Bush Potty Note Photoshopped
Looks like that photo of Bush's note to Condi asking for a bathroom break was photoshopped after all.
Can we trust that Reuters didn't change the content of the note in any way? Given what I know of Reuters' journalistic integrity I certainly don't, but I don't know why they'd do it in this instance. People have to pee, and in a diplomatic situation where every move and mannerism is highly scrutinized it makes sense that the President would be very careful about when he chooses to take a potty break.
So did Reuters change the content of the note? I don't think so. I think their accounting is accurate and that they simply enhanced the photo to give us all a little chuckle, and maybe remind us that our leaders are human after all.
According to Hershorn, Wilking was one of several photographers covering the United Nations Security Council meeting between about 11 and noon yesterday. He was part of a pool stationed on a balcony that faced Bush's back; a group of White House photographers was on a balcony facing the president.
Wilking shot about 200 images and sent two memory cards to the press room at the U.N., where Hershorn was working. Hershorn looked at the images on a computer and initially decided not to send any of them.
But a few hours later, he started to wonder about a note that Bush was seen writing in three of the pictures. Out of curiosity, he zoomed in to see if he could read it.
Once he saw what it said, Hershorn decided the note was interesting and worth publishing. The white parts of the picture were overexposed, so a Reuters processor used Photoshop to burn down the note. This is a standard practice for news photos, Hershorn says, and the picture was not manipulated in any other way.
Around 4:30 p.m., Reuters transmitted two versions of the photo, including one that was tightly cropped around the note and Bush's hand.
Can we trust that Reuters didn't change the content of the note in any way? Given what I know of Reuters' journalistic integrity I certainly don't, but I don't know why they'd do it in this instance. People have to pee, and in a diplomatic situation where every move and mannerism is highly scrutinized it makes sense that the President would be very careful about when he chooses to take a potty break.
So did Reuters change the content of the note? I don't think so. I think their accounting is accurate and that they simply enhanced the photo to give us all a little chuckle, and maybe remind us that our leaders are human after all.
