Los Angeles Front Page War Photo Doctored, Iraq based photographer dismissed

The Los Angeles Times ^ | 04/02/2003 | Editor

[RushingWater]

On Monday, March 31, the Los Angeles Times published a front-page photograph that had been altered in violation of Times policy.

The primary subject of the photo was a British soldier directing Iraqi civilians to take cover from Iraqi fire on the outskirts of Basra. After publication, it was noticed that several civilians in the background appear twice. The photographer, Brian Walski, reached by telephone in southern Iraq, acknowledged that he had used his computer to combine elements of two photographs, taken moments apart, in order to improve the composition.

[ZGuy]

Earlier AP post Here

[JennysCool]

Guess this means Registered won't be getting any LA Times gigs soon. Sad, really.

[martin_fierro]

Walski won the 2001 California Press Photographers Assn 45th Annual Gold Seal Contest with this entry:

Makes you wonder if the boy and the gun were together at the same time -- or if Walski used forced perspective.

[Reactionary]

The doctored photo makes it look as though the soldier is being defensive as the man with the child walks towards him.

Fitting for Arabs and liberals, I think.

[sharktrager]

This amazes me. The changes were immaterial, and he gets fired.

But columnists and newswriters at the same paper lie and distort facts on a daily basis with no action taken.

[Deb]

What it looks like is, the photographer tried to make the soldier look more menacing by using the man with his hand up, in (maybe) objection, with the soldier putting his hand up to silence the man, in the same photo. Very subtle.

[Michael.SF.]

here are the photos:

Actual Photos

..

Doctored photo:

Actually, I think the doctored photo is better and does not alter the story. But good for the times to fire a guy who broke policy.

Note: the guy crouching (in white w/ red scarf) appears twice, as do some others.

[smokinleroy]

The man with the gun is clearly several feet in front of the boy.

[browardchad]

Composition-wise, I think the first photo tells the story better; the Iraqi man with child is looking over his shoulder in fear, presumably at the direction of the gunfire, while the Marine is telling him to get down, for his own safety.

The composite photo (the one used) makes the Marine look menacing toward the man, directing him to get down because the man may be advancing on the Marine.

Considering this is the LA Times, I'm sure they much preferred the doctored photo.

[gavriloprincip]

photoshop!

[DTA]

>>>>But good for the times to fire a guy who broke policy<<<

Interesting that there was no such policy when fake pictures of concentration camps in Bosnia were used to support Muslim lies and dupe Brits and Americans to support Muslim cause.

For Liberal scum, it is OK to lie, but only if it supports Muslim cause.

[sauropod]

Bill O'Reilly ping?

[Shermy]

Makes you wonder if the boy and the gun were together at the same time -- or if Walski used forced perspective.

That pic at #4 is a hot one in the Arab world. I heard a guy from the "Arab News" talk about it on the radio.

[stainlessbanner]

Is that the Tourist Guy in the back?

[Knuckle Sandwich Combo]

[Gummi Bear]

I agree. The photographer knew what kind of a shot he wanted and he got it.

He was at the right place at the right time. Sitting at his laptop.

[Cicero]

The doctored photo is far more dramatic, because it turns the scene into a kind of controntation between the soldier and the man with the child.

I have to say that, after seeing this, I suspect that the prize-winning photo was also doctored. Once again the drama is entirely in the combination of two elements, a cowering child and the armed men.

[ChemistCat]

I think the people who came in second, third, honorable mention in that contest might be interested in seeing this dishonest Photoshopper disqualified. The CPPA ought to hear some public reaction to their award winner's shameful act.

If you have any questions about the Gold Seal contest call Tracy Silveria at 714 966-7767. For questions about the CPPA board positions call me at 909 368-9490. Thanks and good luck in the Gold Seal contest. Carlos Puma CPPA President

[MHGinTN]

I'm with you ... the first photo tells the truth of the peril. The second makes a subtle assertion that the people are afraid of the Brit Soldier when he was actually trying to have them get down to get out of a line of possible fire from the Iraqis!