Photo Fakery: A History of Deception and Manipulation

People are generally aware about how facts can be distorted and misrepresented in the text and art media but tend to be less familiar with how easily photographs can be altered for the purposes of deception. In fact, many people give too much credibility to photographs because they assume that photographs always present scenes realistically. Mr. Brugioni shows not only how easily photographs are altered to distort the truth, he also conveys an idea of how widespread the practice of photo manipulation is in the modern media. I recommend this book strongly for people who are interested in media ethics or want to better understand the role of images in communication by governments, advertisers, and news organizations.

This was very entertaining and caught my attention. It opened my eyes to a lot of tricks in photography that we tend to miss.I think this is a book that all digital artists should read. It would show them what not to do.

After seeing a C-Span program where the Author showed slides of actual, then altered photos from the book, I was so fascinated that I went out the next morning and bought the book, and it was BETTER than I expected! I found it so amazing that even back in the 1860's, this kind of thing could be done. Absolutely a MUST-HAVE book for history buffs!

If a picture is worth a thousand words, then a faked picture is worth a thousand lies. The author uncovers faked photos from the civil war to the Clinton Administration. In an easy to read and understanding style, Brugioni uses his CIA photo interpreter experience to expose manipulated photos used to influence public thinking. The non-photgrapher as well as the pro will appreciate and more than not become alarmed at the lies both domestic and foregin governments have used to influence citizens. Once you read this book you will never look at another photograph without questioning its validity.

This is a fascinating book. After reading it, I found myself searching through the newspaper and magazines trying to find faked photos. It really makes you wonder about how much the media has been truthful with us over the years, and what the real story behind some of the world's most famous photos is. Definitely recommended for the novice and expert alike.