It’s hard to really be sure, but the dumbest issue among the many dumb issues to emerge from this election season is the question of whether it was disrespectful of Newsweek to put an unretouched photo of Sarah Palin on the cover because it exposed all her flaws.
That’s an easy one: Newsweek does journalism. They’re not supposed to retouch any of the photos. Besides, have you ever heard anyone suggest that they should retouch the photos of the men they put on the cover?
Nevertheless, I took mouse in hand and made an attempt. Here’s before-and-after: (click to enlarge)
Even discounting my meager photoshop skills, it’s not much of an improvement because the base photo doesn’t need much improvement. It’s well-posed and well-lit. If Palin gets a book deal, it would make a great cover.
Update: Want more? Let me soften the hell out of her nasal-labial fold, thin her nose, raise her cheekbones, remove the sneer, and sharpen the smile: (click to enlarge)
Update: Sarah visits the uncanny valley.
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