Royal Photo Controversy:
SO WHAT ARE YOUR VIEWS on the Royal photo published by the Princess of Wales for Mother’s Day? Several news agencies killed it for having been manipulated. Documentary photography seeks to represent actual daily life and deepen our thinking. It does play a role in influencing our opinions. To remove or add elements to a documentary photo is construed as trying to manipulate the emotions and therefore the opinions of the viewer.
A few Hedon Viewfinders Photography Club members had an online chat about the photo on their WhatsApp group.
They concurred with the view that the photo had been manipulated. Are parts of Princess Charlotte’s wrist and cardigan sleeve missing? Do Prince Louis’ hands look right? What about the lack of rings on Catherine’s hand? Should that tree in the background have leaves like that in mid-March? However, the most popular viewpoint was “Does it matter?”
The Prince and Princess of Wales released the photo as a celebratory photograph with the message “Thank you for your kind wishes and continued support over the last two months. Wishing everyone a Happy Mother’s Day. C The Prince of Wales, 2024.”
The photo it was later confirmed, had been edited by Catherine herself. The Princess is a keen amateur photographer and since June 2019 became the Patron of the Royal Photographic Society taking over from Queen Elizabeth II. So it is probably not surprising that she played a role in producing the image. With the editing packages available to all photographers these days, the ability to merge and blend a series of photos to achieve the best possible single image, is now easily achieved. A subject with previously blinking eyes can have them opened. A person who does not appear clearly in a group shot at a wedding can be made clearer. A potential souvenir photo that hasn’t been exposed correctly can now be salvaged.
‘The camera never lies’ is a popular phrase but far from the truth, especially in the days when artificial intelligence has become a part of the photographer’s editing options. However, in the case of documentary photos then the maxim ‘never lies’ should indeed be adhered to by editors. But in the case of the Royal photo, then is it a documentary photo at all? As a family portrait released by the family itself, should it be subject to documentary standards?
Photo: Media release by Kensington Palace.
