The past few months have seen a spike in doctored images. From the tarnishing photoshopped image of Catherine, Princess of Wales, to German artist Boris Eldagsen‘s picture that won the Sony World Photography Award, the boundaries between real and fake have blurred to the point that our perception of it is completely muddled. We know how it feels like someone is trying to fool you, especially when you are the craftsman of a trade like photography. But don’t fret. The Phoblographer issues a simple guide to distinguish fake photographs that will be instrumental in staying a step ahead of the rest.
The Easiest Ways to Spot a Fake Photograph
Every fake photograph has a sign. What it needs is a keen eye to spot the obvious mistakes.
- Zoom in: The best way is to take an objective, close look at the image. An altered photograph will feature additional shadows, blurs, poor blurring, or excessive smoothing to subjects added later.
- Notice inconsistency or peculiar geometry: Editing intricate details is the most challenging task. For instance, the light may seem off, or objects may overlap. Sometimes, some elements wrap oddly, something online investigators can often tell when a celebrity’s physique is altered in fashion magazines.
- Context is the king: Don’t take or accept any photograph at its face value. Always think about where and how the image is being used. Does the picture come with a damning caption to a cause? Or is being mean to a person? Today, not only fake images but even genuine ones are presented in a light that is either sympathetic to a troubling cause or defaming an authentic story.
- Knowing the source: Remember how industry experts passed off Eldagsen’s picture as accurate? Similarly, British photographer Miles Astray’s image of the flamingo has been considered AI-generated. When faced with a challenge, the best option is to go to the original source. It will tell you exactly who created the photograph and why. Moreover, you can also rely on respected news outlets who follow uncompromising ethics regarding journalism.
- Reverse image search engines: TinEye and Google Image Search are excellent instruments for recognizing fake photographs. They will lead you directly to the source and show you the context in which other publications use the picture.
How to Recognize AI Images
While a poorly Photoshopped image can be prominent, the same sometimes does not apply to an artificially generated photograph. So, how does one see the telltale signs?
- Look for irregularities: Some AI pictures are obviously bad, appearing more like paintings than actual photographs. However, some genuinely stand out. For instance, a fake photograph of Donald Trump surrounded by Black men surfaced on social media, instantly raising suspicion. Twitterartis quickly pointed out how the shirt’s buttons were off, while Trump’s hair appeared excessively smoothened.
- Inconsistent features and hands: Often, the features looked blurred or warped. The nose, the chin, or the eyebrow seemed unnatural. For instance, in Princess Catherine’s image, her face appeared to be cut out from an older magazine cover and merged with the new photo. Similarly, in other AI images, a consistent frugality was extra hands and fingers, an obvious give-away.
- Accessories can’t fool you: Most AI images just show how lousy the mechanism is. Many fake photographs will have recurring accessories—identical watches, shades, or even earrings. Sometimes, the accessories reveal discounted products.
- Backgrounds: Fake AI photographs often feature highly pixelated backdrop or excessively smoothened ones.
- Test the image: AI or Not is a well-known detector for artificially generated images. A quick search will help you know the difference.
Consider what you’d like to do if you finally realize it is a fake photograph. You must report if the image is bullying or defaming someone or an organization. But if it’s a harmless photo, for instance, a cat on a runway, then it’s up to you what you wish to do.