Diversity Through Photoshop

Posted by Alex in Politics on June 19, 2009 at 11:45 pm


Toronto’s motto is "Diversity Our Strength" which makes it kinda awkward for the City to be busted for this exercise in forced diversity: they photoshopped in (badly) a token black guy for the cover of their Spring & Summer 2009 Fun Guide!

Allison Hanes of National Post has the story:

The smiling, ethnically diverse family featured on the cover of Toronto’s latest edition of its summer Fun Guide was digitally altered to make the photo more "inclusive," which city officials say is in keeping with a policy to reflect diversity.

A spokesman for the department that publishes the guide listing recreation activities confirmed the publication was doctored to insert the face of a different father.

"He superimposed the African-Canadian person onto the family cluster in the original photo. It was two photographs and one head was superimposed over the original family photo," said John Gosgnach, communications director for the social development division.

"The goal was to depict the diversity of Toronto and its residents."

The cover shot caught the eye of a National Post graphics editor, who ran it through a program called TinEye that detects visual enhancements to standard art.

To add insult to injury, none of the people are actually Toronto residents: Link – via Torontoist


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30 comments to "Diversity Through Photoshop"

  1. Stacey
    June 20th, 2009 at 12:24 am

    Happy fathers day to the poor dude who was wiped out from his own family photo ONLY because of skin color . Ironically this was done for the purpose of diversity even though the real message is certain families are not accepted!

  2. mikos
    June 20th, 2009 at 12:59 am

    LOLs

    Go Toronto Go! :)

  3. Mouserz
    June 20th, 2009 at 1:43 am

    I still have no idea when fathers day is/was.

  4. Ali S.
    June 20th, 2009 at 1:59 am

    As a Torontonian this is just so embarrassing. *face in hands*

  5. Johnny Cat
    June 20th, 2009 at 2:32 am

    This is the first time I've ever read/heard of an "African-Canadian." I thought such politically correct verbiage like that was extinct now. Bringing up race is racist. period.

  6. Vonskippy
    June 20th, 2009 at 2:59 am

    Gosh, you mean photo's in advertisements are true?

  7. Mickey
    June 20th, 2009 at 3:41 am

    Jim Crow lives up in Canada, too?

  8. angstrom
    June 20th, 2009 at 5:50 am

    I love the nonsensical sentence : "... graphics editor, who ran it through a program called TinEye that detects visual enhancements to standard art."

    Erm, What?

    Er, that's not what it does. Tineye is a reverse image search; you point it at a picture and it finds other places on the web where that picture lives and also finds similar pictures (IE modified variants).
    http://tineye.com/

    It's very handy for photographers to see if people have used their images on websites, or stolen their images to use in ad campaigns.

  9. HersHers
    June 20th, 2009 at 6:43 am

    @angstrom

    I was just about to point that out. TinEye still doesn't work as well as I'd hope but I applaud the effort and it's a great idea.

  10. HersHers
    June 20th, 2009 at 6:50 am

    @Mickey. Yes precisely, how apt a comparison. Good job on avoiding the hyperbole and just going straight for the jugular. Photoshopping a black folk into pictures in the name of diversity and equal rights is EXACTLY like the Jim Crow laws.

  11. ted
    June 20th, 2009 at 7:10 am

    I hear this family is also appearing in Czech bakeries.

    "African-Canadian"? That is an odd phrase.

  12. Mytake
    June 20th, 2009 at 8:39 am

    Grotesque photoshop hackjob and immoral decision in the name of some PC nonsense. The worst thing is, the altered pic can actually reinforce some prejudices as it makes it look as if the black guy were some leering pervert ogling the woman in a completely inappropriate and disturbing way for that context.

  13. Don Newbury
    June 20th, 2009 at 9:32 am

    Am I crazy or is the man in the left picture (the 'before' one) a man of color to begin with? He sure looks it to me. If that is the case, then why did they bother?

  14. skidworth
    June 20th, 2009 at 10:30 am

    i just don't get the forced diversity thing....i say let each be it's way. i don't force my issue yet i respect your issue and i expect the same in return. according to a number line +5 and -5 equal 10 units but the value equals zero. therefore, diversity has quantity without value. the mutual respsct cancels each other out to settle the argument.

  15. Canned Nook
    June 20th, 2009 at 10:30 am

    Offensive. 'Canadian' is one more syllable than 'retarded'.

  16. Oscar Zoroaster
    June 20th, 2009 at 10:50 am

    Looks like photoshopped photo bombing.

    Is this where my property taxes go? We now pay a service charge for garbage pick up, yet a garbage strike looms. Wonderful

  17. babs
    June 20th, 2009 at 12:17 pm

    Saw this on 4chan AGES ago...annoyed me then, annoys me now =/

  18. D Bozko
    June 20th, 2009 at 1:09 pm

    "The goal was to depict the diversity of Toronto and its residents." FAIL!
    "...none of these people are actually Toronto residents." FAIL!

    You mean to tell me that in the whole of Toronto they couldn't find the diversity they were looking for? Shame on everybody involved for being lazy and stupid.

  19. Tim Giachetti
    June 20th, 2009 at 1:25 pm

    "You got African in my Mexican!!!"

    No, you got Mexican in my African."

    And thus, a new canadian ethnic flavorful friendship began.

  20. Noelegy
    June 20th, 2009 at 1:43 pm

    Not only is the thinking that went into this offensive, it's not even good Photoshopping. Exquisite FAIL.

  21. emmakate
    June 20th, 2009 at 1:57 pm

    I saw this on PhotoshopDisasters! The comments there are funnier than the picture!

  22. Ray
    June 20th, 2009 at 2:55 pm

    I like the way the black guy is leering at the woman.

  23. dutchboy
    June 20th, 2009 at 3:37 pm

    Could'nt they just find a picture with a black guy in it, the sanctimoniousness just shines forth here, some do-gooder trying to make the world a better place.

  24. heather
    June 20th, 2009 at 7:09 pm

    Did anyone else see the hand at the left of the photo? They tinted it black to make it look like the man was hugging the whole group. He must be Mr. Stretchy for that to happen. That is HER hand not his. Too funny that they don't even make it look good. Sad.

  25. sc0tty
    June 20th, 2009 at 8:34 pm

    As a photoshopper I am embarassed and ashamed.

  26. Mitch
    June 20th, 2009 at 8:52 pm

    I really don't care. It looks like a matter of making
    do with a photo that 'almost' worked on a tight schedule
    with a small budget. I love the look in the guy's
    eyes.

  27. D Bozko
    June 21st, 2009 at 11:10 am

    Great catch heather. I missed that but since you pointed it out it makes it even worse on their part.

  28. Iru
    June 22nd, 2009 at 5:44 am

    LOL
    Remind me of the american tv series: the more you approach to the 2000 decade, the more likely you'll find:
    one asian, one hispanic, one black, and lately, one arabic.

  29. AustinGal
    June 22nd, 2009 at 10:15 am

    My client: "This image would be great except that the girl should be Hispanic, not white. You can change that, right?"

    Me: "Sure, I'll just hit the 'Hispanic' button in Photoshop. It's right next to the 'Asian' button, right above the 'Blonde' button."

    True story. Sad.

    I'm keeping this photo example in my arsenal, for the next time a client asks!

  30. Trent
    June 23rd, 2009 at 11:55 am

    I'm actually more concerned about the extra piece of arm they 'shopped onto the little kid. It sets the bar for 'unnatural angle.'


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