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
Category: Politics
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Whatever It Takes (October 2004)
An ad released by Bush's 2004 presidential campaign showed a crowd scene from which the President had been digitally removed. ...» |
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“I can promise, this will never get done” (Created in 2005. Circulating online since 2008.)
Artist Alison Jackson uses lookalikes to create images of "celebrities ostensibly caught unawares." ...» |
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Holiday Greetings, from Spain’s Royal Family (December 2005)
Unable to gather for a photo shoot, the Spanish royal family instead digitally assembled for its Christmas holiday photo. ...» |
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The French Dinner (July 2007)
This fake picture caused a scandal in Malaysia because it appeared to link the country's deputy prime minister to the murder of a young woman. ...» |
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Sarkozy’s Disappearing Love Handles (August 2007)
Paris Match was accused of pandering to French President Nicolas Sarkozy when it reduced the size of his love handles in this photo of him canoeing with his son. ...» |
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Vote for Dean Hrbacek (January 2008)
In this flyer distributed by Hrbacek's campaign, the candidate's head was pasted onto the body of a significantly slimmer man. ...» |
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Barack Obama Smoking (Circulating online since early 2008)
Obama admits to being a smoker (trying to quit), but this picture of him smoking was faked. ...» |
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Palin in Bikini and Miniskirt (September 2008)
After John McCain chose Sarah Palin as his running mate, provocative fake pictures of the Alaska Governor began to circulate online. ...» |
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Kim Jong-Il’s Shadow (November 2008)
Western media questioned whether this image of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il had been doctored, but it appears not to have been. ...» |
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Dati’s Disappearing Ring (Nov 19, 2008)
Photo editors at Le Figaro deleted a ring from the French justice minister's hand in order to make her appear less glamorous. ...» |
All text Copyright © 2011 by Alex Boese, except where otherwise indicated. All rights reserved.