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

Category: Magazine Covers
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Dati’s Disappearing Ring
Deleted detail
Nov 19, 2008



Martha’s Last Laugh
Fake (composite)
March 2005



The Real Julia
Fake (composite)
July 2003



Kate Winslet’s Legs
Fake (digital plastic surgery)
February 2003



Cut-and-Paste Diversity
Fake (composite)
September 2000



O.J.‘s Darkened Mug Shot
Fake (altered color)
June 27, 1994



Fire on Ice
Fake (composite)
Feb 16, 1994



The Disappearing Nipples
Deleted details
Jan/Feb 1994



White Hot Mama
Fake (composite)
July 1992



Madonna’s Gapless Glamour
Fake (digital plastic surgery)
December 1990



Oprah’s Head Transplant
Fake (composite)
August 26, 1989



The Case of the Moving Pyramids
Fake (digitally altered)
February 1982



Oswald’s Backyard Photo
Real, but copies retouched by publications
Published in February 1964



The Master Race
False caption
May 8, 1943


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