Digital imaging

Today we will explore digital imaging; this will include examples used daily and some in occupational therapy. The ethics in the sharing of digital images will also be discussed.

Some of the hardware that I know and use often is digital cameras, camera on a cell phone and video camera; once images are taken they are generally uploaded onto a computer or saved to hard drive/USB stick. Once these photos are stored software comes into play. Software can be used to manipulate images; this could be by removing redeye, cropping pictures (cutting out bits), zooming and rotating images. The software that can be used is photo shop for Mac’s and usually windows media player /live photo gallery for PC’s, however there is also free software downloads or products to be bought.

“A new technology is rarely superior to an old one in every feature”

This statement in relation to digital camera’s isn’t necessarily true, the evolution from old film camera’s to digital has changed photography. Now camera’s can take 60 still images per second and having much higher megapixels improves the quality and zoom of pictures taken. A photo that would have previously taken 5 minutes just to put in to focus can now be taken by an automatic function on a digital camera. Cameras have not only changed simplicity but in price and size too. The price range for digital camera pricing could be anywhere between $95 to $3000 depending on the specialties it will be used for.

Cameras becoming more compact has enabled us to both carry around easily and also put them into other devices like cell phones, iPods and of course computers in the form of web cams.

How far we have come:

From this

 To this

 

Now this

It goes without saying that with the development of digital cameras there have to be some negatives. Firstly with the introduction of the digital images we lose the old fashion occupation of film photography, which took more skill and knowledge than point and shoot. Other issues that rise with digital images is the ease for others to retrieve them, what was once pictures for only close family to see can then be viewed by the world, on the world wide web. This new technology brings with it dangers and touchy ethical issues.

Ethics

The digital camera age, enables people to take photos in subtle or even unnoticeable ways, meaning larger amounts of photos are being taken and spread over the internet without those in the pictures even knowing about it let alone giving consent. Once these pictures are uploaded on to the web anyone in the world can see them,  the people who took the pictures are no longer in control over who can see the images and those in them never had a chance or choice to be in control over the  images.

The invention and updating of software to facilitate the manipulating of images also arises more ethical issues. This new development means that others can change delete or add to images creating fake photographs this is referred to by most as photo-shopping and it  is becoming  increasingly hard to detect. This tactic is used often to change skin tone, fill in blemishes on celebrity’s skin but it is not always used in a positive way. The media is frequently caught out with their manipulating of images. Following is a hyperlink to an interesting website showing some of the most evident changes some media corporations have made to digital images of celebrities. But we must remember that this could easily be happening to “normal or average” individuals as well.

http://www.yourcover.com/Articles/Most-Blatant-Uses-of-Photoshop-in-Magazines-Ads/

Digital images are a useful tool used in occupational therapy, a very effective way in which they are used is with non-verbal communicators, digital images can become a communication device where the client can  just point or look to images of what they want / need.

Also clients with deteriorating verbal communication skills can make talking photo albums where they insert photos and record their voice telling stories about each photo. These could be recorded by others as well if completely non-verbal.    

The use of photography could be an interesting  occupation to run groups around, leaving art and craft groups behind and moving forward to the technological art.

Photo diaries or blogs can be a tool to communicate with the client’s support systems at home e.g. parents. Digital images can show what a client is doing and their progress during sessions with the occupational therapist.   

References

Your cover. (n.d.). Most blatant uses of photoshop in magazines and Ads. Retrieved 3/04/11 at (http://www.yourcover.com/Articles/Most-Blatant-Uses-of-Photoshop-in-Magazines-Ads/)