While digital photography and technology are here to stay, TRUST is the one thing of utmost importance for news/media companies to maintain as we enter a new world of Deepfakes.
[Deepfakes (a portmanteau of “deep learning” and “fake”) are synthetic media in which a person in an existing image or video is replaced with someone else’s likeness.]
From Forbes: Deepfakes are Going to Wreak Havoc on Society–We are Not Prepared [https://www.forbes.com/sites/robtoews/2020/05/25/deepfakes-are-going-to-wreak-havoc-on-society-we-are-not-prepared/#2f36abef7494]
One of the ways FILM PHOTOGRAPHY has an advantage is that while photo editing and manipulation has always been possible, film imparts a sense of authenticity about the subject. Film gives some reassurance that there is TRUTH in the image, especially if a negative can be shown to exist.
Which is why we might be seeing more FILM SHOOTS going forward for editorial photography assignments. The news media only has TRUST to go on to maintain an audience. Once that’s gone, that’s not easily regained.
We trust this image from the FSA PHOTOGRAPHY COLLECTION, that it depicts the scene as it actually was of a U.S. President visiting the Dust Bowl region of America.
And this one. These images can be trusted.
