Obama, McCain pay tribute to 9/11 victims - Photoshoped Flag Pin?
September 11th is a day for reflection for America, and the presidential candidates took full advantage. Both Obama and McCain, along with their VP picks were at ground zero. While scanning through the pictures, I happened to notice something interesting. It looks to me like someone photoshopped a flag onto McCain. As far as I could find, there were no other photo’s with the flag.
Take a look at the following pictures. Do you think this flag pin was photoshopped?
Edit 9/26/08: Rhonda R Shearer at StinkyJournalism.org has pointed out that this image is not photoshoped. In fact, McCain had a pin place on him after descending the ramp. There are photo’s of this event. I apologize to McCain, and all of my readers for not taking the time to investigate this fully.
Images are copyright their respective owners, and are used under the Fair Use doctrine.
We at StinkyJournalism.org like to check out questions like you have posed.
I went to GettyImages. The photos show: When Obama and McCain were going down the ramp into “The Ground Zero Pit” as it is called, MaCain was not wearing a lapel pin. See Image #82781707
However when walking back up the ramp he was wearing a pin . (See Image # 82781635)
So someone (staff member? concerned fan?) must have “pinned” McCain sometime after he placed the one flower in the fourth shot you display.
However it is odd that he has no pin while placing one flower and later has a pin when holding three (more?) flowers. Did he really pick up 3 more flowers after placing the one?
I know someone shooting down there and I will ask. Also, I will see if anyone got a shot of McCain getting a pin.
Case solved. GettyImages has photo of firefighter putting a pin on McCain’s left lapel. See Image #82779928.
Just some free advice; so take it for what its worth.
It is very good to ask questions and even better to doubt photos. However, it is better still to do a few minutes of research before posting an article that will be picked up by others and start, in this case, false rumors.
Any one of us can be wrong, but going to the big photo archives like Getty and looking at all the shots BEFORE publishing is important before making suggestions or allegations of fauxtography .
I am going to write something up about this topic of blogger errors on StinkyJournalism.org and want to give you an opportunity to respond before publication.
Would you please contact me at rrs@asrlab.org at your earliest convenience ?
Thank you,
Rhonda R. Shearer
Mat, Here is my report that cites this post. Hope to hear from you soon. I will add your comment as an update.
http://www.stinkyjournalism.org/latest-journalism-news-updates-131.php
Not everyone that shares their thoughts to others are journalists, this would seem obvious enough, but for some reason you hadn’t made that connection and therefore you should admit your mistake and correct it promptly.