OK, release the photo. Put an Oval Office stamp on it. Certify it. Whatever. There are still plenty who will call it a fake.
I’m not great at Photoshop, but a real Photoshop pro can do anything with anything. So right here on my page, I’ve released some authentic photos that took from two to ten minutes to prepare. If we really took time, they could be really convincing. Plus, I’ve already seen a few bad fakes that even I could spot. But what if I had my folks do a few real quick to make a point?
Now you see her…
Now you don’t.
Here’s one of Dan Marino and Anthony of Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza…
And here I am with Dan. He always like to hang out with me. Yes, it’s from the same picture. Dan just needed a new shirt and we flopped the photo. Note the guy in the hat behind we let slide…
Couple looks too young?
There’s an app for that.
Shot not moody enough?
Let’s make it an hour later.
I’m looking a little staid here.
Now I’m so hood.
To release or not to release, that is the question. I don’t know what it would accomplish. I’m not a Photoshop giant (I suck). But a real Photoshop pro could do anything with anything. What do you think?
~Mike
And as an extra bonus, our President visits LeTub!
Mike LaMonica's Blog 
Woody Allen covered this in Zelig in moving pictures.
I’m reading an excellent book Stalin and hi Hangmen by Donald Rayfield at the moment – another expert at having people wiped from photos.
I almost forgot about that! Sorry, I’ve been off the blog links for a wee bit. These days anything is possible. Spielberg or James Cameron can invent entire worlds.
On topic here, I’m glad they did not release the photo. Already there are retaliations. The last thing we need to do is incite this further.
~Mike
In the midst of all the hype leading up to 2003’s sequels to “The Matrix”, I read an article in either Time, Newsweek or Wired that mentioned how one of the film’s top visual effects guys sent an ominous warning letter to the White House indicating that the technology they use in Hollywood is more than enough to fake images that could affect national security. That letter went unanswered, presumably because it wasn’t anything the government didn’t already know. Personally, I consider Photoshop merely a tool and its danger all depends on the intent of the user. Boxcutters were used to hijack flights on 9/11 and we go on using them every day for more benign purposes. Anything can be used as a weapon, whether it be for physical (violence) or psychologic (propaganda) warfare.
Hey man-
Was it the film Wag the Dog?” where they faked a war with Albania? Great movie.
You’re right, this can be used for any reason. I Just don’t know what releasing the photo (and you know it’s coming out at some point) would accomplish. Some would be screaming from the rafters that is was a fake weather it was real or not. If you want to see Obama at LeTub, see the updated post.
~Mike
I love Photoshop!
I am also no expert, but can create some passable things.
Do I believe it’s a threat to National Security?
No.
Do I believe they can fake anything well enough to fool most of the people?
Yes.
Jilly, I’ve updated my post. See Obama at LeTub! Yes anything can be faked (I’ll leave the joke to you).
~Mike
So that’s you reporting from Pakistan? And if I give you a football, do you think you could get Dan Marino to autograph it for my son? Thanks.
Rob, I’ve updated my post. Anything is possible. I could have you you catching a pass from Michael Vick with the right source art.
~Mike