Microsoft Cloud: Would you cut and paste kids’ heads for the perfect photo?
We all know it is extremely difficult to get one good photo of all your kids. Invariably someone is making a face or looking the wrong way. But would you go as far as to cut and paste heads on from other photos to make one perfect shot?
Microsoft is marketing on their Windows 7 an editing system where you can cut good poses off of one picture and paste them onto another photo. (Abobe Photoshop has let you do that for years but the Cloud program looks pretty-idiot proof and doesn’t seem to require much training.)
But as frustrating as it is to get everyone pointed in the same direction and smiling, is it honest and representative of family life to cut and paste them into submission? Are imperfect photos what family life is really about?
How much correcting is too much correcting? What are you willing to change on photos – edit out red eye or a boo-boo? Slim your hips? Change heads? Swap out a wife or husband?
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67 comments Add your comment
Jeff
October 27th, 2010
12:46 pm
Damn FCM. Actually, I was thinking along the same lines but didn’t want to go that deep on the mom/wife-insult issue given the dynamics of the blog. Thanks for reading my mind. But don’t repeat what I was thinking at lunch please.
FCM
October 27th, 2010
12:56 pm
JJ you’re correct on all accounts….it was meant to be funny and it was about the commercial family. It in no way depicts my family since…I never had a dog…my parents have though, my husband did run off but with his HS Sweetheart–and that was YEARS ago…I have no sons. My DAUGHTERS are not teens and do not have cell phones. MOM has been holding her own in the workworld for um a long time now, and had never had the desire to be a PTA chair. And LAST: I can attest to the fight before every single “posed” photo we ever took and everyone of them has had flaws to it….the most recent was the one we did with my parents and brother…if you look close Grandpa is tightly holding the hands of my children to make them behave. If you look at the photos of my family while growing up you will see that none of us ever consulted anyone on what we would wear…nobody matches and in fact they clash. One of my favorites: Mom in a striped shirt with 7 drawfs on it, Dad in plaid shirt…it looks TERRIBLE next to each other…when I said why would you do that they BOTH replied “The shirts main color is blue what do you mean they don’t match”
FCM
October 27th, 2010
12:57 pm
awwwww Jeff a good bodice ripper story is good read! ;)
Kat
October 27th, 2010
1:14 pm
In my wedding album 10 years ago, I did change out my sister-in-law’s head from one picture from another where her eyes were closed. She appreciated it, and so did I!
When taking my children’s pictures – in the local baby store – I was asked if I wanted them to “clean up” one of my kid’s boo-boos (in the middle of her forehead). She was surprised when I said no to the offer. I said that that was what my then three-year-old looked like at that point in time. Warts and all – kids are not perfect!
1911A1
October 27th, 2010
1:16 pm
In sociological terms those posed, fake pictures to make everyone appear “perfect” is called impression management.
What I personally despise are the vinyl, stick-figure “happy family” stickers on all those vehicle back windows. How about a little reality? Say Dad with a whiskey bottle, Mom weighing 200+ pounds, Junior with a can of spray paint and Darling Daughter pregnant?
Truth is, I may hate those stickers…but I wish I had thought of them.
JJ
October 27th, 2010
1:30 pm
1911A1 – I hate those damn things too…..Who cares if you have 4 kids and 6 animals. And what’s up with putting your initials in the back window? You know, those pink letters…WTF???
But then again, I hate bumper stickers. The only thing I have ever put on the outside of my vehicle is that yellow ribbon for our troops and a few American Flags right after 9/11..
shaggy
October 27th, 2010
1:49 pm
FCM – LMAO
I thought stuff like that only happened in MY neighborhood. I know those people, call that same ex-couple “friends” and know “Bill” too. I even helped her look for the dog. Smart dog. LOL!
Mrs. G
October 27th, 2010
2:40 pm
Ooo…so, my post that never posted earlier? I have this neurotic habit of copying things before I post them (it’s so much of a habit that I forgot I did it, LOL…it’s just like I automatically lock the car door right before I shut it, as I’m getting out. My hubby always uses his remote thing to lock it and seems surprised that that’s not how I do my locking – when I’m the driver, he’ll ask me if I locked the car doors as we’re walking away from the car and I’ll be like, “Did it as I got out!”). Anyways, went off on a tangent there. ;) My post:
Those of you that are for the Christmas letters – you make a good point…it is cool to hear what former neighbors or classmates or whomever are up to. I’ll admit that. In my previous post, I didn’t mention that I love to sort through the Christmas cards/letters, taking the ones that I’m really interested in, and reading them by the fire. My parents get a Christmas letter every year from my first grade crush’s family (it always includes pictures and he’s just as cute as he was when he was 7…haha!). And their letters are always informative and fun.
My problem is with the letters that are clearly written with the intent of bragging and showing off. The mother of a girl who I have known since kindergarten writes letters that are so over-the-top it’s ridiculous (one of her letters is what prompted the parody letter that we wrote). Her daughter is apparently the best thing since sliced bread (she writes a lot less about her son than she does her daughter, even though he is a great and successful guy…favoritism much?). I love my friend, but I can’t stand the tone of her mom’s letters (which is why my mom and I have a field day when they arrive). My friend got engaged this year and we can’t wait to see what her mom writes about that… (JJ – I think that this lady’s letters are very similar to the “Jessica Update,” as they are usual multiple pages in length, photocopied, and mainly about my 27-year-old friend…just with a small paragraph or two about their son added in).
Michelle
October 27th, 2010
3:50 pm
MJG…they don’t have to come to podunk land…I can come to the Mall area! I don’t mind driving! ;o)
motherjanegoose
October 27th, 2010
5:01 pm
Shaggy…you have surfaced…catlady and I want to know about your phone book project…please let us know!
@Michelle, when we moved to the Mall area, THAT was podunk land…Everyone asked me if I came ITP to eat dinner out…LOL. DB might come~! Becky is on the other side of podunk outside the perimeter and catlady is on the dirt roads….LOL! I’ll join you wherever you want to meet! As I have done with them too!
who knows....
October 27th, 2010
5:12 pm
MJG why do you harp Shaggy’s experiment? It is worse than a dog with a bone.
shaggy
October 27th, 2010
6:20 pm
MJG,
Haven’t forgot. I just have to have the right subject and have been busy looking for that lady’s dog. Stay tuned.
Plus, I have been climbing in NC…mostly in flip flops.
shaggy
October 27th, 2010
6:23 pm
What’s with that “who knows” moron? Is that their way of appearing intelligent? Sad.
Light
October 27th, 2010
6:43 pm
Let GOD will be done thru this blog http://lightoftheearth.blogspot.com/ blog
motherjanegoose
October 27th, 2010
9:30 pm
@shaggy, well at least the weather had been nice. Do we need to let someone know that NOVEMBER is right around the corner and it is stil 80 degrees in Atlanta?
DB
October 27th, 2010
9:56 pm
@MJG: Lunch? Did someone say lunch? :-)
motherjanegoose
October 28th, 2010
8:13 am
I think Michelle needs to meet for dinner. I can do either but am in hotels for the next 10 days. I will give you a call.