This video about before/after photos isn't really surprising – we all know that photos are manipulated for magazine covers, articles, and ads. But it still kinda stopped me in my tracks.
I stopped using magazine photos as a yardstick for my success about 12 years ago when I saw a documentary that explained how a photo of Gabrielle Reece was modified for a Shape cover.
Gabrielle Reece. She of the non-stop legs, the six-pack abs, and flowing mermaid-hair.
They'd tacked a photo of her on the wall and drawn red lines with a Sharpie wherthey "needed" to slim her hips, thighs, shoulders, and waist. They'd dissected her like an old-time meat chart.
Seriously.
Gabrielle Reece.
That was the day I stopped reading "fitness" magazines and started looking inward to find my ideal body. Which, as it turns out, is the one I have right now.
It hasn't reached it's leanest state yet, but it's strong and shapely, 100% real, and 100% mine. No Photoshop or spray-tan necessary. That's about as perfect as I need to be.
[Thanks to Sociological Images for sharing the video.]
Of course, the Google images page that comes up when you click on Gabrielle Reece are mostly all Photoshopped.
ReplyDeleteOh, irony. *sigh*
This blew my mind. Bastards.
ReplyDeleteknew they did this...but HOLY COW...and Gabrielle...really? Thanks for posting...
ReplyDeleteLove the video. I've always thought those ads were funny. So if I take that diet pill then I will all of a sudden be tan, have a make up and hair stylist and my entire life will have better lighting.
ReplyDeleteThe part that really got me was the drawing on of the abs. Let me get this straight: almost NO ONE actually looks like the photos that are shoved at us everyday. Why not just hire artists to create all the images from scratch and drop the charade?!
ReplyDeleteI really liked Bigger Stronger Faster. Very good documentary.
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