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

Dati’s Disappearing Ring
Deleted detail
Nov 19, 2008



The Fake General Dunwoody
Altered background and face
November 2008



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



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



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



Sarkozy’s Disappearing Love Handles
Digitally altered
August 2007



Giant Tomatoes
Forced perspective
February 6, 2007



Katie Couric Slimmed Down
Fake (digital plastic surgery)
September 2006



Fake Smoke Over Beirut
Fake (cloned-in details)
August 5, 2006



“Qinghai-Tibet railway opens green passage for wildlife”
Fake (composite)
Published in 2006. Debunked in 2008.



Islamic Hostage Action-Figure Hoax
Fake (staged with a doll)
February 1, 2005



Trophy Turkey
Real but arguably misleading (captions omitted relevant details)
Thanksgiving 2003



British Soldier in Basra
Fake (composite)
Created March 29, 2003.



The Lackawanna Shooter
Allegedly staged
Published Sep 20, 2002



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


Page 1 of 3 pages  1 2 3 > 
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!