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: Paranormal
--Return to front page of thumbnail gallery--

Giant Human Skeleton
Fake (doctored)
Circulating online since early 2004



The Bluff Creek Bigfoot
Probably staged
October 20, 1967



Thoughtography
Falsely claimed to be paranormal in origin
Gained notoriety in 1967



Venusian Scoutcraft
Staged with a model
December 13, 1952



The Brown Lady of Raynham
Probably a double exposure
September 19, 1936



The Surgeon’s Photo
Staged with a model
Reportedly taken on April 19, 1934.



Ada Emma Deane’s Armistice Day Series
Fake (superimposed "spirit" faces)
November 1924



The Cottingley Fairies
Staged using paper cutouts
1917-1920



The Sympsychograph
Darkroom effect (satire)
September 1896



Mumler’s Spirit Photos
Double exposures passed off as spirit photos
1861-1879


COVERT CLICKER
Secretly control the TV, anywhere, any time! This device is so small it is easily concealed in your pocket. It can control volume, change the channel or turn the TV on & off. It works on 90% of all TV's.

Note: This form searches only the photo database. To search the entire museum, use our google search form.
FAKE TONGUE PIERCING
If you've always wanted a tongue ring, but don't want to insert a huge needle through your tongue, here's your chance to finally get your wish. Our special tongue ring stud stays on using suction. It looks real enough to fool your mom!