Real or Fake

How can you possibly think the speculars are in the wrong place for a flash? The flash can go wherever it's needed.

I’m not going to get into this real or fake thing as it is irrelevant. But they are clearly photo shopped in. You can tell by looking at the angle of the balloons and their strings. When you let go a balloon they go straight up with their strings hanging straight down especially if it is very still out. Also the strings would be curly as there is no load on them such as the curly small end at the base of the balloon. These strings are straight and taught as if there were tied down for a shoot.

Also, if you look at the smoke of the rockets, it is blowing from right to left so the balloons should also be following the same direction as they are unbound and will follow the wind, but they are leaning from left to right.

So I believe that the balloons were tied down and taken separately. Then in PS they were cut out and pasted tilted to their current angle.

Any my last point, is this really a third place winner? I didn’t think that the pic was that outstanding.

balloons look to be lit in a completely different environment from the rest of the image, the balloons have to be added IMHO.
IT's a heavy atmospheric photoshop job as well, which I don't consider fake, just "overworked". But I really do not believe the two balloons were there in the original shot.

Bloomin eck!

Note to self: in future, don't use the word "real" in the same sentence as "fake" as ppl will no doubt misconstrue the question, especially with regard to an image, unless the word "composite" or "photoshopped" is also used within the same said sentence, or totally ignore any explanation supplied by said sentence that sever to give the question context.

:p

It looks like a "composite" shot to me.
Since apparently the contest doesn't allow for editing, as someone mentioned, in that context, it is a "fake" or the photographer cheated...not that I care.

Otherwise, it doesn't matter...

Ephemeral wrote in post #5510427
Bloomin eck!

Note to self: in future, don't use the word "real" in the same sentence as "fake" as ppl will no doubt misconstrue the question, especially with regard to an image, unless the word "composite" or "photoshopped" is also used within the same said sentence, or totally ignore any explanation supplied by said sentence that severs to give the question context.

:p

Lesson learned ... by the way, clearly fake.

iamaelephant wrote in post #5509598
How can you possibly think the speculars are in the wrong place for a flash? The flash can go wherever it's needed.

True, but (assuming) if that's an 8 to 10 foot tall street lamp in the frame, that would mean the flash head is somewhere near 30' in the air because the specular highlight is above the equator of the balloon.

Possible, of course. Probable..?

Who are you to say what's probable. Were you there? Do you know the photographer?

Should I believe that every amazingly timed or composed picture I see is fake because the odds of getting the capture just right are slim?

iamaelephant wrote in post #5513804
Who are you to say what's probable. Were you there? Do you know the photographer?

Well Nana Nana Boo Boo to you too. The whole point of the OP was to solicit opinions.

Rhetorical Question...

I can't tell you what to believe or not to believe. I can only tell you what I believe. It is my opinion. Take it as such. If you believe I'm wrong and that the image is 100% genuine, state your case as to why. Please describe how you would accomplish this in camera with one exposure.

Lens? Shutter Speed? ISO? Light(s) / Modifiers and their physical location (including distance, azimuth and elevation?)

I think gjl711 hit the nail on the head, especially with the unusually taut balloon string.

If this were real, he would have need to bring some gear out. The specular highlight is on the front, vertical center, so we know at the very least that the photographer had a light on camera left far enough to be out of the frame. There is a more subtle light coming the other way, which creates a darker vertical stripe in the middle of the balloon. I'd imagine that comes from a reflector or a wall that's fairly close to the balloons. Even then, I don't believe it would come out like that.

As a picture it is real.

As for the composition. I think it is several pictures put together. The trees and then the balloons. Either way it looks great and the PP is top notch.

Hello photoshop