View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

  1. News
November 4, 2008

Kate Winslet nude photo shoot raises airbrushing questions for the Mail

By Dominic wireposts

Has Kate Winslet changed her views about the dark art of airbrushing?

Five years ago she was furious when she was digitally enhanced after a GQ magazine shoot in order to make her look thinner.

Now, at 33, she has done a naked photo shoot for the current issue of Vanity Fair where she not only looks exceedingly slim – but about 19.

Enlarge Kate Winslet on the cover and inside the December issue of Vanity Fair

The Daily Mail smells a rat and has spoken to professional airbrush artist Chris Bickmore about how he thinks the photo has been doctored.

He thinks all wrinkles and blemishes on Winslet’s skin have been digitally removed and that her legs and back have been “pinched in” to make her look slimmer.

In 2003 Winslet said she objected to airbrushing because: “I don’t want people to think I was a hypocrite and had suddenly gone and lost 30lb”.

Content from our partners
MHP Group's 30 To Watch awards for young journalists open for entries
How PA Media is helping newspapers make the digital transition
Publishing on the open web is broken, how generative AI could help fix it

I would argue that the airbrushing of photos has no place in editorial photography.

The first line of the first clause in the The Editors’ Code of Practice, which governs UK magazine as well as newspaper editors, states:

“The Press must take care not to publish inaccurate, misleading or distorted information, including pictures.”

Topics in this article : ,

Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog

Select and enter your email address Weekly insight into the big strategic issues affecting the future of the news industry. Essential reading for media leaders every Thursday. Your morning brew of news about the world of news from Press Gazette and elsewhere in the media. Sent at around 10am UK time. Our weekly does of strategic insight about the future of news media aimed at US readers. A fortnightly update from the front-line of news and advertising. Aimed at marketers and those involved in the advertising industry.
  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thanks for subscribing.

Websites in our network