Photographic Policy

The following Ethical Guidelines apply to the creation and processing of all photographs submitted to and published by Interstate Magazine.

Purpose of Photographs. Interstate Magazine is a photographic journal of American Identity. It exists to photographically show – and in many cases, perhaps, to reintroduce – America to Americans. In so doing, Interstate Magazine hopes to help reverse the dehumanizing effects of contemporary sociopolitical discourse. To achieve its goals in a meaningful and lasting way, all photographs it publishes must be accurate, truthful and respectful.

Accurate Photographs. Every image Interstate Magazine publishes must be accurate. No photo can be retouched, composited, or otherwise “Photoshopped” to change its substantive content, where “substantive content” means the elements of a photograph which depict the persons, places or events comprising the subject matter of the photograph. Photos cannot stage or reenact their substantive content. Photographs in the nature of portraits are acceptable and encouraged as an important part of photographic sets.

Truthful Photographs. To be truthful, a photograph cannot be framed or adjusted in any way so as to knowingly, intentionally, or manifestly mislead a viewer’s interpretation of the substantive content of the photograph, for example, by cropping out elements or manipulating perspective, so as to alter a viewer’s perception of what is “happening” in a photograph. Photographs suffering these flaws may be deemed “accurate”, but they are not truthful and therefore are unacceptable.

Respectful Photographs. All photographic subjects must be treated respectfully, that is, with due regard for the feelings, wishes, rights, or traditions of the subjects. All photographs included in Interstate Magazine must (1) respect individuals’ reasonable expectations of privacy based on general societal norms, (2) avoid images intended to denigrate or embarrass, and (3) seek to avoid overt bias.