TTG Plus > FAQs


FAQ 10 • The TTG-IC label

Alerting viewers to “inapparent circumstances,” as per P8

  • 1001. Why is the TTG-IC label important to know about?

    Because some photos can actually be disqualified from TTG when the photographer does not use the “TTG-IC” version of the label (see P8).

    Seen another way, when the TTG-IC version of the label is warranted on a TTG photograph, viewers should treat the absence of the “IC” just as seriously as they treat a secretly doctored or aigmented photograph.

  • 1002. What kinds of photos typically need a TTG-IC to meet P8?

    P8 is here

    Photographs that do not depict what they appear to depict. For example:

    1. Photographs of “animals of typically wild species” in which the photograph was made in less-than-fully-wild conditions that are not immediately apparent to the viewer

    2. Optical illusions and trick photos

    3. Photographs of things that had undergone “subject manipulation” that isn’t visually apparent but that the viewer would want to know about

    4. “Set-up” photos whose set-up nature is not immediately obvious to the viewer

  • 1003. What about “posed” photos?

    What’s the difference between “posed” and “staged” photos?

    Photographs usually do not need the TTG-IC label if they are obviously posed, including group photos and photos of any human subjects who were clearly “directed” for the purposes of the photograph.

    The test for TTG-IC is always whether there are inapparent circumstances that viewers should know about when they are deciding how much to trust the photo.

    If the circumstances are immediately apparent — that is, if viewers can instantly tell that a photograph was “posed” — then the photo doesn’t need the TTG-IC label (unless there’s something else about the photo that warrants the “IC”).

    Are selfies eligible for the TTG label?

  • 1004. How is the need for the TTG-IC label determined?

    • If a respected international news agency would alert viewers to “inapparent circumstances” when publishing the photo in an information-reportage context, then the photographer must use the TTG-IC version of the label or the photo cannot meet P8.

    • But if such an agency would not attach an alert to that photo in an information-reportage context, then the photographer can use the standard “TTG” label, with no “IC” added.

  • 1005. Do all TTG photos of “typically wild animals in less-than-fully-wild conditions” always need a TTG-IC to meet P8?

    Yes, with only two exceptions:

    A. There are instantly visible signs in the photo of the less-than-fully-wild conditions (for example, it is clear that the animal is within a zoo enclosure)

    or

    B. The photo is published in a context where ALL of the photos were taken in similar conditions (for example, in an article where all of the photos are from a zoo, or on a webpage where all of the photos are from a particular nature reserve).
    ____________

    Adding a TTG-IC to TTG-qualified photos of “typically wild animals photographed in less-than-fully-wild conditions” does not compromise the value of such photos, because all other TTG-labeled photos taken in similar contexts should be labeled TTG-IC as well.

  • 1006. Can the TTG-IC version of the label “save” an otherwise TTG-qualified photograph from being deceptive?

    Yes, any photograph that meets P1-P7 can be explained well enough to meet P8 (with the sole exception listed in the last paragraph of P8).

    In other words, except for that one exception in the previous sentence, no photograph is ever disqualified from TTG because of what was done to the subject.

    The resulting image can always be explained well enough — with the TTG-IC label and further explanation — to keep the photo eligible to fully qualify as TTG.

  • 1007. And the photographer can say more than TTG-IC?

    Yes; in many cases the TTG photographer will want to provide more explanation to viewers than a simple TTG-IC.

    (Why? See #3 on this page)

    In those cases, the photographer puts an * after the TTG-IC.

    Then viewers know to look nearby for the additional explanation, which will begin with *

  • 1008. What if I like my photos to speak for themselves, with no words attached?

    Then you probably won’t be attaching the term “TTG” to your photograph, so this page isn’t relevant to you.

  • 1009. If an alert can be as short as TTG-IC, how long can the explanation be?

    Explanations can be as long as the photographer thinks is necessary to prevent deception (or even to reduce viewer skepticism; see #1012 below).

    There is no maximum length.

  • 1010. How is the TTG-IC handled when one instance of the label is used to cover multiple photographs?

    With whatever method works best.

    It’s a simple matter to use TTG-IC if all of the TTG-labeled photos also need an “IC,” but if only some of the photos need an “IC,” those images can be easily noted.

  • 1011. How much flexibility do photographers have in what they say about a photograph beyond a TTG-IC with a * ?

    TTG photographers (like all photographers) have infinite flexibility in what they say about their photos. There are never any restrictions on the nature or quantity of what is said.

    Whether they use TTG or not, any photographer who wants to optimize “viewer trust” in the digital age may discover that a little explanation can make a big difference.

    More

  • 1012. Does the caption on a photo suffice for preventing deception in a photograph that needs a TTG-IC to meet P8?

    No, it does not suffice unless there’s a TTG-IC with an asterisk * pointing to the caption.

    A. Any photo that needs a viewer alert to meet P8 must have a TTG-IC or the photograph is disqualified by P8.

    (It is easy put an * after the TTG-IC to point viewers to the caption, which of course would begin with *)

    B. If the photo does not need any viewer alert to meet P8, then the photographer can explain or caption the photo as they wish (with or without a TTG-IC pointing to that explanation/caption).

  • 1013. Why should the label always be a TTG-IC and not other abbreviations or acronyms?

    For trust reasons. Viewers are unlikely to spend time figuring out a jumble of homemade acronyms and abbreviations that may apply to only one photographer (or only one photograph).

    The advantage of a simple TTG-IC is that it’s instantly recognizable (albeit a bad pun) and can either stand on its own or can point to a fuller explanation of a photo’s circumstances.

  • 1014. If not using the TTG-IC label can hurt a photographer’s reputation, why not always use the TTG-IC label?

    Because with many kinds of photography, photos without any alerts can seem more impressive to viewers.

    But TTG photographers can use TTG-IC all they want.

  • 1015. What if the photographer submits a TTG-IC-labeled photo to a publisher but the publisher leaves out the “IC” while still publishing the photo with the “TTG”?

    Then the publisher is fully responsible for any criticisms and consequences. See #203 on the list of publishers’ rights and responsibilities.

  • 1016. What’s to keep a photographer from labeling a non-qualified photo as TTG-IC — with a * attached to provide an explanation of the things that disqualify that photo from TTG?

    For example, what’s to keep a photographer from using a really long exposure to make sasibe-visible objects invisible, and then describing to viewers the objects that aren’t visible in the photo?

    (What are sasibe-visible objects?)
    _______________

    The first seven requirements of the Trust Test always weed out any visually non-TTG-qualified photographs before there is an opportunity to attach an alert to meet P8.

    With regard to question #1017 (above), the scenario in the second paragraph of the question couldn’t make it past P4, P5, or P7—

    — so the photo is already disqualified from TTG before there’s even a chance to think about P8.