2 – Teaching The Camera To See My Skin

Welcome to This Aged Well, the newsletter that helps you rediscover the value of time-tested. Every Saturday and Sunday, one great read, at least five years old.

The technology we build always reflects (and reinforces) biases. Today, it is often discussed in the context of algorithms and AI. Photography provides a striking early example:

Films used to be optimised for white skin at the expense of darker skin colors. The technical bias was finally addressed – ironically, not for skin colors, but because white advertisers needed images of chocolate and wood furniture to look better.

Syreeta McFadden’s article is also a personal story: What it means for a child when you don’t recognise yourself on photographs. A timelessly great read.

(First published in April 2014)