Barack Obama joins Open Government Partnership for group photo

MSNBC Photoblog ^ | 9/20/11 | Rich Shulman

[Hoodat]

http://pajamasmedia.com/tatler/2011/09/20/obama-waving-hand-gaffe-picture-not-a-hoax-or-a-photoshop-after-all/

Obama waving-hand gaffe picture NOT a hoax or a Photoshop after all!

Over the last few hours a photo has begun to circulate on the blogs showing Obama supposedly at the “Open Government Partnership” conference today committing an egregious gaffe by raising his hand to block the face of another world leader.

Here’s a link to the MSNBC photoblog where most bloggers first noticed the image; and here’s the image itself:

[Click on the picture to see it full-size.]

Now, many veterans of the Great Photoshop Wars of 2003-2010 will take one look at this photo and see about a hundred things “wrong” with it. Not only does Obama’s hand seem Photoshopped into the image, but Obama himself seems to have been awkwardly pasted in. In fact, under closer inspection, about half the people in the image appear to have been inserted artificially; in other words, the whole scene looks to be constructed almost from scratch.

But I wondered: Since this photo can be found on an MSNBC site, are they punking the blogs — or did somebody manage to punk MSNBC and pass off a hoax photo as the real thing?

So, following the lead in the image’s credit line — “Allan Tannenbaum-Pool / Getty Images” — I went straight to the supposed source…and to my utter astonishment, I discovered that the image is indeed from Getty Images and can be found on their site:

Getty Images — Title: Obama Meets With World Leaders At The United Nations

Here’s how it appears on the Getty Images page, with their watermark over the picture:

And here’s the official Getty caption:

Caption: NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 20: U.S. President Barack Obama waves while standing with aother leaders during the Open Government Partnership event at the United Nations September 20, 2011 in New York City.

[rlmorel]

I think it is perfectly appropriate and sensible to have a degree of skepticism for nearly every image you see on the internet.

That said, I see this issue the same way I see satire: For satire to be interesting and effective, it has to be in some way distinguishable from reality.

When I saw this, it did not ring any alarm bells. It seemed perfectly in character with a idiot who would give a present to someone of his own speeches and images.

Now, if I saw a picture of him showing genuine love for this country, I would have been immediately suspicious. THAT would be immediately distinguishable from reality, and would be GREAT satire.

[LoveUSA]

The first is NOT photoshopped

I think you're right. This was probably a lighting test shot and they were not asked to stand still yet.

The fact that this photo was released shows that someone involved really dislikes Obama.

[rusty millet]

Photographer: Who wants to go golfing tomorrow morning?

[ProtectOurFreedom]

LOL. Or mabe “Who wants shave ice after the photo?”

[2ndamendmentpa]

Right - like at a wedding. There is one “official” photographer, but its not uncommon for a flock of camera bearing guests to get in on the “official” photo shoot.

Also not uncommon for photographers to use a rapid fire setting that takes a lot of photos over a few seconds...that makes it easy to catch goofy moments like this.

For sure, its seems el Presidente doesn’t have any buddies down at MS-NBC!

[2ndamendmentpa]

now thats funny..! Can someone photoshop Arnold Horshack in there...? Oh..oh..oh-oh-oh...

[chris37]

How.

Can.

This.

Be,

Real!?!?!?

I am simply astonished!

Thank you kindly for your research, I am speechless.

[Private_Sector_Does_It_Better]

Sorry, but Rush is wrong on this. The MSM is pointing out a few HUGE innacuracies in Obama’s class warfare speaches, but they are still in the tank for him in a big way. I stand by my statement “He will have their protection to the bitter end the the repub candidate will be viciously savaged by the MSM.”

I’ll check back with you next September and we’ll see who was right.

PS - Even with the MSM shilling for Obama, he’s such a horrific president that we have an excellent chance of beating him next year.

[NonValueAdded]

daggers? I think she’s in half-swoon.

[Jedidah]

www.gettyimages.com/detail/125682969/Getty-Images-News

[Kirkwood]

The 2 guys behind are ready to break out laughing.

[Hoodat]

Throw it here - I'm open !!!

[21twelve]

“You are looking at a second photo. The first is NOT photoshopped.”

Sorry I wasn’t clear - that is what I meant. Two similar but seperate photos. Indicating that the idea that several photos were taken (camera settings, lighting, etc.) is correct - and it is not a photoshop.

And as others have posted - the goofy one is the one that gets put up on MSNBC!

[Syncro]

Second from the left in the bottom row, isn't that the Iranian terrorist that helped take our Military personnel hostage and only let them free when Reagan took over for Carter?

If it is, why is he smiling as I'm sure as soon as this picture was taken he was arrested.

[Arrowhead1952]

Well, if you are listening to Rush now, he is all over this screw up by 0 bummer.

[cuban leaf]

--Who is the guy that looks just like a hand?--

Kinda like the logo with legs...

[mojitojoe]

That statement is blatantly false. Look at the expressions on the faces of the others, in the photo where he is not waving. It is CLEARLY not the same photo.

[21twelve]

Agreed. I jumped the gun, not taking into account the simple idea of numerous photos taken. And as I mentioned - what is most interesting is that the one that shows him as a doofus is the one that gets put up by MSNBC!

[green iguana]

No, it’s real. Use the site link to go to the original and scroll down to the comments. One of them has a link to the Getty Images site with their copywrighted pic.