Wire Services Defend Staged Photos ( propaganda photos from Qana, Lebanon )

Little Green Footballs ^ | 8/1/06

[george76]

The news wire services are circling the wagons around their propaganda photos from Qana: News agencies stand by Lebanon photos.

8/1/06 3:02:32 pm:

If the wire services truly want to settle the timing issue, all they need to do is release the actual timestamps from when the photographs were taken. Digital cameras automatically record this information in the photograph itself, so it would be a simple matter for the wires to provide it.

Will they? Or are we simply supposed to take their word for it?

UPDATE at 8/1/06 4:30:31 pm:

For me, by the way, the timing issue is actually not the most damning thing about the photos, or the thing that most convinces me they were staged. It’s appallingly clear when you examine all the photos that children’s bodies were posed deliberately for photo ops, and that the Green Helmet Guy was doing this for quite a long time, in several different locations often with the same body.

[george76]

"First Rathergate, now Qanagate! "

[SJackson]

If you'd like to be on this middle east/political ping list, please FR mail me.

High Volume. Articles on Israel can also be found by clicking on the Topic or Keyword Israel.

also Keywords 2006israelwar or WOT [War on Terror]

----------------------------

[YellowRoseofTx]

Not to mention a brand new looking pacifer with no dust on it, on one little boy.

[The Electrician]

If the wire services truly want to settle the timing issue, all they need to do is release the actual timestamps from when the photographs were taken.

Not only that, but all of the photographs taken need to be disclosed, in the order that they were shot. What important things may have been left on the "editing room floor"?

[YellowRoseofTx]

Oops, "pacifier"....

[nopardons]

bttt

[Valin]

Thanks!

[SWAMPSNIPER]

" Digital cameras automatically record this".

---

They do, but it is easy to alter, or erase. The time data is based on what date and time the camera is set for, but it can be changed, at any rate.

[Valin]

Have you seen this?

[BIGLOOK]

If they reported the story factually, they'd be 'Media non Grata' and out of there.

[dandelion]

It must be on heck of a firestorm for the newshouses to respond to the allegations of pic fakery...

makes one wonder, that's fer sure.

[george76]

Shenanigans in the old media.

[george76]

another "Rathergate"!

[ArrogantBustard]

Folks have been staging wartime photographs for as long as there have been wartime photographs. See "Brady, Matthew" for example. He, at least, had the bad excuse of bulky cameras, expensive and fragile media, and long exposures. Still, there's nothing at all new about it.

[Valin]

I'm SHOCKED! But then I am so easily shocked.

[ExTexasRedhead]

Keep the heat on the media for their treasonous lying and willing participation in terrorist propaganda. IMO, the MSM are traitors of the worst kind; call them useful idiots!

[george76]

Remember when CNN was in bed with Sadaam ?

The MSM are not only traitors...

[BigMacGOP]

There needs to be a media blackout yesterday on what's going on over there. Israel needs to say to these blowhards - HEY - IF YOU'RE NOT WITH US YOU'RE AGAINST US!

[dandelion]

However, there is a vast difference between simply "staging" photos and "faking" photos. When one manufactures an event, photographs it, then passes it off as an actual even in the name of propaganda for purposes of advancing the cause of the enemy, then one crosses the line from "staging" to "faking".

I don't understand why the Media doesn't just use PhotoShop and post it to Fark.com. At least they'd have more credibility that way...

[JSteff]

"but it can be changed, at any rate."

..and they would do this on many separate pictures, taken by many separate photographers, at many different locations... why?????

Sure.

[BIGLOOK]

Another pre2003 CNN in Iraq.

[george76]

They are against us.

The pictures of Dan Rather with Sadaam smiling together...

Plus Jimmah' with Castro...

[JSteff]

"It must be on heck of a firestorm for the newshouses to respond to the allegations of pic fakery..."

You think the MSM will keep this story alive? They have been ignoring it all day. It is mentioned not as the scam it is but more in passing.

[ArrogantBustard]

Some of Brady's photographs bordered on fake, if not crossing the line outright. In any case, my point is that there's nothing new under the sun. "The Press" has been disingenuous (at best) for just about as long as it has existed. Folks on this forum are acting like they've found something new, with Ra^ther, and fake photos from the Near East, etc. The only thing "new" is that it's easier to today to prove that the press is lying.

[george76]

Remember the CNN employee producer/translator/?? who Saddam had killed ?

But CNN did nothing ...

[dandelion]

I agree, with Brady's work, it's a little hard to get past the "staged" portion, but like you said, considering the equipment and the considerations of photography at the time, it was unusual for a photo to NOT be "staged" to a certain extent.

[WilliamofCarmichael]

re: CNN

"The most busted news source: CNN."

Don't forget one of the biggest busts: that phony chemical warfare story from the Viet Nam war.

[pissant]

Spread the word, please

[pissant]

Anybody ping Buckhead?

[arasina]

The MSM is getting more like Baghdad Bob every day. Propagandameisters.

[Velveeta]

You bet, bump.

[jazusamo]

Thanks for the ping.

FYI - MSM

[Political Junkie Too]

Digital cameras automatically record this information in the photograph itself, so it would be a simple matter for the wires to provide it.

I see an even simpler explanation for the timestamps than even the rebutters used. I'm hesitant to mention it, because yesterday I asked why there were no survivors and then they pulled an old woman out from the rubble. I also do not know the way that professional photographers manage their equipment, so it would just be speculation on my part.

Anyay, if these timestamps are not posting timestamps, but rather the camera stored timestamps that are embedded into the picture when taken, the obvious question is: where do the photographers come from and what time zones do they set their camera's clocks to? Do professional photographers all set their camera clocks to UTC time or their own local time? If photographers come from all over the world to shoot the mayhem, could one assume that their cameras would record different times for the same event because their camera clocks are set to different home time zones?

I agree that this doesn't answer the other valid questions.

-PJ

p.s. I hope I don't see this explanation in the papers tomorrow...

[george76]

MSM is not tricked by these photographs.

The MSM is encouraging this bad behavior.

The Baghdad Bob of Lebanon...

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/1675647/posts

[SWAMPSNIPER]

Maybe someone has an agenda. It is easy to fake exif data, and you can be sure most halfway decent digital camera buffs know how. It is easier just to erase the data altogether, many software programs won't preserve it anyway. I am in the habit of checking images for the data, it is one of the best learning tools I know of. You can download a free exif reader from OPANDA SOFTWARE, if you're curious. Keep in mind, however, that most images online from news sources will be wiped clean as a matter of practice, it makes the file a little smaller. Unless you have access to the unformatted memory card, there will be no record.

[arasina]

The depths they will go to! Disgusting.

---

But the great tragedy for Qana, of which we are constantly reminded by the media, is that this is history apparently repeating itself. On 18 April 1996, the village was also visited by death and destruction. re-visiting the photographs of the time, however, who do we see at the centre of the action? Why, "Green Helmet" of course. This is a younger man, without his glasses, but recognisably the same man, in his now classic pose of handling a victim of an Israeli "atrocity".

[arasina]

So once you format your digital photos (say, to a gallery of thumbnails) you lose the exif data unless you save a copy of the original with no formatting?

[Just A Nobody]

FYI - MSM ENEMEDIA ping!

[jazusamo]

Sorry, I should have known better. :-)

[JSteff]

"exif reader"

Yeah there are lot's of them. I think Picassa from google has a plug in that will do it also. But how do we know that they even thought about it in the heat of the moment to get the scoop. If this situation does get any more traction many more will think of it in the future.

Whatever. A picture does tell a story and the one told by those pictures leaves more doubt on the photographers than on those who are accusing them of staging them. The muzzies do have a history of that.

Search Palli on google.

[Just A Nobody]

who do we see at the centre of the action? Why, "Green Helmet" of course. This is a younger man, without his glasses, but recognisably the same man

OMGosh! I recognized him immediately and thought I had missed this photo.....before I saw the caption underneath.

[Just A Nobody]

Stick with me kid, you'll get the hang of it! LOL!

[SWAMPSNIPER]

Cropping and resizing doesn't wipe the exif, but I don't know if a thumbnail made by most software will retain it.
On my photobucket gallery the thumbnails have no data, but the full files do, for the most part. Some of my early shots were edited with basic software, and wiped. Some image hosts strip it, but show it separately. I like being able to go back later and refresh my memory on camera settings. At my age and condition I go for all the help I can get, LOL. Things that happened in 1950 are often clearer than yesterday.
http://www.pbase.com/tsiya/root
http://photobucket.com/albums/v244/tsiya/

[jan in Colorado]

ENEMEDIA doing what it does best...spreading lies, misinformation and aiding and abetting the enemy!

[Just A Nobody]

spreading lies, misinformation and aiding and abetting the enemy!

You summed it up right nice!

[bitt]

thanks for the ping, I am absolutely disgusted by these degenerate baby-body-defilers. these people have no shame.

[arasina]

Thanks for the info. I did a batch of thumbnails recently and forgot to make copies first. :o(

I'm going to revisit your photo albums, SWAMPSNIPER. You have some really good and interesting ones there! 'zat you with the birds?

[La Enchiladita]

Okay, thanks.