But is the photo real? In this case, yes
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (341752)
Rockingham, Australia
November 29, 2017 11:19pm CST
In my last discussion I added a photo of a motor-bike in a tree. We used to see this regularly when we drove this particular road in Western Australia. The photo was taken perhaps 30 years ago and the vegetation has now grown up around the tree to the point where you have to look hard to find it.
The story behind the bike is that one day it wouldn't start and the owner hoisted it into the tree. We drove that road just a few weeks ago and the bike is now sitting at the bottom of the tree. I guess the rope gave way after all those years.
James (@JamesHxstatic) thought the photo was ‘created’ in Photoshop or somesuch. It isn’t but it reinforced a feeling I had earlier that I now find myself wondering if a photo is ‘real’ or not. Is it the result of a clever photographer maybe just touching up his own photo or if it has been concocted from several images?
All sorts of improvements can be made with the many photo-enhancing programmes that are now available but more and more I find myself wondering if a photo is really so good or just someone clever with a program.
Photography has been spoilt a little for me because I’m never sure now if someone is a crash-hot photographer or if they are just pulling the wool (apologies to Herc). Do you find yourself questioning whether a photo is ‘real’ or not?
18 people like this
18 responses
@JohnRoberts (109846)
• Los Angeles, California
30 Nov 17
It looks like someone tried making a jump like Evel Kneivel and landed in the tree.
5 people like this
this is one of the disadvantages of technology indeed. it is hard to believe photos and even videos these days since they can easily be edited
But I think you mean a photo.
@ilocosboy (45156)
• Philippines
30 Nov 17
Wow, it is true and not Photoshop photo, I thought it was not when I saw this few hours ago
2 people like this
@ilocosboy (45156)
• Philippines
30 Nov 17
that is right, its good the one who took the photo can clear it.
2 people like this
@Fishmomma (11377)
• United States
1 Dec 17
I know most photos are real that I see, so never question them. I don't see any reason for my friends to enhance a photograph.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (341752)
• Rockingham, Australia
4 Dec 17
Maybe not those of your friends but others that I come across here and there seem to be a bit too good to be true.
@shaggin (72183)
• United States
30 Nov 17
I tend to believe in the honesty of people so I would be fooled easily by photos that are altered. I thought either it was a toy bike in tree or that tree was massive for the bike to look so small. I think this is so neat the story behind it. You can bet a lot of people stopped to photography this oddity and ask about it.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (341752)
• Rockingham, Australia
30 Nov 17
I guess the bike does look small but the photo hasn't been altered at all. It's off to the side of the road so it would be interesting to know how many people have spotted it. After we saw it the first time we always looked for it.
1 person likes this
@1hopefulman (45120)
• Canada
30 Nov 17
I usually don't question but if is very unusual then maybe we should.
1 person likes this
@changjiangzhibin89 (16785)
• China
30 Nov 17
It is incredible for the motor-bike to be in a tree in the picture.If it was not for you knowing the ins and outs about the picture, I would think of it as a photo processed with Photoshop.
2 people like this
@RasmaSandra (80635)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
30 Nov 17
Interesting photo. I love to take digital photos and load them up in my PC. I like taking photos of all kinds of interesting things but I would not like to add anything to them. I like them just natural. Natural photos like this one of mushrooms growing on a tree.
2 people like this
@AliCanary (3249)
•
30 Nov 17
Until I read your explanation, I wondered if it were a trick of perspective, like those pictures of people playing with the sun or the moon or the leaning tower of Pisa.
2 people like this
@teamfreak16 (43418)
• Denver, Colorado
4 Dec 17
I do. There are lots of photos that seem to be doctored.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (341752)
• Rockingham, Australia
4 Dec 17
I think you are right. It would have taken a bit of effort to get that bike that high up.
@snowy22315 (181961)
• United States
30 Nov 17
Well if they are too crazy I usually think they are photo shopped..but I guess the guy in particular had had it with the bike and decided to hang it all up so to speak..
1 person likes this
@hereandthere (45645)
• Philippines
30 Nov 17
it's a very well-preserved photo (for 30 years old).
so he hoisted it with a rope, then tied the rope to the trunk of the tree?
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (341752)
• Rockingham, Australia
30 Nov 17
I think it is disappointing that we can't just take a photo at face value.
@misunderstood_zombie (8142)
• United States
30 Nov 17
I agree, I always have doubts about whether a picture is real or photo shopped. I don't mind if it's changed, but I don't want it passed off as real if it isn't.
