Yahoo News Photo [Another fake photo? Follow-up to thread pulled minutes ago]

Yahoo ^ | 8/8/6 | Mohammed Ballas

[ZGuy]

A Palestinian militant fires toward Israeli troops during an arrest raid in the West Bank village of Qabatiyeh near Jenin, Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2006. Four Palestinians were wounded when the army arrested an Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades militant, Palestinians sources said. The army said two Islamic Jihad militants were arrested during the operation. (AP Photo/Mohammed Ballas)

[MassExodus]

It does look funny, the way the shooting guy stands out, but sometimes digital cameras create some weird looking effects.

Bingo.
The other detail that has me thinking this was real was the star shaped blast pattern of smoke created by the surpressor in front of the spectators.
Adding smoke might seem like a simple thing, but knowing about and editing that pattern is a tough sell.

My take - not PhotoChopped - but staged.

[eXe]

Could be.. not sure. This is the area I was thinking was the mag part.

It also looks like a shorter 20 round mag, I only say that because I do not see it extending down past the sling.

The only 2 colors of any of my AR-15 mags are that grey and black.. this one look like a grey one.

[ZGuy]

Let's see . . . 2,700+ views and 150+ replies in less than an hour times 3 minutes each means that this post has cost American productivity nearly 100 hours. (I'm so ashamed)

[Cletus.D.Yokel]

Unless the shooter were shooting through a portal or a narrow place between buildings. The fauxtographer could be using another wall for protection.

I still say its staged.

[jdm]

There's a peacock-like shadow behind the two boys on the far left. Not sure if that's from a nearby tree....?

[Free State Four]

"Ewww!!! Who Farted???"

I'm glad I'm not the only one who had that reaction. I feel more normal now. Thanks.

[JamesP81]

See my post 62 where I eat crow on the issue.

My apologies then. It's hard to play thread catch up and still catch all the posts :\

[FarRightFanatic]

Do you guys see the shooter's left hand, holding the gun? Under it you can see the clip showing. Now above his wrist you can see the shirt of the guy behind him with his head to the side of his face. Am I wrong that the clip shouldn't be see-through? And what is the black area under the stock? Shouldn't the building behind show? Doesn't that look off?

[jdm]

lOL!

[dennisw]

Wall stain.... look at other discolorations on the wall

[Steve_Seattle]

I'll reiterate what others have said: although this photo might be doctored and/or staged, it serves no obvious propaganda purpose, so maybe we are spending too much time on it.

[Mr. Jeeves]

Lacking a "really good shot" creates the need for "embellished" photos which serve the purpose of conveying the "message"

All opinion pieces are likewise "purchased commodities" - like the Armstrong Williams columns.

Maybe the MSM should just create a new category called "Opinion Photos" and let the Photoshoppers do as they wish on those. ;)

[JamesP81]

Could be.. not sure. This is the area I was thinking was the mag part.

That would be the right location. It appears that there's a lot of interference, if you will, from the skin tone of the shooter's arm. If the camera had been rated for higher resolution, it would be easier to tell.

It's possible a 20 rounder might still extend low enough that you might get a glimpse of it, but not sure. I'm still of the opinion that it's doctored, especially considering the location of the spent cartridge in flight, but I certainly can't prove it.

[jdm]

If you believe one part of the gun is more far forward (closer to the photographer) than another part of the gun, then you're seeing what I'm seeing.

[WBL 1952]

Say what? I think you have been watching too many war movies. You think in the heat of firing a guy is going to make sure his sling is wound right? Also, the casing sure looks to me like it has been ejected properly. I question what appears to be extra fingers below the mag area; but would accept somebody saying he looks like he is missing two fingers; probably shot off.

Bottom line is why get all worked up over this picture when there are others that are obviously doctored. Even if this picture was doctored it proves our point that these guys surround themselves by civilians. Why would they bother to doctor it as such?

sheese

[mass55th]

"There is a 5th civilian directly behind the rifle stock. You are seeing the hair of a youngster."

There's actually six civilians and the shooter. There's a head of hair in between the shooter's armpit and the butt of the weapon. Who's is it? The 5th or 6th person's? And to me it looks like the head of hair is actually overlapping the butt of the weapon.

[weegee]

Don't know if it was photoshopped. Don't particularly care.

As I say, it could be staged at a firing range and accomplish the same results.

The bigger things to note are the proximity of "civilians" and the photographer who the terrorist activity.

[Eva]

That's not a tee shirt, the kids got a collared shirt on, and the wrinkles in the shirt, under the gun don't match the rest of the shirt.

[TankerKC]

Did you see the new caption on photo 6? it is the same guy...look at the shorts & no shirt.

[MediaMole]

There is another person directly behind the shooter. The shooter is using an M-4 variant with a collapsible stock and a fore grip. I believe he has a magazine that is natural metal rather than blued.

I don't think this is photoshopped. It may be staged, but the guy is there shooting. THre is a fine haze of smoke in front of the two kids.

As for a pali with an M-16 variant. Remember -- we equipped the PA "police" after the Oslo accords.