Better question is why he over saturated the color of the plume ? Anyone who sees that knows the image was played with by an amateur in photoshop. No professional would ever release an image like that. We need the raw unaltered images assuming he still has them. He has numerous other images where he cranked up the brightness and caused over saturation. But if he wants to leave tell tale signs he is amateur photo shopper, so be it.
Contact Rick Warren then! You are the one throwing these unfounded accusations at him. Contact him, invite him onto the thread, and debate it like an adult. It is easy to simply dismiss a photographers work, but then again you have an agenda to simply dismiss it. I’ve sent Rick an e-mail. Perhaps he will answer your question either on here or if you contact him by e-mail.