Men at work ( More Adnan Hajj fake photos )

Power line ^ | August 07, 2006 | Scott

[george76]

Page 1 above the fold in yesterday's New York Times featured a photo (below) by our new acquaintance Adnan Hajj.

I suspect that not all is as it appears to be in the photo, and somehow doubt that Times readers will ever learn why that might be the case.

The Reuters caption reads: "A severely wounded Lebanese civilian is carried away on a stretcher at Maameltain bridge, after it was targeted by Israeli air strikes, in the north of Beirut August 4, 2006. (Adnan Hajj/Reuters)" (Thanks to reader David Butz.)

[dirtboy]

I think this was staged, now that a wider view is there. It's almost like they are propping the back side of the stretcher up, if you look at the angle of it, as to turn the guy for a better picture.

[Steve_Seattle]

" . . . it's a lot easier to find a real stretcher to use in your staging than to pretend to use a stretcher and then use a computer to shoehorn a digital stretcher into the picture later."

It's nice to see some logic on this thread. As you say, it's easier to stage a photo with a readily available real stretcher rather than to construct a dummy foot-long stretcher to use as a prop, or to photoshop a stretcher.

[BJungNan]

I agree with you. They should either tell us what it is they see or keep it to themselves. Such foolishness wasting people's time like this.

[trisham]

See posts #14 and #16. Apparently the man on the stretcher is an actor.

[thoughtomator]

Could be. Odd that the bar of the stretcher doesn't follow a straight line, though.

[Steve_Seattle]

"Reference the weight of the person and the support of the stretcher...see that thing under the arrow? It's called a wall."

Also the fact that you can see the hands of three different men supporting the stretcher on the right side. I don't know why some are saying the stretcher is unsupported.

[dirtboy]

Hey, the photog gave us damn good reason to look to see if the image was photoshopped. Beyond that, it simply doesn't look like a normal rescue of an injured person by litter. I've helped carry someone down Mt. Ranier in a litter before, and the person was lying down the whole time and we were very careful to keep the litter as level as possible.

[Centurion2000]

Consindering that bombs have been dropping around that place ... maybe it's just bent?

[Krodg]

I still don't see how the stretcher is being held up.

I agree, either that or he guy in the forefront is one strong dude... he's supporting his side of the stretcher with one hand.

[dirtboy]

I don't know why some are saying the stretcher is unsupported.

Because no one was holding the forward side and the material is not taut.

[dirtboy]

Looking at it with what everyone is pointing out, it looks like one end of the stretcher was put on a railing and then the back side tipped up to see the victim better - the back side is lifted up instead of level, even though there is no obstacle to get over. The guy sure does look like he think's he's about to fall off the stretcher.

The main point is, it sure doesn't look normal or natural. That is why I started trying to figure out what was wrong with it.

[thoughtomator]

I'd figure any stretcher that was bombed would be unavailable for use... then again, that their standard equipment would be in poor repair isn't implausible.

[RexFamilia]

The backgrounds seems to be out of proportion with the rest of the photo.
Left side seems to be a city while the rights side is open field
The canvas on the stretcher doesn't seem to be supporting the weight of the wounded
Look at the hands supporting the stretcher, the person must be as light as a feather

[Lazamataz]

It is time for Green Gelmet Guy to appear in dozens of environments and situations.

Like Tourist Guy.

[Steve_Seattle]

"I agree, either that or he guy in the forefront is one strong dude... he's supporting his side of the stretcher with one hand."

It looks to me that you can just barely see someone's hand supporting the pole; the guy you are talking about obviously is providing only minor support, but there's another hand barely visible on the pole to his right. Regarding dawg's comment, I wouldn't compare these rescuers to well-trained Western mountain rescue teams. These are probably just Hezbollah flunkies who aren't trained in rescue operations.

[Steve_Seattle]

"Regarding dawg's comment . . . "

I meant dirtboy's comment . . .

[Steve_Seattle]

Green Helmet Man will definitely join the pantheon of Tourist Boy, Baghdad Bob, and the New Orleans looter.

[StructuredChaos]

I agree, reaching too far on this one.

If he is sitting up it explains why the fabric is not taught behind his head. Try doing a semi situp on a lawn chair with similar fabric for a case in point.

The stretcher appears longer than it first appeared. So the theory of a too small stretcher or levitating man is out. The dust color and lack of visible injuries are hardly confident indicators of doctoring.

And, it appears the stretcher may be resting on a wooden fence of some sort, hence the lack of exertion on the part of those carrying the stretcher.

I think that you all are unwitting dupes to an experiment. I would include myself in the dupes category as I've spent way to much time trying to find something wrong with the picture. What's more we may be the subjects of that very experiment. The object lesson to be taken from the experiment: "where you engage lots of peeps in a hunt for something wrong with say, "a picture" you can expect them to find something and to engage in wild and rampant speculation."

As evidence of the experiment I would point to the following facts:
1. The picture and teasing comment were thrown out there for the purpose of inviting speculation. “I suspect that not all is as it appears to be in the photo, and somehow doubt that Times readers will ever learn why that might be the case.”
2. No further explanation for the teasing comment has been forthcoming;
3. Specific facts have been withheld in an apparent dulling out of information. (i.e. after allowing people to float levitation theories a later picture showing an extended gurney is released)
4. fill in
5. fill in

Now, having said that this is merely an object lesson, I qualify and say that "maybe" this is an object lesson, because, maybe I’ve missed something (i.e. maybe there are no palm trees located in that area)….. But at this point I have no reason, other than “I suspect that not all is as it appears to be in the photo, and somehow doubt that Times readers will ever learn why that might be the case.” to suspect anything.

[ConservativeMan55]

bttt

[Krodg]

I see that now. Thanks