(From Chapter 8 of the DoD Visual Information Style Guide [VISG], Sept. 25, 2017)

The Department of Defense (DoD), primarily DoD military, civilian and contractor personnel who produce, edit or release visual information (VI), must maintain complete credibility when presenting DoD VI as fact. All personnel involved in the creation of DoD VI shall ensure it meets or exceeds the highest ethical standards followed by the DoD and the news industry.

As visual information technology continues to advance, it is imperative DoD photographers maintain integrity by presenting VI accurately depicting a scene and subject as originally recorded by the camera. Photographers must acknowledge any manipulations beyond standard preparation of visual information for publication (e.g., other than basic correction of color, brightness and contrast, and judicious cropping that does not alter the context or meaning of the camera original).

DoD Instruction 5040.02, Enclosure 10, Section 4 states, in part, “The undisclosed modification or enhancement of official DoD imagery by persons acting for or on behalf of the DoD is prohibited. Any and all image modification or enhancement for any purpose must be disclosed in the caption data so that the image does not mislead or deceive.”

In this chapter, the differences between photos, photo illustrations and prohibited alterations will be outlined. Note the only two permissible categories for still photography in caption credits are ‘photo’ and ‘photo illustration’ (See Chapter 3 of the VISG, under Photographer's Credit).

Superimposed elements

{caption text.} (U.S. Air Force photo illustration by Senior Airman John Bainter) (An image of the American flag was added into this photo)

Photo illustrations are images that have been manipulated beyond minimal corrections as described above, or were entirely staged by a photographer. Such visual information can be used with proper disclosure – for aesthetic, creative, artistic or other purposes such as highlighting a theme or illustrating a feature story.

Photo illustrations also include images that have been retouched, filtered or are manipulated in any other way. Images that are stitched together or contain cutouts, collages, panoramas, vignetting, multiple exposures (including High Dynamic Range techniques) or any added text or graphics are considered photo illustrations. The digital movement, addition or subtraction of any content or elements within an image used for illustrative purposes must be fully disclosed. Computer-generated artwork is always considered a photo illustration.

The conversion of an original color photograph or video to black-and-white, or to isolate one color, before submission to DVIDS or DIMOC, requires disclosure as an illustration. Similarly, cropping a photo in such a way as to alter the original context of what was captured should be disclosed. Standard, judicious cropping to remove irrelevant background space is permitted without disclosure.

Using a filter in any type of electronic editing application to make an image appear blurred, solarized, embossed, or resemble, for example, sepia-tone, a painting, or having been taken on film likewise makes it a photo illustration requiring disclosure.

Photos or video that was staged or made use of props for illustrative purposes would also be considered a photo illustration.

The responsibility lies with the photographer — and anyone else involved in the processing of an image — to disclose manipulations above and beyond standard color adjustments.

Rule of thumb: If you think you need to disclose manipulation techniques used on an image, do so.

In short, if an image has been manipulated above and beyond basic color corrections, it must be labeled as such in the caption block, after the caption credit, using plain language, as shown in the examples here.

NOTE: The disclosure also should appear in the Release Instructions field of the metadata (see VISG Chapter 5). This demonstrates the releasing authority is aware of the modifications to the image being sent to DIMOC.