Newspaper photographers and their editors do not hide things in photos.
We do not have ulterior motives and conspiracies in choosing what to photograph or print. And, we are not trying to incite tension among groups of people or risky behavior by teens.
That said, we are aware that some readers pick up the daily newspaper each day looking for hidden Waldos and Rorschach tests in photos. I continue to be amazed by the things they find.
Three examples from the past seven days:
A number of readers have called The Mercury's Sound-Off line to complain about a photo of Spring-Ford High School students cheering their team at a recent District basketball playoff game. The students, members of the Ram Nation cheering section at Spring-Ford, wore clothing and face paint in the school colors of blue and white. Callers say the photo depicts racism.
(These comments -- and there have been quite a few -- have not appeared in Sound-Off under the guideline that we do not print comments that are inappropriate -- or just plain ridiculous.)
On the same front page was a photo of a group of children enjoying a program at Pottstown Public Library. A parent who attended the Family Place Libraries workshop with her child complained to us that the photographer intentionally left her and her child out of the picture.
To the contrary, our photographers are diligent and determined to include as many children as possible at these types of events because they know from experience that kids want to see their pictures in print. But, even a wide-angle lens and the best lighting can leave out the folks in the corners or the back of the room.
Not intentional, no conspiracy, just a fact of taking photos of a group event. Not everybody gets in the picture.
The third example in recent days was the feature photo on page one last Saturday of two Birdsboro teens snowboarding off the roof of their house. A reader emailed us to complain that we were being irresponsible to glorify their behavior.
Well, they were not breaking any laws; we doubt that our pictures would inspire anyone to try snowboarding off a roof any more than not publishing them would deter someone. They were kids having fun, probably with no more risk of injury than some of the stunts they try at terrain parks in ski areas.
Do I personally want to see my own children take off the roof? No, but I am not going to blame anyone for chronicling their ingenuity if they try it behind my back.
Newspaper photos can be worth a thousand words, but trust me, we're not hiding secret messages inside them.

I suspect that anybody interested enough in The Mercury to be scanning this blog would agree with me: Sound-Off is one of the best parts of the paper, day in and day out.
As an editor, I once frowned on the concept of people calling in unattributed comments by phone to go into print. Even when other papers around reported its popularity, I resisted adding it to The Mercury. In fact, it took a corporate directive to make it a regular feature.
I admit I was wrong.
With some monitoring, Sound-Off is a great feature. It is not just a chance for people to take shots anonymously at their public officials or their neighbors. It is also a wonderful way to share ideas and debate the little things in life that do not rise to the level of public discourse or a letter to the editor.
Things like where to get rye bread reminiscent of the kind Prince's Bakery used to make.
How to find good snapper soup in a restaurant.
Can you use kerosene in an oil burner safely?
What to do with old wire clothes hangers.
Of course, people also sound-off their annoyances about their neighbors' loud dogs or messy yards, their opinions on local politics and police, their anger at coaches who don't put the callers' kids in the game, and their frustration over rising taxes and late trash pickup.
But, they also compliment the school bands, thank the Good Samaritans, and tell the world that someone kindly returned a found wallet with money intact.
Sound-Off offers much more than a chance to gripe. It's a snapshot of life in the communities and countryside around here.
And, where else can you find an ongoing debate about a half-dressed holiday decoration that ends on the day after Christmas with the following pronouncement:
"The bare butt Santa is now wearing pants..."
You gotta love it.