Future of "photo matching" will be questioned

[sportscentury]

Re: Future of "photo matching" will be questioned

In fact, a few days ago Reuters canned a photographer for doing just that. (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/5254838.stm) I'm personally not worried about it.

You are a faster typer!

[sportscentury]

Re: Future of "photo matching" will be questioned

Did anyone see the story on the Reuters photographer who was fired for doctoring photographs of the war? Apparently, the doctoring he allegedly engaged in can be done (and may have been done) using Photoshop!

Here is one of the many links to this story (though I originally heard the story on MSNBC early yesterday morning and a follow-up piece was added on Photoshop and similar software):

http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/08/07/reuters.photog.reut/index.html

Reid

[skipcareyisfat]

Re: Future of "photo matching" will be questioned

It'd be extremely difficult to pull off in most cases, I think. There are too many things you'd have to get right for it to look good, like the angling, size and exact position of a mark(s). Also, a photo only represents one particular moment in time. Your bat or helmet, for example, will most likely show more use than the one in the picture. I've photo-matched about 10 items in my collection and there are always a few more marks on my items than in the pics.

Also, organizations like the AP, Wireimages, Getty, etc. most likely have policies against doctoring photos. In fact, a few days ago Reuters canned a photographer for doing just that. (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/5254838.stm) I'm personally not worried about it.

[Eric]

Re: Future of "photo matching" will be questioned

Jake

This is an interesting thread.

While we're talking about photomatching I was wondering if you could share with the forum members the manner in which you photomatch items.

Recently you sold a Rocco Baldelli jersey on ebay which came from Authentic Sports, a seller we have discussed on this forum.

When I mentioned to you that people (including myself) have had some problems with their items, you told me you were able to photomatch the jersey, so you weren't worried about it.

Can you tell people here on the forum how you were able to find a photomatch to the one you were selling, thus removing any worry about its authenticity.

Thanks and I look forward to hearing your response.
Eric

[jake33]

Hi there fellow collector's. I just wanted to give a heads-up and my thought of what will happen with photo matching, if it hasn't already.

My mother runs a photography studio, and recently she took a photo of a young man for his senior photos, the young man had a black-eye that he wanted to be taken away from the photography, I would LOVe the show her great computer editing but without the clients premission, but it would be unethical to say the least...

When I saw the finished product, I was extremely shocked to see how amazingly flawless the results were. I asked my mother to doctor a photo of a Brett Favre game photo and to put blood and grass stains on the white jersey, she was able to color match the grass from the field and apply it, after a handlebar mustache and some more goofing around. It became apart that doctoring photos to get a "photo match" can't be that far on the horizon. Also my mother uses a slightly more expensive and advanced version of Adobe photoshop which ANYONE can easily get.

Don't think this will happen? ESPN has been doing it for years. Yes, for a recent example, did anyone notice that Bobby Abreu had a photo with a yankees jersey and cap within hours of getting traded? What they did was photoshop the stock photo of his Phillies picture. They do this all the time as I am sure many of you have already picked up on...

The problem with this industry is that it always seems to get dirtier. It is no secret that if you cna photo match a jersey the odds are the jersey will increase value. We all have heard or suspected at one point someone dirty-ing up or staining a game ISSUED jersey. Image if someone took a game issued jersey, then doctored up the jersey then edited a photo. Scarry.

What I feel would help is making SURE that someone doing a photo match can say where they got it, GETTY Images will continue to be a GREAT source. Or even a team's website. If someone says that "they took the photo themselves" it could cause concern for being weary.

If this hasn't happened yet, I have no doubt that it will happen one day. As collector's we have to stay on top of the game...