Techniques of Fakery
There are six basic techniques of faking a photo, none of which are mutually exclusive.

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, one can adjust the color, resize details, or rotate or move details.

4: falsifying the caption. (In a sense, every fake photo has been falsely captioned.)

5: Staging the scene. This is considered fakery particularly when it occurs in photojournalism. Varieties of staging a scene include using models and cutouts and inserting a prop into the scene.

6: Taking a photo at a trick angle. The most common example of this is the use of forced perspective.


Themes


Time Periods
hoax photo database


Dati’s Disappearing Ring
Deleted detail
Nov 19, 2008



The Fake General Dunwoody
Altered background and face
November 2008



Kim Jong-Il’s Shadow
Undetermined
November 2008



U.S. Army Releases Doctored Photographs
Fake (composite)
September 2008



Palin in Bikini and Miniskirt
Fake (composite)
September 2008



A Whiter Beyonce
Fake (altered color)
August 2008



The Missile Launcher Vanishes
Fake (cloned-in details)
July 9, 2008



Jumping Shark
Real
July 3, 2008



Fox Airs Faux Photos
Fake (digitally doctored)
July 2, 2008



M.C. Escher Golf
Undetermined
Taken Aug 18, 2006. Published June 2008



Cruise vs. von Stauffenberg
Real
Controversy from June 2008



Hand with no thumb
Fake (composite)
Found on the internet, June 2008



“Not What You Want To See”
Fake (composite and false caption)
Circulating online since early 2008



Charlton Heston’s Home Gun Collection
Real pictures, false caption
Circulating online since Apr 2008



Barack Obama Smoking
Fake (composite)
Circulating online since early 2008


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