Has this photo been touched up?

Question

This is a photograph, which has been submitted as evidence in a court case. It shows what is said to be, a scoreboard, but it looks very strange, to say the least. I would appreciate any expert advice. Please note, the box surround, has been added by me.

Link: http://answerplease.blinkweb.com/

Answer 1

It has been altered. It looks like someone selected the scoreboard and enhanced it for a clearer image. The last time it was changed was on 2-24-09 with Windows Photo Gallery, probably you putting the box on it.

If that is the only photo, it isn't an original. Without the original unaltered file you don't have anything resembling valid evidence. Even with the "original" there is a possibility of manipulation that may go undetected depending on the skill of the person manipulating the file and the examiner.

Answer 2

The image is not clear enough to know for sure if it has been retouched at all. However, in the UK, you would normally have to show 'provenance' for images for use in (criminal) Court cases. This means you have to show an unbroken 'chain' from when the picture was taken to when it appears in Court. Original negatives (in the case of film) or the original memory card (sealed with tamper proof seal) are usually acceptable. In digital photography, the EXIF data present on all files should be accessible - if a digital file has been tampered with, it will either show on the EXIF data or the EXIF data will have been stripped off by the retouching program.

Answer 3

It appears as though the area immediately surrounding the scoreboard has been altered. Whether this is superimposing a new image or enhancing the image as it is can't be seen from the file you've uploaded.

Answer 4

Up close, its quite obvious that the picture has been added. True, scoreboards are suppose to be light but you can obviously see the border of the noise being so much different within the added pic.

Answer 5

It appears that the area around the sign has been burned in for clarity. That means the information there has not been altered. If this image and the original were presented together there would be no problem.

Answer 6

Looks like it's been added as the area surrounding it is a different shade to the rest of the black background.

Answer 7

I do not need to look at the picture to tell if that if this is in fact evidence in a court case and the Judge finds out you are doing this you will be in very big trouble and he/she could even send you to jail. If what you say is the truth then I would remove that picture at once.

Answer 8

It may not have been edited but it may have just been enhanced, for example in Photoshop you would create a similar effect had you used the "Burn Tool" as it would get rid of some of the noise left in the other dark areas of the photo.

Answer 9

It is very hard to impossible to tell without the original, but it does NOT look "touched up" or faked to me. It would have been better to not have your box around it.

But, that said, it does NOT look like a scoreboard. I'm not SURE what it is supposed to be.

Answer 10

Your Lawyer should be sorting this out, He/She will know of expert witnesses He/She can call to refute the evidence.



Showing evidence in a public place and asking for opinions in an ongoing trial might be classed as contempt of court.



Chris

Answer 11

actually no, score boards are usually, and supposed to be, very bright, especially during night time games. it looks pretty real to me, and theres a grain over it just like the rest of the picture.

Answer 12

whew, yeh that's a bad edit job also... very lazy work.

Answer 13

wth shellbac? :P