First photo looks staged with a vertical wall behind he flag about 10 ft in back, with dirt laid on the stage floor. The discoloration strip doesn’t appear to continue through the flag, so either staged or photo-shopped.
You’re right! There’s even a partially visible object in the background at the bottom right side of the flag. The shadow doesn’t seem right, at least not “falling” in the same direction as other objects on the ground.
No shadows