I tend to agree with Michael here that a distinction has to be made between artistic honesty and artistic dishonesty. Deliberate spin in order to conform with a political agenda is plain dishonest.
I'm sure we've all had the experience of taking a shot of a scene that inspired us or moved us in some way, only to find later that the normally processed image just lacks whatever it was that motivated us to take the shot. So we try hard to manipulate the image, increase the saturation, darken the sky, whatever, in an attempt to get the image to express the mood we originally felt.
Is it likely that Sebastian Copeland, the author of these photos, felt a mood of despair and desolation when taking all the shots displayed in this book? If he did, then I suppose it is fair and honest for him to 'smash the quarter tones', as Michael describes it, in order to recreate this mood of despair which he possibly saw in every scene, but unlikely.
In a sense, to broaden the discussion, we only have ourselves to blame. As a species, we seem unable, generally, to take a course of action simply because it's right, because the facts support it, because it's the sensible thing to do. We need to be cajoled and frightened before we will make any radical change to our behaviour or lifestyle. So it is with global warming. (No need to mention Iraq here, so I won't).
There is definitely a political spin in full force in many parts of the world with regard to the causes of global warming. The only certain thing is that the warming is taking place. Greenland is gradually becoming a place as warm and hospitable as it was in the days of the Vikings. I believe some farmers are getting bumper potato crops there.
Whether or not any attempt on our part to reduce greenhouse gasses will be sufficient to reverse the trend is far from clear. The previous warming which peaked in the Middle Ages was obviously not caused by man-made greenhouse gasses, but if it had been, one can't help wondering if the following 'Little Ice Age' would have taken place.