09/15/2008
Photographer Ambushes McCain with Photoshopped Outtakes
Photographer Jill Greenberg, a shooter known for her efforts in retouching and Photoshop, was commissioned by The Atlantic to do a cover shoot for its October 2008 issue featuring the Republican presidential nominee John McCain.
The outtakes from the shoot, one of which you can see AFTER THE JUMP, have quickly spread around the internet and earned Greenberg condemnation from the Atlantic's editor and the writer of the matching article.
Said editor James Bennet: "We stand by the respectful image of John McCain that we used on our cover, and we expect to be judged by it. We were not aware of the manipulated and dishonest images Jill Greenberg had taken until this past Friday. When we contract with photographers for portraits, we don't vet them for their politics--instead, we assess their professional track records. Based on the portraits she had done of politicians like Arnold Schwarzenegger and her work for publications like Time, Wired, and Portfolio, we expected Jill Greenberg, like the other photographers we work with, to behave professionally. Jill Greenberg has obviously not done that. She has, in fact, disgraced herself, and we are appalled by the manipulated images she has created for her Web site of John McCain."
The writer of the article on McCain slammed Greenberg as "juvenile" and "repulsive" saying he was "appalled" by her actions.
As Jockohomo notes, it's not the first time photos have been doctored in such ways. And certainly not the first magazine cover controversy of the season.
One of Greenberg's images, AFTER THE JUMP...
The other images are at Greenberg's site.
Posted 9:23 AM EST by Andy Towle in Art & Design, Election 2008, Magazines, News, Photography, Poland | Permalink
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Any time we give the Reps. something to talk about other than the issues, we lose.
Posted by: Scott B. | Sep 15, 2008 11:21:02 AM
I'm wondering how all of you who don't see this as a big deal if the tables were turned on Mr. Obama. How about a picture of him pointing but photo shopped holding a lantern looking like a lawn jockey.
Or better yet sitting on a porch with a banjo looking like uncle Tom while the rest of the slaves work in the field.
It's satire when it's satire but this is not really satire. Satire would be a picture of John McCain staring at a computer talking to it or putting lipstick on Palin. Now that would be satire. this will boil down to nothing. The photog is a hero to the liberal art world anyway.
Posted by: Las VEgas | Sep 15, 2008 11:27:31 AM
It looks like he got ahold of The Queen's tampon.
Posted by: MAJeff | Sep 15, 2008 11:33:36 AM
McCrazy's handlers have to be really fucking stupid to watch him get photographed, underlit, against a dark background.
He deserves it.
Who knows. Maybe he'll die before the elections and then we'll see if sarah palin is really fit to be President Hockey Mom.
Posted by: Patent Leather Pussycat | Sep 15, 2008 11:46:19 AM
MAJEFF,
that comment was hilarious.
LAS VEGAS,
the Republicans are doing the "lawn jockey" bit with Barack. They started it weeks ago. Right now they're doing an Aunt Jemima/Uncle Ben type "take off". Only the Republicans' attacks don't mention policy, just old racist images. This liberal photographer is saying that McCain is a warmonger.
As much as I don't like McCain (anymore) and hate Palin, I don't really like the "blood-thirsty" photograph. It shouldn't be for the general public to see-just for us lefties.
Posted by: Derrick from Philly | Sep 15, 2008 11:55:54 AM
OK, it was unprofessional of the photographer to create this. Look, she took an assignment for pay and used the work product to create these pictures. That's unethical.
Had she taken different photos not paid for by the Atlantic then she would be fine to create these photos.
Frankly, I was expecting to see untouched photos not this horrific image.
So, I agree with the editors of the Atlantic.
P.S.
Don't blame "far-left" Democrats for the action of one person. That's just as inappropriate.
Posted by: noah | Sep 15, 2008 12:00:47 PM
LOL MAJEFF: Exactly. Wonder what La Palin's role in this was?
I get your point LV, but your examples aren't quite parallel. Those are obviously racist, this is--I'm not even sure what this is, besides rather gross. It would be a big deal if The Atlantic put it on the cover, but they didn't. It's one artist's questionable response to her corporate cover shoot assignment.
Posted by: Ernie | Sep 15, 2008 12:03:44 PM
The one they actually used on the cover looks creepy too.
Posted by: Ron | Sep 15, 2008 12:05:20 PM
Las Vegas, as Derrick points out, the Republicans -- or rather our favorite FRC -- have done the Aunt Jemima bit:
http://www.obamawaffles.com/
"Or better yet sitting on a porch with a banjo looking like uncle Tom while the rest of the slaves work in the field."
That would be a great photo for the Log Cabin Republicans!
Posted by: Kevinvt | Sep 15, 2008 12:10:23 PM
I see NO problem with the pic...it is NOT like it was put on the cover..its her own wrk for her own use...and anyways IF McCain wins - he will SUCK the Remaining Life out of what is Left of America! (as an earlier poster said..the pic of the OBAMA's as Terorist was Insulting,and THAT WAS on the cover)
Posted by: Disgusted American | Sep 15, 2008 12:48:46 PM
MAJEFF wins the thread!
Posted by: 24play | Sep 15, 2008 12:53:24 PM
Just one more reason for the Democrats to be demonized for associating with such a stupid moron. When will we get credible people making credible statements to combat the Republicans???? Instead we get morons, anarchists and the Daily Kooks crowd who are saying things that are causing an instant reaction with the Republicans gaining in the polls.
Posted by: Obama | Sep 15, 2008 1:20:31 PM
Good for her... she made a point of pointing out evil.
Posted by: Mr. McGinnis | Sep 15, 2008 1:38:45 PM
Personal expression is a crime against obsequiousness. It must be stamped out. The fate of American hegemony depends upon it.
VOTE McSame 2008!
Posted by: Gil | Sep 15, 2008 2:06:23 PM
Can you say lawsuit? He posed willingly for those photos and she took them and did something altogether with them. That's really unprofessional. Is it worth sacrificing your career for a vulgar political statement?
Posted by: Amy | Sep 15, 2008 2:26:34 PM
I think of this stunt EXACTLY what I think of the "Obama Waffles" idiocy.
Haters are haters. Vile nasty people are vile nasty people.
And those who are driven entirely by "camp mentality" will always forgive inappropriate behavior by those in their camp and decry the identical thing in those in the other camp.
Posted by: Timothy | Sep 15, 2008 5:13:00 PM
Obama was right. Despite the lipstick....still a pig. ;-)
Posted by: Angel | Sep 15, 2008 5:34:37 PM
Apparently Greenberg had no legal rights to do what she did to her photographs according to the contract she had with the Atlanta. They are not going to pay her and are pursuing a lawsuit....
http://www.timesoftheinternet.com/2336.html
Posted by: Patrick | Sep 15, 2008 6:07:35 PM
All this bitching has done (the story not the thread) is made the issue large, and the images more desirable! They are great. I was unaware of them until this became a "story." THANKS ATLANTIC you idiots. I am E-Mailing them to friends as I type.
Posted by: JamesR | Sep 15, 2008 7:44:03 PM
Oh... who gives a flying fuck? I thought she added the jowls and the turkey neck thing to the pic on the cover and made him look like he was about to die... but that is just how he looks...
Posted by: Brian Keith | Sep 15, 2008 10:56:18 PM