Review 3 Photography as a Weapon (Errol Morris, New York Times)

Errol raise the question "How reliable are photographs at portraying the truth"? Images of historical events speak volumes to the viewer about events, but what the photo is portraying can be completely different from the image one has perceived. Digital photography fraud is not a new concept, by the manipulation of photography has become much more high-tech. Technology and computer programs allows for a photograph to be digitally enhanced. 

Farid points out in this article that once and image has been viewed by the human eye the brain automatically embeds this image and it is used to recall the whole of an entire event. The photography is just a small portion or a faction of the larger event and the events purpose and outcome. When one falsifies a photography and displays the image for public purpose this is the image that is embedded, once the truth is revealed that the photo had been tampered with  it is hard to erase the image that has already been recored. The stigma attached to the fraudulent photo is often disassociated with the image in the long run.

The image in quest in this article is of four missiles  being fired from Iranian military forces. This photograph was posted in various American newspapers for the public to view. The problem with the image is that in actuality only three missiles  launched. The photograph source of origin was from Iran. This manipulated image portrays to the American audience viewing the photograph "Iran is building a fierce military force". This photograph strengthens the message that Iranian forces to sending the rest of the world. 

Long before technology photography was manipulated through the text attached to the image. The media thrives on this method of psychologically manipulating its audience. John Heartfield realized early on during  WWI that the public was being sold a war through propaganda. He chose to enlighten the public about the very fact that what they where being sold through images was not what it appeared to be. A war was being sold that was already lost, it was thriving on the ignorance of the people and the images that they believed told the true story. Heartfied took the manipulated images and turned them into truths. 

This article helps to put in perspective of how to process a photograph as a whole. By stopping and questioning   photographs and the  incorporated text, we can connect the truths that are being exaggerated  for the the sole purpose of manipulating society.