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.
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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
Staged Scene (using models or cutouts)
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The Cottingley Fairies (1917-1920)
Two young girls used paper cutouts to create a series of images of "fairies." These images are among the most famous fake photos of all time. ...» |
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Death in the Air (Published in 1933; debunked in 1984.)
Spectacular images of World War I dog fights were eventually exposed as photos of model airplanes. ...» |
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The Surgeon’s Photo (Reportedly taken on April 19, 1934.)
This is considered to be the most famous image of the Loch Ness Monster. It actually shows a fake serpent's head attached to a toy submarine. ...» |
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Whopper Hoppers (circa 1935)
Giant grasshoppers were particularly popular subjects for tall-tale postcards during the 1930s. ...» |
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Venusian Scoutcraft (December 13, 1952)
What George Adamski claimed was a photo of a UFO looks suspiciously like a lampshade with ping pong balls glued to it. ...» |
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Modern-Day Diplocaulus (Circulating online since late 2004)
The mysterious creature in the bucket was actually a clay model, not a surviving prehistoric Diplocaulus. ...» |
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Islamic Hostage Action-Figure Hoax (February 1, 2005)
Hostage "John Adam," whose photo appeared on internet bulletin boards used by Iraqi rebels, turned out to be a Cody action-figure doll. ...» |
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Paper Tiger (October 3, 2007)
The South China tiger in this photo, a species feared to be extinct, turned out to be a paper cutout. ...» |
All text Copyright © 2011 by Alex Boese, except where otherwise indicated. All rights reserved.