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

Thumbnail Gallery: Present-1840
The Hoax Photo Database catalogs examples of photo fakery throughout the history of photography. Included in the database are photos that are "real," but which have been suspected of being fake, as well as images whose veracity remains undetermined. The images are listed here in reverse-chronological order (you can also view them in chronological order, 1840 to the present). They are categorized by theme, technique of fakery, and time period. Other Viewing Options: Full Text Mode: Present-1840 or 1840-Present


A Black Lion

2012



Romney Family Misspells Their Name

Feb 2012



Romney Gets A Shoeshine

2012



Angolan Witch Spider

2011



Brady Yawning

2011



The Cleavage Disappears

2011



Lottery winner finds love of his life after big win

2009



Viagra Corporate Headquarters

2009



Dati’s Disappearing Ring
Deleted detail
Nov 19, 2008



The Fake General Dunwoody
Altered background and face
November 2008



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



Sarah Palin in Bikini
Fake (composite)
September 2008



A Whiter Beyonce
Fake (altered color)
August 2008



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



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


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