"Models are not as hot as they seem."

[Maddy McCall]

Y'all, check out this post on the new HuffingtonPost today. It's by Jonah Paretti, a photo retoucher who has made many an average woman look stunning for magazine covers.

Be sure to check out the "this woman" links to his blog, in which he shows original photos as opposed to the ones after he had done the work on them. Let the photos load, and then roll over them to see what the women looked like before he worked on the photo.

The woman in the blue bikini doesn't even look like herself when he's finished.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/theblog/archive/2005/05/models-are-not-.html

[redqueen]

1. I just hope people realize what they see in pictures is FANTASY.

Unfortunately, based on stuff I hear people say, I'm starting to think they don't get that the perfect look is not grounded in reality.

[enigmatic]

4. I hope PEOPLE realize what they see in pictures is fantasy.

Because there as many women out there lusting after Tom Cruise who think he's 6'2 w/ perfect skin and teeth, not 5'7 and w/ airbudshed skin and caps.

edit: there's a reson people call me "Mr.Typo"...

[redqueen]

5. hehe

Yeah, I realized my mistake... and changed it.

However, you must admit the whole fixation on appearance seems to be more of a male than a female thing.

[Maddy McCall]

8. Like I said in the post below....

this kind of fantasy imagery is most detrimental to little girls. :(

[redqueen]

10. Don't I know it.

Have had bouts with bulimia, sister with anorexia.

Oh yeah... I know.

[Bunny]

2. That is really weird.

It's amazing what a difference that touching-up can make!

[Maddy McCall]

7. Did you see the difference in her pores, before and after?

The woman in the bikini...she had huge facial pores before, and no trace of them after.

Amazing.

[SheepyMcSheepster]

3. wow, he even changed the shape of her head

i like how the pupils are much more dilated as well.

people should see more of this stuff, it really is sickening that people compare themselves to these manufactured images.

[Maddy McCall]

6. Yep. Many a little girl is bulimic or anorexic because of these images.

[Wapsie B]

9. Talk about air-brushed beauties.

I've seen similar articles in magazines showing Hollywood actors and actresses without their makeup. Quite revealing.

[mac56]

11. She's more attractive in the "before" shot.

I'm just saying.

[gollygee]

12. I agree - and why did they mess with her belly button?

what was wrong with her belly button? How odd.

And why did they turn the blonde woman into a conehead?

[SoCalDem]

13. Our "lizard brain" parts look for the perfection parts

ad people know this:(

[DS1]

14. I think the 'before' picture has been modified to really bring out her

pores and baggy eyes. No makeup artist in their right mind would send her out looking like that, and no photographer worth his/her money would use a flash that did nothing but give her a Time Magazine OJ Simpson effect.

[girl gone mad]

16. THey would if they knew it was just going to be re-touched

Re-touching is so common. It's really a shame.

[newfaceinhell]

15. the blonde woman looks attractive in the before shot

and kind of creepy in the after shot...

[medeak]

17. anyone in Manhatten seen real models?

Lordy it's scary! Not attractive at all. Watched an Italian Vogue shoot and oh my lord...they were the most unattractive bags of bones I've ever seen.

[cestpaspossible]

18. No shit, someone tell Elle Macpherson to stop stalking me!