What is your opinion on including facial or body blemishes in a photo, whether a portrait or otherwise? I'm talking about acne or other temporary skin conditions. I tend to clone out obvious blemishes in anything which is close up, on the theory that I don't want a temporary condition to become a timeless condition. Unless an image is ABOUT being dirty or ugly or a hormonal teen, etc., I feel like blemishes are a distraction better removed. On the other hand, I wouldn't go to great lengths to "pretty up" a face or body part either.

I see pictures on 1x where blemishes are included (even when they could easily be removed) so maybe I'm alone in this philosophy? Is this a cultural thing? Have I spent too much time absorbing images from fashion photography?

What's your take?

for me thats ok for fashion photos. portraits should be more true than fashion photography, more personal and real.

Have you been taking pics of Mal John? ......too much to correct with him so just get another model!! :)))))

For fashion photography : if you make publicity to a facial cream, you don´t whant to use a model with 80 years old like my rural models :)))

For portrait : Depends what model ask you ... if he/she is client

For artistic portrait : depends of what you like

For documentary portrait : never

Well John, I worked for two weeks at a nude fashion photography studio, which was good anyway, neglecting the fact that I was surrounded by stunning women who laughed at my jokes. The models spent more time applying make-up to their faces than modelling. I don't re-call having to remove blemishes in post-processing.
In taking portraits of smelly old men on parkbenches I'd say it's your choice. If there's an stray pimple making a mockery of your art and grabbing your complete and undivided attetion, remove that little bugger!
One thing I cannot stand in all forms of portraiture though, is using noise reduction programs to create a dreamy and clean look, that is completely forbidden.

Wait, isn't that statement redundant? I guess if I worked in a place like that I'd have more important things on my mind than blemishes anyway!

=8-( )

It made school seem slightly boring...

I bet yes :)))

John,
Big smile here..when I read that line.
Acne is a medical condition and as you point out temporary. So, unless you are making a commercial for an acne medicine I would remove pimples that are unattractive......
I agree with Rui about asking the person what the outcome is that they would like to have...


Until this moment I always agreed with this statement..but now I have little doubts..nagging ones.. I agree that documentary picture should not be altered...so now I am stuck ...because I am wondering about this..IF the pimples are not part of the documentary part of the pictures...can I soften them at least:)))) I am struggling now to think of a good example and only coming up with bad ones.. Okay here is one. Lets say a school asked me to document a high school graduation for the school book. There are four girls holding up their diplomas and once the picture is taken, it will go on the school hallway walls to remain there with other photos from other years (forever). So, as I am taking the picture I notice that all the girls were beautiful, and had lovely skin.. but one poor girl age 17, is completely filled with acne..she has pimples....I can see that she is anxious about this. Do I take the picture and try to remove the pimples..because they are not part of the graduation ceremony and poor thing will have to look at them if she returns tot he school..OR do I leave them..OR do I ask her to step out of the picture? :)

This is the best example I can think of at the moment..Do I honor the documenting..of that year's graduation..or do I deal with the feelings of the girl since having acne does not influence graduation. I ask - because I think there could be many different kinds of situations like this in life and if you start to change one thing...what happens the next time?

So..I have my doubts now...What do you think Rui..Is it still never? What about her feelings?
Phyllis

I forgot to say that in this case I think I would take the pimples..out or make them less noticeable.

Phyllis, that's a good example. And, maybe part of the equation is the feelings of the model/subject. In other words, if the blemish(es) have no material effect on the image but the model/subject likely will feel some embarrassment or uneasiness, why not remove the blemish(es)? Plus, the dramatic or interesting lighting that we photographers seek out and enjoy so much can also serve to highlight blemishes which in real life are not as prominent. That's where I feel a kind of obligation to the model/subject. If I've captured this person in a way that artificially highlights things about them which may cause embarrassment then it seems only fair that I take a few moments to minimize that issue--especially if it doesn't effect the impact of my image.

Phyllis, in documental photography i defend never toutch in the photo, but i know some photographers do that and have serious ethical problems when someone note that they do manipulation.

But as i said before, if it´s portraiture photography, fashion, etc, as said john we can do some minor manipulation if model feels bather with that. Some face imperfections do not contribute for what is more important to me : character and soul and sometimes that imperfections can be ever "disturbing objects".

Somethimes we must understend when photographer enters in ridiculous, when we se some fashion portraits with faces so manipulated that looks they are dolls and are not living persons ... in that photos i see nothing.

But isn´t a problem for me, is not usual i take photos to beautifull lovely fashion models, is not my way.

By the way, is much bether solves the problem with make-up assistents ... then the imperfections disapear and the photography represents the "true" and models will be happy too ! :)) Someone will say: " ahh, but is not the true, the imperfections still there but covered with make-up" ... but is not a ethical problem for photographer, is a problem of the model that manipulate herself.

Phyllis, the specific example you give is good but somewhat ambiguous. Was the shot supposed to be really documentary or rather for portraiture purpose ?

Now I have no experience nor authority on this topic but here is my spontaneous thought:
Could it be for "good" purpose and done cautiously once you put your finger in it you never know where it ends. You may want to edit things here and here (not specifically skin blemishes) for the reason that you feel it is distracting to the main subject, or at best not relevant. But I think that a documentary shot should avoid too much subjectivity from the author. What you could think is a minor fix could impact much on how the event, image is perceived by others. As it is said "Better is Good's ennemy" (a french expression translated literally, don't know in EN).

It definitely makes sense to me.

You have truly been to heaven Alex ;-) And you got paid for it? It's all downhill from now on mate. . .

On the blemishes front. My take would be to be sensitive to the subject of the picture. "warts and all" is good as long as the subject understands that that is your approach, and why.

Jon

I tend to agree with you. Still there is that nagging question of authenticity.


What a great suggestion! That way you can have both situations. Good thinking. :))


Well, if it was just a portrait of the young women..no problem I would ask her what she wanted. I was thinking more of a photograph that the school asked for to go onto a wall in the school where alumni would/could come later to look for years..Say every year had a photograph representing the year.. Now maybe I am wrong and this is not documentary at all..not sure now.


Your point about where and when to stop is a good one..I mean while I am doing her pimples why not make her eyes a little greener? Yes..I can easily see those things happening. I was also thinking that acne is a part of teenage life and so if in the future other teenagers saw this, maybe it would have a different affect and actually help people..to know they are not alone..


Thanks Jon...I also think I would at least soften them up...a bit. :))

Much thanks to all..for your thoughts and suggestions.
Phyllis

I think like you, Robert. But i never say that in people, or my friends photographers call me fundamentalist :-)

When I am doing work for theatre or music companies I will remove the worst of any acne or pimples but that is it. I love character in faces so I would not reduce the appearance of wrinkles or freckles and if it improved the image I would definitely emphasize them. However if it is a paying client, I give them what they want.

You should be inquiring with the client, beforehand, to see if it's okay. From a business standpoint too - if you are to make these adjustments you can include it in your modifications and gain additional $$$. I wouldn't do it otherwise

I love the make up advice ! It's brilliant !
Here's maybe another idea on that particular example. You could be creative with you POv. Let's say the acne is concentrated mostly on one side of her face, you could shoot them by the opposite side, profile view. If it's mostly concentrated on the bottom, let them hold their diploma high and shoot only their happy eyes, with the arms and diplomas. Or smiles if the blemishes are on the forehead.
If really, it is all over or that it is needed to see their whole face, maybe finding a way of grouping them so that she is not the main subject. Maybe asking them to have a certain expression that would dominate conversations like... asking them to scream of joy holding their diplomas towards you ? Or to jump in the air making kung fu poses ?
This is my thought. As I am no way professional, I am as confuse as you as to clone it out or not...

or play with dramatic lighting...

(Accidental crosspost, I am sorry for the inconveinence I've caused. I'll be glad if a moderator deletes this post.)

Thumbs up in that matter. In histological photography (cell photography) there are even more rules.

What I believe is, imperfections are what makes a man unique so they ought to stay. This is just my idea though...