Cloning For Political Advantage

After the news this weekend that a certain Reuters news photographer has been faking images, (besides the example below, there are more of this guys work coming out with captions that are predating the event and more) I can't help but wonder how much we are told is real, well, isn't. Photoshop used as a political weapon can be very powerful, especially when probably 95% of the people that saw the shot never knew that it was eventually exposed and removed... they just remember the phony image. Thanks, Kevin, for this unique thread...

SportsShooter.com - Odd photo from Lebanon...: "->> I know that building plans are often reused in other parts of the world, but if you look at the building that's the apparent source of the plume on the left (as well as the next two buildings to its right) it appears that it's been rubber stamped at least two other times up and to the right. "

Update: Looks like Reuters finally gets it. BTW... this is not a political post, this is a photographer post. This kind of deception simply undermines our profession. I am glad that there is a public outcry and that it is being dealt with.

LONDON, Aug 7 (Reuters) - Reuters withdrew all 920 photographs by a freelance Lebanese photographer from its database on Monday after an urgent review of his work showed he had altered two images from the conflict between Israel and the armed group Hizbollah.