Fauxtography: DU blows the lid off Malkin photoshop! Update: Hook, line, and sinker at dKos
posted at 2:22 pm on January 12, 2007 by Allahpundit
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The flag’s been photoshopped in!! The bottom of the stick isn’t aligned with the top!! IT’S NOT A PHOTOGRAPH, IT’S A PAINTING!!! LMAO!!!
Two good reasons to believe it’s real:
1. I’m the guy who worked on it and I’m telling you — it’s real. As mentioned in her post, I adjusted the lighting (by moving the Shadows/Highlights settings) and eliminated some of the grain (with the “Reduce Noise” filter). In fact, I wanted to eliminate more around his right eye but thought that might interfere with the reality of the shot by eliminating the dirt on his face too, so I only used a low setting. That’s all that was done to the photo. WYSIWYG.
2. Michelle doesn’t have photoshop (and doesn’t know photoshop) so she couldn’t have worked on it before it got to me. In fact, the reason she asked for my help on this in the first place was to add copyright text to the images. That’s the simplest task you could perform with PS, so if she’d had the software, she could have and would have done it herself.
Some of the smarter DUers are trying to talk the more excitable ones down from the ledge over there. Go, enjoy.
Update: And so it’s come to this: the commenters at Democratic Underground are actually more astute than the diarists at Daily Kos, a site which once published a technical analysis of the Rathergate memos that “proved” they were authentic.
Slackjawed nitwit “Little” writes:
The photo, which i thought was of a mannequin because it so messed-with looking, carries this caption:
As an Army convoy prepared to depart after dropping off blankets, an Iraqi boy came out to say goodbye clutching a stuffed toy–and an American flag. [Update (from Allahpundit): The subject was backlit in the original photo so I used Photoshop to adjust the lighting and remove a small amount of grain.]
Notice it’s an update. As in, the fact that she has a photoshopped photo on her blog (wipe wipe; there, now I can see my monitor again), was not disclosed when it was put up. Oh god, that’s funny.
The anti-Michelle: I suppose we just supposed to trust her now that the kid actually wasn’t a model? That he didn’t pose for the shot? (Er…) That the flag wasn’t photoshopped in also? Yeah, right.
The photo that was first posted was the original one — so dark that you could barely discern the kid’s features. That’s when Michelle e-mailed me and asked me to lighten it and add the copyright text. It was replaced with the new photo, thereby necessitating an update to her original caption.
He’s right about the funny part, though. “Messed-with looking”? Poetry.
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That photo does look grainy. Is Michelle taking photos in hi-def raw format(10MB+), then adding copyright to those images? Or is she sending you smaller formats because of size limitations?
Theworldisnotenough on January 12, 2007 at 2:26 PM
The DU is like a conversation in Hell.
PRCalDude on January 12, 2007 at 2:27 PM
If you’re going to fake your photos anyway, why not take an extra few seconds and remove the snot from the upper lip?
RedWinged Blackbird on January 12, 2007 at 2:28 PM
Et tu, Allah Rockwell?
Kid from Brooklyn on January 12, 2007 at 2:28 PM
Those guys are completely nuts.
They don’t even get it.
Esthier on January 12, 2007 at 2:29 PM
I believe that the reason the photo looks like this is because the picture was taken in low-light conditions and is backlit. This would mean that the kid was originally very dark. This would by why AP photoshopped it to lighten it up and because you’re trying to grab detail from a dark image, the image is naturally grainy. My old 3MP camera does this all the time in low light.
Davalf on January 12, 2007 at 2:29 PM
Damn, you are as bad as the Associated (w/T) Press!! Go flagellate yourself now!!!!
thirteen28 on January 12, 2007 at 2:32 PM
What is that in his shirt pocket?
Valiant on January 12, 2007 at 2:33 PM
Sounds like the DUer’s haven’t been fed in a while. It’s like a frenzy over there. Let’s put up more photos for them to rant about.
darwin on January 12, 2007 at 2:34 PM
PS … re my comments above, I fully expect someone at DU to quote them (at least the first statement) and present it as actually being serious. Shall we run a pool of how long it will take?
PPS the “quote” will remove the (w/T) part.
thirteen28 on January 12, 2007 at 2:34 PM
After visiting the DU site, I think I need to take a shower……..
PinkyBigglesworth on January 12, 2007 at 2:35 PM
Of course they could always go to Iraq themselves like Malkin and see the kid poke it in their eye :) .
IndependentConserv on January 12, 2007 at 2:36 PM
I would comment on this at the DU but it’s hard to do this when you’ve been banned. You think this kid will one day understand the value of free speech? I promise you this kid knows more now about free speech than libs do at this very moment……
ritethinker on January 12, 2007 at 2:37 PM
After
strollingwading through the muck at DU, I’m wondering why all the lefties insist on having little pictures, and emoticons, and “quotes”, and whatever else on their comments. WTF??KelliD on January 12, 2007 at 2:38 PM
Its totally Photoshopped, and Allah, you practice witchcraft.
Michelle is an active card carrying communist, and I believe Diet Dr. Pepper does NOT taste as refreshing as regular Dr. Pepper.
Oh, and Ian doesn’t like Animaniacs.
Ringmaster on January 12, 2007 at 2:39 PM
Bwahahahah…the “smarter” DUers…good one. It’s all one liners and conspiracy crap.
StoutRepublican on January 12, 2007 at 2:41 PM
and this:
the flag is real, THE KID IS PLASTIC. from our du-ers
DU, the bottom of the bottom barrel.might should be UD- unbelievably dumb.
shooter on January 12, 2007 at 2:41 PM
Oh, it is simple: That flag has to be photoshopped, because what rightthinking innocent Iraqi victim of the imperialist zionist dogs or their lackeys would EVER wave the flag of said imperialist oppressors? The people at DU don’t wave the flag, why would this kid? Therefore, Michelle and Allahpundit clearly are faking it!
Otherwise, their world view would be wrong–and we can’t have that!
Vanceone on January 12, 2007 at 2:43 PM
“After strolling wading through the muck at DU, I’m wondering why all the lefties insist on having little pictures, and emoticons, and “quotes”, and whatever else on their comments. WTF??”
It makes them “feel good” about themselves. That’s important when everything you do is based on emotion rather than actual rationale thinking. Plus, most of them haven’t matured past adolescence.
darwin on January 12, 2007 at 2:43 PM
And besides, how could it be waving? There’s no air on the moon!
bdfaith on January 12, 2007 at 2:44 PM
Can we please start referring to DU as DUH.
Hey, see the way that kid’s hair is blowing in the wind, yet the flag is waving as though the wind was coming from four degrees further NNW than the hair movement suggests. [heavy breathing] And where’s his thumb, the kid doesn’t have a thumb? {pant,pant]
Idiots.
fogw on January 12, 2007 at 2:44 PM
God, who cares? You’ve already said you photoshopped it, to clean it up. That the boy should have an american flag is news? And why are you quoting people from the comments section of DU? Imagine if the “moonbats” held you to that standard? Responsible for all that’s said by your commenters here? How many times have I read you saying that “Michelle and I don’t think that”?
THeDRiFTeR on January 12, 2007 at 2:50 PM
What must it do to these pathetic souls to see an Iraqi kid with an American flag? Is it like water on a witch?
Jaibones on January 12, 2007 at 2:51 PM
Truth to power baby. Whatever.DU’s need a life.
vcferlita on January 12, 2007 at 2:52 PM
Obviously a fake, the time stamp shows it was taken at 12:00 January 1, 1900, and the kids haircut was obviously done with a flowbie, not available at that time.
Really nice picture though. Glad that one made the cut for posting.
E5infantry on January 12, 2007 at 2:54 PM
Why not just post the original un-retouched version and shut them up.
DanCamm on January 12, 2007 at 2:56 PM
“God, who cares?”
Apparently you do. Enough so to write a four line post trying to shift the focus.
Drift away DRiFTeR … far, far away.
darwin on January 12, 2007 at 2:56 PM
Yeah ok, and I suppose those live pictures of Iraqis carrying a banner that said “Human Shields Go Home” was fake too, right?
They just can’t believe somebody would choose freedom over tyranny.
Tony737 on January 12, 2007 at 2:56 PM
Funniest line from the DUmmies. As if adults, who are cold and in need of supplies, would stop and ponder the geopolitics of accepting such aid and comfort and decide that they would indeed refuse such aid “on principle.” oy.
Mallard T. Drake on January 12, 2007 at 2:57 PM
This was actually very nice of the DUmmies, it being such a slow news day and all.
see-dubya on January 12, 2007 at 2:57 PM
Maybe its a joke, possibly botched. Remember when Confederate Yankee joked that he thought he saw Bush photoshopped into a Burqa, then Drudge picked up on it, then lefties used that post to prove that Jamil Hussein DID exist? Good times.
BohicaTwentyTwo on January 12, 2007 at 2:58 PM
When you touched the pic I was wondering if someone will say anything, even if there was a caption under it. I guess I underestimated moonbat stupidity.
Ropera on January 12, 2007 at 2:59 PM
THeDRiFTeR
It’s a nice image. Maybe not news-but nice. Is that too complicated for you to understand? The point here is how pathetic these people are for ammunition against their political foes. Do you think they gave a rat’s ass about the real fauxtography scandal?
WriterMom on January 12, 2007 at 3:00 PM
LMAO Ringmaster.
“They say Diet Dr. Pepper tastes like regular Dr. Pepper. Well, then, that means they fucked up!” –Mitch Hedberg
mikeomatic on January 12, 2007 at 3:01 PM
Allah - everytime you link to DU or Koz I get so depressed I have to crank up my meds - LOL - These idiots really hate America. I honestly cannot believe some of the posts are not a spoof - I really wish that they were. I don’t know about y’all but after the election I started building a bomb shelter in my back yard!
iam7545 on January 12, 2007 at 3:01 PM
Michelle and other bloggers have correctly identified and proven when a photo has been “Photoshopped” or sensationalized. But if you read the DU posts on this photo, they spend a lot of time discussing this photo when they have no proof. If this is the best they can do, that’s pretty sad! Don’t they have something better to discuss, or are they just bitter at those who speak the truth?
csbpublic on January 12, 2007 at 3:02 PM
It was, I saw it. The original was the same but very dark.
But I wouldn’t expect DUer’s to understand Photoshop “lightening” . They’re more familiar with the artificial racial exploitation of darkening of images and subjects…blackface Liebermann.
Topsecretk9 on January 12, 2007 at 3:07 PM
Testy, testy.
It’s Friday, it’s a fun item, it’s easy content. Nuff said.
Allahpundit on January 12, 2007 at 3:08 PM
Why don’t the inmates over there do something constructive, like break a story themselves. They’re so busy trying to recreate history and catch those who’ve exposed fauxtography doing it themselves that they waste valuable brainpower that could go to good use.
Oh, I said brainpower. That excludes them. Nevermind.
JammieWearingFool on January 12, 2007 at 3:10 PM
And damned noisy for a guy who was leaving, never to return. Yada, yada, yada…
Pablo on January 12, 2007 at 3:14 PM
Great, AP is just like the AP. What’s next? A fauxtograph of Batman on top of a building staring up at the Star of David? A fauxto of Hillary Clinton dressed in warmups holding up olympic gold medals?
Rick on January 12, 2007 at 3:16 PM
well, finally the scales ballance out from that idiotic blather about the “bush in a burkah” photo.
jummy on January 12, 2007 at 3:19 PM
This one from DU really got me going. What a tool.
Benhurst (1000+ posts)
“Remember after we invaded Panama and killed somewhere between five and fifteen thousand civilians and buried them in mass graves, how the streets were lined the following days with Panamanians waving similar little U.S. Flags?
Yes, we are loved all over the world, and billions of people keep their own little Old Glory in the house just in hopes the occasion will arise to rush into the streets waving it in gratitude for being bombed and invaded.”
RW Wacko on January 12, 2007 at 3:20 PM
Perhaps it would be a good idea to take photos and publish them unretouched and in whatever condition they arrive in to counter questions of authenticity before they happen.
The Left will grab anything they can, true or false, to support their position and propaganda. Don’t confuse them with the facts, it doesn’t matter to them.
I would rather see a poor quality photo that has impecable pedigree rather than a sharper image that has been modified in any way in the current news environment.
omegaram on January 12, 2007 at 3:20 PM
Sorry, I’ve been drinking!
THeDRiFTeR on January 12, 2007 at 3:20 PM
That’s raaaaaaaaaaaaacist!
Enoxo on January 12, 2007 at 3:21 PM
If the stick on the flag was straight they’d whine that you hadn’t been artful enough to make a bent stick.
Hope they’re doing well. Update?
htom on January 12, 2007 at 3:22 PM
And I’m stuck at work.
There is no justice in this world.
Slublog on January 12, 2007 at 3:25 PM
It’s been so long since any of them actually held a little flag like that, therefore I could see how they didn’t remember how flimsy the stick is and how lightly the actual flag is stapled to the bent wood that comes with it!
Pam on January 12, 2007 at 3:26 PM
These people are too dumb to realize the implications of their behavior…
“Oh my, a pro-American piece of propaganda. Democrats to your battle stations; we must fight this in the manner that they are always fighting our pro-jihadi and anti-American propaganda!”
Perchant on January 12, 2007 at 3:27 PM
Update: this conspiracy goes all the way to the White House. Why has Allah Photoshopped this puppy? DU has it all figured out…
Laura PackYourBags (1000+ posts)
35. Here’s why
“UPDATE, 6:19 PST: Hugh has the transcript up.
HH: All right, yesterday, the President also mentioned that there will be lots of carnage on television screens. Is the administration, and especially the Pentagon, prepared to fight the new media war when that starts to happen, Tony Snow?
TS: We’ve been fighting it. I mean, it’s not that it has started to happen, it’s been going on for some time. What is interesting, Hugh, and you know this as well as anybody else, you’re also starting to see little glimmers of guys like Michael Yon and others who get over there and they basically embed themselves in Iraq, and Michelle Malkin’s over there now. ”
Kelly Rupert (1000+ posts)
38. So your reasoning is.
“Tony Snow says that the White House is going to have to turn the debate in Iraq positive. Also, Michelle Malkin went to Iraq. Therefore, a photograph is photoshopped.”
Well, I’m convinced.
Laura PackYourBags (1000+ posts)
42. Great. Thanks for agreeing with me.
BWWWAAAAAAAAAHAAAAAAHAAAAA!
RW Wacko on January 12, 2007 at 3:30 PM
A votre sante! Drifter
Well iam7545, should you finish it soon, don’t get in it yet - it’s still quite entertaining and not yet terribly dangerous out here…and the variety, heh, never-ending. The fun has just begun.
Entelechy on January 12, 2007 at 3:32 PM
Yes, Slublog, there is - you simply picked the system/country of your choice :)
Entelechy on January 12, 2007 at 3:34 PM
I don’t want to come off as rude or hostile, but those people are being silly geese.
Jim Treacher on January 12, 2007 at 3:35 PM
They aren’t very creative, either.
AP already noted that the photo had been photoshopped (and listed what he had done).
If I were going to attack the photo in the crazy DU way that we’ve all grown to know and love *cough*, I would have said, “Look at the snot on his upper lip and the forced smile. It’s obvious that the kid was forced to hold the American flag. I wonder what those eeeevil boogeymen US soldiers threatened him with? Blah blah blah CONSPIRACYYYYYYYYYYY!”
They always go for the easy things though. “Allah said the photo was photoshopped. I know….I’m gonna run to the DU and claim that the photo was *gasp* PHOTOSHOPPED!”
God gave us the DU so we could be entertained on slow news days.
JadeNYU on January 12, 2007 at 3:37 PM
It’s nice to finally see some of these libs speak the truth.
Rick on January 12, 2007 at 3:37 PM
Heh.
I’m in the eastern time zone, so in a mere hour and a half, it’s quittin’ time.
And after that, there will be Guinness.
Slublog on January 12, 2007 at 3:38 PM
The hypocritic undergrounders are positing that this kid is too young to understand geo-politics? That’s funny, ex-footballer and new congressman Heath Shuler says his two year old daughter is inspired by “Tuna” Pelosi. I would venture a guess that this Iraqi kid knows more at this age about geo-politics than the mental-midgets posting at DU…
ritethinker on January 12, 2007 at 3:39 PM
Of course there is. It’s called a hangover.
RedWinged Blackbird on January 12, 2007 at 3:40 PM
From Little at DKos:
I’m sure this will make Bryan very happy.
Rick on January 12, 2007 at 3:42 PM
Nice try Allahpundit. In the REAL version, he’s screaming “Death to America!” and the flag is on fire. And his other hand is holding an RPG. Oh, and nice job editing out all the burning Sunnis in the background.
Anyway, I don’t see what ths fuss is about. It’s not like this is a 1972 memo proving Bush didn’t fulfill his military service, or a picture of the still-elusive Jamil Hussein. It’s just a kid with a flag. Sheesh.
TallDave on January 12, 2007 at 3:46 PM
I swear need a labotomy to even understand how a DU dummy thinks. That or an IQ level of 60
William Amos on January 12, 2007 at 3:48 PM
I. Just. Can’t. Do. That.
A long, hot shower won’t even begin to remove the stench if I take your advice.
Anyway, I was in Iraq with the boy and I can assure everyone he was, in fact, brandishing a knife in his left hand. That’s right. He got pissed when he was handed a pink toy. He demanded that the infidel soldier who brought it to him bring him a red toy.
CliffHanger on January 12, 2007 at 3:50 PM
What software program did you use to alter the photo? Was it Photoshop? Doesn’t that mean the photo was photoshopped?
pabarge on January 12, 2007 at 3:51 PM
So post the original next to it. Problem solved.
Gregor on January 12, 2007 at 3:51 PM
GREAT IDEA—–”Democratic Underground HACKS“—–LOVE IT.
So it is written.
So it shall be.
seejanemom on January 12, 2007 at 3:54 PM
Gregor beat me to it.
Yea, Post the original. WinXP Pro will have the camera type in the properties if it was taken by one.
Mazztek on January 12, 2007 at 3:54 PM
I have to go with the DU’ers on this one. That top the kid is wearing isn’t the standard issue Iraqi slum uniform. Look at the cut of the collar, man. It’s clearly a peasant uniform issued exclusively to Fallujah Street Urchins. Are you expecting us to believe Michelle and Bryan were in two places as once?
GPE on January 12, 2007 at 4:03 PM
Hey, wait a minute…I think I’ve seen that kid on tv. He’s an actor!! What kind of stunt are you people trying to pull here?? AP??
Rick on January 12, 2007 at 4:07 PM
Jane, you are brilliant!!!
Happy Hour in less than an hour. Sublog enjoy your Guinness.
I need a liquor drink. Vodka & cranberry NFL.
KelliD on January 12, 2007 at 4:08 PM
forgot the “l” slub sorry about that.
KelliD on January 12, 2007 at 4:09 PM
The fact that the original photo showed a goat chewing on a can of peas, doesn’t mean that the photo wasn’t depicting what it has morphed into.
right2bright on January 12, 2007 at 4:10 PM
Posted before the: That is the kind of analysis you get from the other side.
right2bright on January 12, 2007 at 4:10 PM
Can’t beat the logic. Gee what a brilliant statement. The fact that you are trying to fool us means that you are foolish?
right2bright on January 12, 2007 at 4:13 PM
Famous Leftie utterances..
The Rather Memo was real….
Carl Rove will be frogmarched..
I met Jamil Hussein…
I voted for _______ before I voted against_______…
I did not have _________ with that woman…..
It’s a vast right wing conspiracy…
Iraqis’ will never vote……
We have reached an agreement with Kim Jong “ILL”….
Air America will dominate the airwaves…
And I thank Al Gore for inventing the internet which has enabled me to join my fellow progressives in uncovering all the “Inconvenient Truths” the right wing neocons have hiden from us !
Viva La Truther !
186k on January 12, 2007 at 4:18 PM
Oh I almost forgot,
Lamont will TROUNCE Lieberman !
Peace out
\ /
|
186k on January 12, 2007 at 4:24 PM
So… are they implying that the act of running the “Remove Noise” filter on Photoshop created the image of the kid holding a flag?
I don’t get it.
In any case, just put the un-cleaned version right below it, label it as such, and that’s that.
DaveS on January 12, 2007 at 4:33 PM
So are they claiming that it is fabricated or that it is staged? Real but innaccurate?
BohicaTwentyTwo on January 12, 2007 at 4:38 PM
Now if that kid was wearing a green helmet…
right2bright on January 12, 2007 at 4:40 PM
AP,
Next time adjust the curves properties in the RGB Channel instead of using the lighten/contrast, then adjust the light and dark sliders in the Levels properties to remove any non-image data in each Red, Green and Blue channels and finally slightly over saturate all channels (CMYK, RGB, as well as Master)and tone down the Hue in each. Always comes out perfect and doesn’t give the little brats anything to piss and moan about.
Just some friendly advice from a semi-pro photog and photoshop expert.
kiakjones on January 12, 2007 at 4:42 PM
The bottom of the stick isn’t aligned with the top!!
Just a thought, but maybe this rocket scientist should take a look at all the cheap Chinese American flags in a dollar store sometime.
Cheap == bent sticks. doh!
Purple Avenger on January 12, 2007 at 4:46 PM
Why are we even listening to these Leftist flakes?
As soon as I saw the photo with the disclosure it was modified, I knew this reaction would happen.
They have nothing, so they grasp at straws.
rogersnowden on January 12, 2007 at 4:48 PM
LOL. I don’t agree. I think you should just leave it as it is and let the ravers rant. Can be good for a laugh that. I mean, just look at “jamilgate”.
THeDRiFTeR on January 12, 2007 at 4:54 PM
I’m disappointed, AP. I expected the Southpark “Truther” vidclip as a post-ender. Now I have to rummage through the archives.
Dusty on January 12, 2007 at 5:02 PM
Wasn’t that kid on a strectcher, being placed in an ambulance?
Or is that Karl Rove, childhood portrait.
right2bright on January 12, 2007 at 5:04 PM
By the way, Valiant, that thing sticking out of shirt pocket looks an awful lot like the hoagie wrappers used by the AP Deli chain of hoagie shops in NYC.
Not that it is, ya know. I believe everything is just as Allahpundit explained it. No doubts about it. I’m just saying it looks like it.
Dusty on January 12, 2007 at 5:12 PM
I am pretty sure you would find more intelligent conversation in Hell.
jdkchem on January 12, 2007 at 5:16 PM
Allah
I suggest you adjust the levels and color balance on the Lieberman blackface image (with before and after) as a photoshop tutorial in lightening in a image for the Kos kids.
Topsecretk9 on January 12, 2007 at 5:16 PM
Yet would it be more interesting?
Defector01 on January 12, 2007 at 5:22 PM
Shoulda stuck flat Fatima in the picture.
Glynn on January 12, 2007 at 5:25 PM
I’m sure that any day now Markos Moulitos will be leading an expedition to Iraq to find the real ” little-boy-who-holds-the-American-flag”
billy on January 12, 2007 at 5:36 PM
I just can’t bring myself to visit DUH, so this might be a bit off topic.
My reaction to the photo was a completely melted heart. Just wanna gather that kid up in my arms and hug him. Thank you for the poignant photo, Michelle.
RushBaby on January 12, 2007 at 5:53 PM
I’m sure that any day now Markos Moulitos will be leading an expedition to Iraq to find the real ” little-boy-who-holds-a-stick-that-AllahPundit-added-an-American-flag-to”
There.
Freelancer on January 12, 2007 at 6:11 PM
Oooops!
Thanx Freelancer!
Forgot my moonbat talking point. Way to watch my back.
billy on January 12, 2007 at 6:14 PM
To hell with the DU’ers; who cares what those slack-eyed mouth breathers have to say anyway? Heck, they are the same people who believe that Bush planned 9/11.
I personally can’t wait to see more from our intrepid reporters, Michelle and Bryan!
Zorro on January 12, 2007 at 6:19 PM
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