Reuters manipulating its own photos

[Reuters has admitted the manipulation of the photo, see bottom of post] The same Reuters-photographer who has already shot doubtful pictures of the "massacre" in Qana, Adnan Hajj, is now obviously doctoring ("photoshopping") photos from Beirut. via LGF: OK, now things are getting weird. This Reuters photograph shows blatant evidence of manipulation. Notice the repeating patterns in the smoke; this is almost certainly caused by using the Photoshop “clone” tool to add more smoke to the image. (Hat tip: Mike.) It’s so incredibly obvious, it reminds me of the faked CBS memos. Smoke simply does not contain repeating symmetrical patterns like this, and you can see the repetition in both plumes of smoke. There’s really no question about it. But it’s not only the plumes of smoke that were “enhanced.” There are also cloned buildings. Reuters - Sat Aug 5, 3:29 PM ET, Smoke billows from burning buildings destroyed during an overnight Israeli air raid on Beirut's suburbs August 5, 2006. Many buildings were flattened during the attack. REUTERS/Adnan Hajj As mentionned above, other pictures by Adnan Hajj have already been going around the world. Reuters - Sun Jul 30, 4:30 PM ET , A rescuer carries the body of a toddler victim of an Israeli air raid on Qana that killed more than 60 people, the majority of them women and children, in south Lebanon, July 30, 2006. REUTERS/Adnan Hajj (LEBANON) And via The Jawa Report: So, you're telling me that this neutral media observer just happens to be pointing his camera in the right direction as the missile is being fired by Hezbollah to take out the single Israeli ship damaged in the war? If he wasn't tipped off by Hezbollah, then I'm going to give him a ring and ask him for this week's lottery numbers! Reuters - Fri Jul 14, 4:55 PM ET, A rocket fired by Lebanon's Hizbollah guerrilla group makes its way to hit an Israeli naval vessel off Beirut July 14, 2006. BEST QUALITY AVAILABLE REUTERS/Adnan Hajj (LEBANON) On second thought, how do we know Hajj didn't see a flare, snap a photo, and then wire it in with the amazing news that he just happened to see Hezbollah fire at the Israeli ship? Update within an update: Reader tells me it's no flare. Since my experience with flares is limited to debunking the Phoenix "UFO" sightings, I'll take his word for it. Now about those lotto tickets Mr. Hajj........ Call it Reutersgate, Reuterswood or just another Hezbollywood. In any case, this sort of systematic manipulation of the media is the reason why pro-arab reportig has lost all of its potential credibility since the beginning of the second Intifada six years ago. UPDATE I (14:50, 06.08.2006): YNet reports that Reuters admits altering the Beirut photo. UPDATE II (20:48, 06.08.2006): Reuters has suspended the photograph, Adnan Hajj. Via YNet : Reuters withdraws photograph of Beirut after Air Force attack after US blogs, photographers point out 'blatant evidence of manipulation.' Reuters' head of PR says in response, 'Reuters has suspended photographer until investigations are completed into changes made to photograph.' Photographer who sent altered image is same Reuters photographer behind many of images from Qana, which have also been subject of suspicions for being staged I'd add: not only US Blogs were involved! ;-) In any case, this was a beautiful example of an efficient "Checks and Balances" system to the hegemony of the Mainstream Media. english / Mideast / Désinformation