When a celebrity like, say, Beyoncé or Kim Kardashian posts a candid photo or a selfie to Instagram, they want us to believe that the image is 100 percent real. The appeal of celebrity Intragram pics is that they show the beautiful and the glamorous in their “real” lives, behind the scenes.
That way, they let us know that even when the spotlight isn’t shining, they’re still much more beautiful and glamorous than average, everyday folks.
Or are they?
The reality is, even when Kim Kardsahian snaps a selfie on her iPhone, chances are pretty good that the photo has been digitally altered before it goes up on line. Kim doesn’t have to be some Photoshop master to make that happen. There are plenty of easy-to-use iPhone apps that accomplish the same thing with just a few taps of the screen.
Maybe that’s what Kanye West was talking about when he commented “ no Photoshop necessary ” on a recent selfie posted by his betrothed, Kim Kardshian.
Beyoncé, too, has been accused repeatedly of Photoshopping her Instagram shots.
And if you don’t believe it, spend a couple of minutes with this video from our digitally savvy pals at BuzzFeed . In one short mini-documentary, they’ll show you exactly how the stars make themselves look thinner and, well, thinner by using some simple digital enhancements to their Instagram posts.
So next time you see a perfect-looking shot of Beyoncé or Kim Kardashian or any celeb in what looks like an impromptu selfie, remember, thanks to Photoshop,the camera definitely lies.
