DoeNet refuses to use postmortems on their UID pages, so it is preferable to use a reconstruction than to have no image at all. Even here, they are trending toward using only images that are suitable for viewing by the more squeamish among us. Yes, this one is less offensive than most, but I have shown it to some people and seen them recoil at his facial expression.
I knew that when I smoothed out the marks on his face, I would hear from you. The marks that I smoothed out appear to me to be abrasions that resulted from his having been hit by a truck. Maybe they were permanent skin anomalies, but I made a judgment call. There is a line that I need to straddle between something that is inoffensive and something that is accurate.
I realize that your predominant focus is on blemishes and facial marks, but you are much more focused on minute detail than most people are. You still have postmortem photos at your disposal on NamUs for that purpose.
For the vast majority of people who are looking for a loved one, they want to be able browse through images for people whose overall resemblance and facial shape and features are roughly similar without being further traumatized than they already are. After they have narrowed down their search they can then go to the postmortems (if they are available) to compare at the finer details.
Most of us here are not bothered by postmortem photos. But many people are. The objective is to come up with something that the most people possible are willing to look at. It is preferable to accommodate their squeamishness than to have them not look at all.
Hi Carl,
I fully understand the problem with post-mortem photos and WS or any site has the right to decide what is shown. I do not want to get off topic with that. Again, I am not criticizing your artwork. It is very good!
I am referring to this particular UID. It isn't just the blemishes which could or could not be a part of his skin before death, I am referring to his mouth and areas which I did not see any contusions, blood or other disturbing detail. There also seems to be touch up of the eyes. Does Doe have these stringent requirements? This is what I am asking.
I guess my question is does Doe want perfect skin even if it changes the lips and/or hides the teeth (in this case seem perfect)? These issues are very difficult even for a forensic artist and just as difficult to fine tune. What exactly was/is objectionable about this UID's photo? And what if someone does look and see nothing recognizable? What was the point of looking or having a photo? Does this make sense?
Just wondering as if this is the case, Doe is defeating their own purpose. BTW, they do have post mortem photos on their site, cleaned up and bearing little of any resemblance to the UID.
But again, I am concerned with this man, who has a 'clean' facial appearance published. How many times have we seen where the reporting agency does not list moles, small scars, blemishes and other identifiers. (Yellow teeth is a very good also)
ETA....
Sorry if I gave the impression that my focus was on the skin portion of the individual. Before looking at any photo, I get the logistics, the circumstances and as much background as I can on the missing. This allows me to make a judgment call or prediction of behavior before looking for a UID to make a match. I cannot look at a photo and try to find another that looks like the missing. Conversely, I cannot try to match a UID with a person I know to be missing. There are just too many people who look like someone else.
Once I am at the photo stage, be they morgue or cleaned up photos, I go for the structure. This can be done even with remains, as forensic groups who do the complete reconstruction from skeleton only can get the general bone structure correct. With face intact, it is important to understand how death, aging, and other factors affect the skin and facial muscles. The skin then becomes my focus. Considering how much is left off reports, even by distraught family members, this one area could mean the success of identification baring DNA or dental.
