1. The main differences and similarities between art and press photography;

Both press and art photography capture photographs in order to tell a story or convey their message. They require a person who is creative and has a good eye in order to visually explain or show what they are trying to convey through their photograph. Though there are some main similarities regarding creativity, they both have different purposes. Press photographers take photographs for a specific purpose. They usually work for magazines or newspapers and their pictures are focused on a current event, to record news or to tell a story. Press photography is also used as visual support along with wording to explain a photograph in order to suggest a story or document an event. As for art photography, it is based solely on the creative vision of a photographer.It is more of an expression of vision of the person behind the lens.

2. Is it ethical and acceptable to alter art photographs? Why? Why not?

Yes, today photo manipulation has become a second process in art photography."The first photo manipulations were done shortly after the invention of photography" ( Shooting the truth: How photographs in the media betray us by Gordana Iceveska p 18-19).Digital editing and photo retouching is used to further achieve the creative process of a fine art photographer. This process is widely practiced and ethical in this type of photography because art is based on the creativity and imagination of the person who is capturing the photo. It also combines art and photography which allows it to be called "art". The influence of painting on photographs has been present since the invention of photography. The two techniques combined prove that photography is art (shotting the truth:How Photographs in the media betray us by Gordana Iceveska p18-19)That person has the right to enhance or manipulate the photograph because they are telling their own story, not someone else's." 

3. Is it ethical and acceptable to alter press photographs? Why? Why not?

When it comes to press photography, it is unethical to alter photographs. Press photographers capture images that need to speak truth and show, more descriptively, what is going on in real life. The public depend on the photographers honesty to get the truest image to what has been written along with the photo. The image acts as support to true events and allows readers to feel a connection with the situation and try to experience it through the photograph. "Photojournalism is the art of capturing moments in time so the next generation can learn" ( Ethics in photojournalism; http://hubpages.com/hub/Ethics-in-Photojournalism).If each photojournalist decided to tweak their own picture, consumers would not know which one is closest to the truth. Keeping the photographs authentic allows the photographers to remain credible to the public which is what a press photographer needs in order to remain working. 

                               Mark Condren- Sunday Tribune - a man standing at the ruin of a church after the earthquake struck inHaiti . Jan 26/2010