Techniques of
Photo Fakery
Photo Fakery
1: Inserting details. This includes placing an element from one photo into another to create a composite image, reproducing a detail of the photo by cloning it, superimposing an image onto another, or drawing-in details.
2: Deleting details. This is usually done by extending background elements over the unwanted detail. Or one can crop out the unwanted detail.
3: Manipulating elements within the photo. For instance, adjusting the color, resizing details, or rotating or moving details.
4: falsifying the caption.
5: Staging the scene. This is considered fakery particularly in photojournalism. Varieties of staging a scene include using models and cutouts and inserting a prop into the scene.
6: Trick angles. The most common example of this is the use of forced perspective.
2: Deleting details. This is usually done by extending background elements over the unwanted detail. Or one can crop out the unwanted detail.
3: Manipulating elements within the photo. For instance, adjusting the color, resizing details, or rotating or moving details.
4: falsifying the caption.
5: Staging the scene. This is considered fakery particularly in photojournalism. Varieties of staging a scene include using models and cutouts and inserting a prop into the scene.
6: Trick angles. The most common example of this is the use of forced perspective.
Site Map
Photo Archive Categories
The Hoax Photo Archive
A gallery of photo fakery throughout history.
Years Archived:
1840-1900 | 1900-1919 | 1920-1939 | 1940-1959 | 1960-1979 | 1980-1999 | 2000-2004 | 2005-Present
A gallery of photo fakery throughout history.
Years Archived:
1840-1900 | 1900-1919 | 1920-1939 | 1940-1959 | 1960-1979 | 1980-1999 | 2000-2004 | 2005-Present
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Leftist Patriot (Circulating online since 2002.)
Senator Daschle's hand was digitally flipped to make it appear he was repeating the Pledge of Allegiance incorrectly. ...» |
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The Lackawanna Shooter (Published Sep 20, 2002)
A New York Times photographer was accused of staging this photo "like a fashion shoot." ...» |
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The Misleading Steak Premiere (Late 2002)
A government investigation concluded there was a disparity between the amount of toppings shown in this ad, and the amount on the actual sandwich. ...» |
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Kate Winslet’s Legs (February 2003)
Kate Winslet complained that photo editors made her look too skinny on this GQ cover. ...» |
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Shuttle Columbia Explosion Photos (Circulating online since 2003)
Supposedly taken "from an Israeli satellite in space," these images were actually stills from the movie Armageddon. ...» |
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British Soldier in Basra (Created March 29, 2003.)
This digital composite slipped past the editors of the LA Times and ran on the paper's front page. ...» |
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Louis Vuitton Designer SARS Mask (April 2003)
The fashion designer never actually included a SARS mask in any of its collections. ...» |
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Manitoba Home Security (Found online in 2003)
A digital composite makes it appear that polar bears are relaxing outside someone's house. ...» |
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The Real Julia (July 2003)
Julia Roberts' head was pasted onto a younger version of her body. ...» |
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The Great Blackout of 2003 (Found online in late August 2003)
This fake photo circulated widely in the days following the Great Blackout of 2003. ...» |
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Trophy Turkey (Thanksgiving 2003)
Newspaper captions failed to mention that the turkey Bush was holding was a decorative centerpiece not intended for consumption by the troops. ...» |
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Hanoi John (Circulating online since Feb 2004)
Not only had Fonda not shared the stage with Kerry, she hadn’t even attended the rally shown here. ...» |
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Camel Spiders in Iraq (Found online, Spring 2004)
It's true that camel spiders are very large, but much of the information about these creatures that accompanied this picture as it went around the internet was false. ...» |
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Giant Human Skeleton (Circulating online since early 2004)
Despite what this photo appears to show, archaeologists did not unearth a giant human skeleton in Saudi Arabia. ...» |
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Fetal Footprint (Circulating online since mid-2004)
The abdominal wall is too muscular and thick to actually allow a footprint to be seen with this clarity. ...» |
All text Copyright © 2011 by Alex Boese, except where otherwise indicated. All rights reserved.