exciting lessons from inspiring Americans.

The Web site, www.MagicPictureFrame.com, displays some of the book's captivating photographs. A video telling the story of how the book was made can also be found on the Web site (www.magicpictureframe.com/home/watchthevideo.html).

Anthony travels into America's past by stepping through a Magic Picture Frame on his bedroom wall. But, the book also provides a 'time machine' for its readers. It's a way for kids to see, hear, and experience the things that Anthony did in the past: The book includes recommendations for 461 books, 595 movies, 217 songs, and 155 places to visit, all keyed to the subjects of each chapter. The book is a Christmas gift that will entertain and educate for many years to come.

Anthony and the Magic Picture Frame lifts spirits as it stimulates young minds. Embraced by the homeschooling community and parents and teachers nationwide, the book is a memorable gift for young adults, grades 6-12.

Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldrin says "parents and teachers will appreciate the inspiring message this unique history book holds for America's next generation. I recommend this book to all young Americans, may they take us to the stars and beyond."

Anthony and the Magic Picture Frame was named Outstanding Book of the Year by Independent Publisher (2006); awarded the Parent-to-Parent Adding Wisdom Award for Excellent Books (2007); is a celebrated winner of an iParenting Media Award for Excellent Products (2007), was named Reviewers Choice by Midwest Book Review (2006); and garnered Editor's Pick by Homefires: The Journal of Homeschooling Online (2006). Nationally syndicated talk-show host Michael Medved calls the book "entertaining and educational."

Anthony and the Magic Picture Frame (hardcover, 225 pages, $25.00) is available at www.MagicPictureFrame.com, by calling toll-free 1-800-247-6553, at select bookstores, and on www.amazon.com.

Amazon link: www.magicpictureframe.com/buythebook.html

Watch the Magic Picture Frame video: http://www.magicpictureframe.com/home/watchthevideo.html

Take Anthony's History Test: http://www.magicpictureframe.com/beyondthestory/anthonyshistorytest.html

Read Book Reviews: www.magicpictureframe.com/reviews.html

###



Contact: Michael Class, class@MagicPictureFrame.com, Magic Picture Frame Studio, P.O. Box 2603, Issaquah, WA 98027-0119.

LKB said...

Congrats both!

Noah, I love this part:

He's young, he's handsome, he's he's a college graduate, and he's not nearly as ethnic as one would assume (see photo), so what the hell is Noah Forman doing driving a taxi in New York City?