919. Why does the public increasingly assume that impressive photographs have been “Doctored or aigmented unless explained otherwise”?

Because people expect that a “non-news” photographer will improve a photograph’s appearance in every possible way that cannot be detected by viewers.

That expectation is nothing new:

For almost 200 years viewers have assumed that “impressive photographs put before the public” outside of news settings have been enhanced in every way possible that doesn’t make the photo look less convincing.

It’s the capabilities that are new:

Back in the film era (19th and 20th centuries), it was very difficult to doctor a photograph without making it look less convincing.

But now, in the digital era, photographers suddenly have many “toolboxes” full of ways to doctor a photograph without making it look less convincing, from Photoshop to phone apps to AI-GC. (See for example #307.)

That’s why TTG helps to “level the playing field”

. . . between photographers who optimize “appearance” (by doctoring and aigmenting photos)

vs. photographers who optimize “trustworthiness” (by not doctoring or aigmenting photos).

More on that choice