"Most people viewing this photo, noticing the shattered toy perched precariously on shattered slabs, are even more convinced it was placed there by human hands, most logically the photographer's."

What did you do, take a survey? How do you know what most people think? And you assume most people are convinced ab initio that it was placed there by human hands (probably the photographer's) and then become even more convinced when they notice the slabs?

I must be in the minority, looks like random rubble to me. Maybe the bike is on top because it blew down from a higher story than the slabs.

No, on second thought, it must be a conspiracy. Enough of these toddler bike photos and the terrorists will surely win. One look at that photo and most people are even more convinced, as you say. Let's take our own perceptions and conspiracy theories and attribute them to most everyone else. It is truly comforting.

Good catch Yankee! I had not made the connection. This photo (my other classic staged photo from that post) is by Kevin Frayer - husband of a CNN news exec who I believe also claims no staging. Will check further

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/060731/481/b85891ea617d4765a40b20d951c37238

Cheers, AJStrata

BTW you have seen the EU referendum's analysis of some video footage haven't you?

http://eureferendum.blogspot.com/2006/08/stretcher-alley.html

CY - They are clearly staged photos.

Perhaps the photographer of photo #2 can explain why everything in the vicinity is complete, unrecognizable rubble, and yet the bike remains remarkably intact, albeit a little dusty.

And then perhaps the photographer of photo #1 can explain how the bike is remarkably untouched, in fact not even touched by any debris or dust.

One look at these photos and I can discern that they are not what they allegedly depict. However, we must consider the fact that the IAF is remarkably precise in their targeting. Perhaps they sighted the bikes and aimed slightly to the - left.

CY - Take a look at the youtube video on Powerline -

It shows Hezbollah terrorists/innocent civilians firing missiles from innocent civilian homes. Of course the conspiracy theorists will avow that these are not "missiles" coming from a "house" fired at "Israel." They are just "fireworks" coming from a "house" fired at "thin air".

So when Israel strikes back, and destroys the "house" and just about EVERYTHING in it, we are to believe that the "bikes" in pictures #1 and #2 above - survived pretty much intact, and the poor "civilians" that just got annihilated for shooting off "fireworks" were - innocent!

Trackback here

AJ, Frayer's wife is ME Bureau Chief for CTV, not CNN.

Just to verify, take a look at the pictures, this is NOT the same bicycle you are looking at. It has not same shape, colour, wheels. I'm either pro or con of Isreal or Libanon, but please stick to the facts.

Karin,

I think most folks knew that, but thanks for clarifying it for those who weren't paying attention.

It shows Hezbollah terrorists/innocent civilians firing missiles from innocent civilian homes. Of course the conspiracy theorists will avow that these are not "missiles" coming from a "house" fired at "Israel." They are just "fireworks" coming from a "house" fired at "thin air".

It was obviously a "wedding party"!

I work for a newspaper in the photo department and this is not uncommon in the past. They don't stage as much as they used to but I used to work with a photographer who kept a teddy bear in his car to toss into the center of a burned out home or building. True story.

Keep in mind that the photographers need to show the Hezbollah as the oppressed. Otherwise, they will get kicked out and not allowed to follow them around. Prime example? CNN being lead around by a Hez spokesman, shown only the areas they want them to see.

I could fake better pictures in my garage.

You missed some of the worst photographs. This one is extremely distressing, and probably not safe for work. I think the man's name in the photo is Bernard.

Karin,
Not sure exactly what your point is. However, I was thinking the same thing: that the two trikes ARE different. Not only that, but are those fingerprints on the wheel of the bottom photo? Looks like it was placed there to me.

That being said, I don't think that's the point of this story. The point is that hezbollah is amazingly adept at manipulating and staging almost anything they want to sway world opinion against not only Israel but anything Western.

I left a comment here:

The Jerusalem Post says Qana may have been totally staged.

It is also a story about bloggers.

Bloggers get results

My bit included a link to here so it served as a blogger track back.

Also you got a mention in the JP article.

Did I offend you?

Uh Oh. Me bad.

I got cross threaded.

My bit is still in the other thread.

Apologies.

http://www.kohm.org/archive/21july2006.php

another bike. Of course, those fragile bunny ears somehow managed to not get hit by falling concrete. Who took the picture, I wonder ;) wait for it now....