Cheat

[Jocoan]

how about this for cheating
or is it real...............http://uk.news.yahoo.com/...ze-over-fake-870a197.html
you make up your own mind
i can't believe its real........but it maybe

[blackcloudbrew]

How does one respond to something like this? Who do you believe? How would you know? Sounds like a mess though.

Tim

[spyglass]

Of course it is alwasy easy to come to the  general conclusion after the majority have ruled, but personally I am surprised that the judges ever consider it to be authentic and natural. The scene looks designed, staged, and unlikely.
Are we to believe that we see a gate or a fence. If it is a gate (supported by the lack of ground cover) where is the hinge and latch. If it is a fence, why are the tops of the posts angle cut as this would not support poundng them in. This fence would never hold in or out any animals.

The lighting also raises questions. Was it night or was it day? The light fall off strong suggests that a flash was used? If it was taken at night it is surprising that the photographer managed to see the wolf, focus, and achieve a well lit sharp image. If it was during the day and the photographer could see the wolf, anticipate its movements, and ready his camera, why is the background black. One would assume that the light fall off would be more gradual and that the flash would offer fill and not be the only source of illumination. To acfhieve a black background during the day you normally have to underexpose the background by 3 stops or more, and use your flash as a key source.

I also don't know of any animal that would jump if they didn't have too. That wolf could walk or run through the "gate / fence" like it was a 5 lane highway. So what would encourage him to jump. Even better yet, based on the possible shooting location of the photographer (think flash distance), why would the wolf jump towards the photographer when the wolf would be able to clrearly see him - unless the wolf was tame and trained (and knew that the fastest way to the Alpo can dog food was to to follow instructions).

My conclusion is that it is totaly staged, probably captured on the 5th take. It would be interesting to hear everyones thoughts, and possibly some arguments supporting the photo as a legitimate wildlife capture.


Spyglass

[blackcloudbrew]

Nice analysis, Tim. I was sort of lost in the - why would I fake something like that question.

Tim

[calsan]

Tim
I think your argument about the construction of the gate makes sense - the connections and bracing arrangement is totally illogical and not how a farmer (or any practical man) would build.

When I saw this photo in the local paper, the text describing it said that the camera had been triggered automatically and that apparently the wolf had been observed jumping the gate before, so the camera had been set up to catch it.
If Tim is right, the observations of the wolf jumping the gate before this photo may have actually been five times in five minutes!

On the other hand, it does prove that having a "concept" when you take a photo produces a powerful result - this photo draws on childhood stories for it's strength.

PS:
I imagine at dpreview they're discussing whether it was taken on a full frame camera or APS and what the max. flash sync speed was...

[spyglass]

Tim I agree, why would anyone want to pass this photo off under false pretenses (if it was staged). In actual fact I think it scores more points as an arranged and set up shot. (a great idea, and decent execution).

Calum I did not consider the latest trend that some hunters are using to monitor game on trails, valleys, passes etc. Where they use auto trigger camera to detect and catch passing game. This would explain the camera proximity, flash, prefocus, and capture success.

The photo does offer a "fable story book" feel that plays upon our early memories. It is too bad that the photo will always be shadowed with negativity.

Spyglass

[racort]

I would have to agree with spyglass on this being a setup. The fence could be explained. In the photo there is a rock or stone wall, someone could have placed that piece of fence in as just a stop gap, mostly for decoration, post holes may have been used to to set the end posts.The things I have a problem with are the wolf making that high and long of a jump when he could have slunk right thru the fence, of course he could have been chasing some prey. The biggest thing I have a problem with is the wolf looks too groomed to be a free roaming animal.
Also on his website, there are no other images suggesting he has been pursuing this type of photography, not even this image.

http://jlrodriguezfoto.com/#/content/start/

[Mike Pearson]

Well I think you guys have given enough points to ponder and to conclude that it was staged, however it is a very good shot.

Mike

[JIMBO]

I am just surprised of all the photos to choose from that they chose that one anyway. It sure looks fake to me but only one person knows! JIM