[justlurking]

Since it isn't photoshopped in the sense that it is 'faked', it's a heck of a scary image!

The incident it depicts is real and was known to be so. I think the initial assessment is that it was a composite image that depicted the incident -- but that the image itself was a reconstruction, rather than the actual picture.

Apparently, one of the contributing factors was the extreme depth of field and sharpness of the image. You need a very fast shutter speed to do so, and at that distance you need a very good telephoto lens. The one described by the Air Force photographer (in the follow-up article) is extremely unusual and very expensive.

[Darksheare]

I know it was a real incident.

I do suspect that any glare was reduced a bit.
The image is still awfully bright right by the aircraft itself.

[aruanan]

Apparently, one of the contributing factors was the extreme depth of field and sharpness of the image.

Extreme depth of field. Ha ha ha. This photo doesn't have extreme depth of field. Note that the cars on the other side of the runway are out of focus. And anything, such as the jet and ejecting pilot, within the depth of field will be, by definition, sharply in focus. If you have a bright enough image and fast enough film, you can compensate for the limitations on the maximum aperture posed by the telephoto lens and still get a sharp image.