Manipulating The Public Through Media

I chose this picture of a British Soldier in Basra, Iraq, because I think that it shows that what the public is exposed to may not always be the truth - especially when the topic is controversial, such as the war. The photo, taken by Brian Walski of the Los Angeles Times, is actually two separate photographs doctored together to make a new, more captivating image. In one of the original pictures, the soldier has his hand up, but the civilian 's head is turned away. In the other original picture, the soldier's hand was down, but the civilian is facing the soldier. When these two images were spliced, and then combined, the result is a photograph that makes it seem as though the anxious civilian is not following instructions of the soldier who is trying to keep him safe.

This picture was originally published on the front page of the Los Angeles Times in April 2003. After the Times figured out that the image had been manipulated, Walski, a 30-year old veteran of the journalism business, was fired per the company's policy against altering news content. Walski claimed that he combined his images in order to improve the composition. It is clear though, when examining the photographs that each image conveys a different theme to the viewer. Walski's interpretation deliberately created a biased opinion in support of the invasion of Iraq. This manipulation makes it seem as though the citizens of Iraq are under incompetent and need the military to protect them.

To see the original pictures in comparison to the doctored image, check out this site: Doctored and Original Images Side-by-Side