« Go back a post || Return to G-A-Y homepage || Haul tail to next post »
07/23/2008
Photo(shop): Revisionist McDonald's protest?
Okay, so we're not sure what, exactly, is going on with this anti-McDonald's photo currently running on WorldNetDaily. But something seems to be:
Why do we think something's going on? Well because the image could not look more Photoshopped. Look at the whites in those signs: The color is completely uniform, with absolutely no shadowing whatsoever. And some of the text, especially on the "McDonald's promotes same-sex marriage" and "i'm NOT lovin' it!" signs, looks as if it was inserted post-boycott. It seems that whatever was actually on those particular signs has either been cleared up, punched up, or completely changed in editing. The whole thing comes across about as unnatural as anti-gay bias!
Our theory? Well, considering that one of the men involved in this Citrus Heights, CA, protest is Yuriy Popko -- a man who recently made news for barging into the Yolo County clerk's office and screaming "This marriage is fake!" while local same-sex couples were obtaining their licenses, and who is on record comparing the California unions to judicial tyranny in the Soviet Union -- we'd be willing to bet that what is REALLY on these signs in far-less "pro-family" than WorldNetDaily would've liked. But that's just a guess; we have no proof. If anyone saw this protest or, better yet, have actual photos from it, please, please, please get in touch with us!
McDonald's hears: 'I'm NOT lovin' it!' [WND]
**UPDATE: Hmm. Well here's a CNN iReport featuring the same group of protestors. And as you will see, some of the signs, like the "Marriage Still = 1 man + 1 Woman" one, are definitely used by the group:
So were the images just cleaned up? Something is funky about the photo!
Your thoughts
"comparing the California unions to judicial tyranny in the Soviet Union"
If he doesn't like it, he can go migrate right back to the Soviet Union. Is this another one Ken Hutcherson illegally brought into this country?
Posted by: Scott | Jul 23, 2008 9:11:17 AM
Hmm... I see the t and the m in the "i'm not lovin' it!", "Boycott McDonald's" and "Promotes 'Same Sex Marriage'" are all the same typestyle. It's amazing they found a printer large enough to produce these 3 foot by 5 foot signs.
Posted by: Bill Ware | Jul 23, 2008 9:40:45 AM
I have to agree with you on this Jeremy. The photo doesn't look right and I think something is up with this.
Posted by: Stacy Harp | Jul 23, 2008 9:52:18 AM
I believe this protest is affiliated with the Church of Divide. That organization is always very frank and respectful with me on an email level, so I've written them to see what's up. Hopefully they'll get back to me soon.
Posted by: G-A-Y | Jul 23, 2008 9:57:59 AM
And I just emailed Bob Unruh and asked about the picture. Since he doesn't know me, I'm not sure if I'll get an answer, but if I do, I'll tell you what I find out.
Posted by: Stacy Harp | Jul 23, 2008 10:03:30 AM
Just look at the shadows on the two sign poles on the right. Unless there's an extra sun in Citrus Heights, CA, that's impossible.
Posted by: | Jul 23, 2008 10:57:21 AM
Not to make light of the situation but I think Mariah Carey's Photoshopper has struck again.
Posted by: Alonzo | Jul 23, 2008 12:06:34 PM
I'm guessing that the original just didn't have enough signs for them. Just to guess, I would guess that the two signs on the ground, and the "Boycott McDonalds" are really in that photograph, and that the other signs are edited in, probably from other pictures. The really fake looking ones are probably edited in from the original artwork instead of a picture.
As far as the direction of the shadows, that's not really an indicator of much, since you can't tell what angle the poles are at. If the poles aren't both exactly vertical, the shadows will go at different angles.
Posted by: David | Jul 23, 2008 1:21:05 PM
Bob emailed me back and said he forwarded my info to the people who provided the photo. Still waiting.
Posted by: Stacy Harp | Jul 23, 2008 1:22:40 PM
That's really weird. It definitely looks wrong. WTH?
Posted by: Willie Hewes | Jul 23, 2008 2:17:00 PM
I heard back from one of the women at the protest and they confirmed the picture is indeed real and authentic. I'm waiting for another picture from the protest and will be posting more about it later.
Posted by: Stacy Harp | Jul 23, 2008 4:43:44 PM
Okay there are now 3 other pictures on my blog if you care to see them. They are real and when you see them full screen it is very obvious they are real. I think you'll understand why they didn't use the other ones because of the glare etc.
If you desire the actual photos emailed to you so you can see them more closely, just email me. I could only make them so big...as you know.:)
Posted by: Stacy Harp | Jul 23, 2008 5:40:07 PM
I don't know... Why not use the one picture as it is? Why photoshop new signs onto them? That still seems kind of cheap.
Posted by: BentonQuest | Jul 23, 2008 8:10:51 PM
Wait, what? So Stacy, you're saying that they DID photoshop different slogans onto the signs, but they were simply equally benign sayings? What would be the point of that? Why would WND (or whoever) feel the need to make these inconsequential changes? In all honesty, I think your "proof" is actually more confusing than the original.
And not to be controversial but simply honest: The "glare" on the "real" photo looks equally as Photoshopped. If you enlarge it, it looks like someone just made a "glare" with a white pen.
I don't know if there's anything deeply unsavory here. But something is still very, very odd.
Posted by: G-A-Y | Jul 23, 2008 8:24:04 PM
For those not familiar with Stacy's blog, this is where you can find the "real" photos:
http://blogforbooks.com/archives/2008/07/24/mcdonalds-boycott-signs-are-real/
Posted by: G-A-Y | Jul 23, 2008 8:25:22 PM
That's odd. The phrase "Gay Marriage" has a white streak through it in one picture and no streak in the other. That said, the men do appear in noticeably different positions between the photos.
It still doesn't change the reality that their boycott is silly and futile, however.
Posted by: Dave | Jul 23, 2008 10:53:12 PM
You can't find anything better to do than float this ridiculous idea that the picture is photoshopped?
OK, you've got it from the source: the photo(s) are genuine, undoctored, on site pictures. But you can't stand Truth, so this comment I'm sure will get you professional analysts freakin out.
Of course your reprobate minds can't comprehend that to portray a lie (via fake photos) would totally undermine the messages we are conveying.
Boycott McDonald's...
Posted by: BoycottMcDonald's | Jul 24, 2008 11:14:27 AM
'BoycottMcDonalds': The pictures, even the "real" ones that Stacy has obtained, still look odd. The idea that they would be altered in any capacity is weird. It just is.
It's funny that one who identifies as "BoycottMcDonalds" and has dedicated considerable energy to making YouTube videos on the subject would question anyone else's usage of time.
Posted by: G-A-Y | Jul 24, 2008 11:22:22 AM
This is NOT fake. I saw them at the Mc Donalds at the corner od Auburn and Greenback last night. I saw the signs and everything.
Posted by: Jamie | Jul 25, 2008 1:07:08 PM
Its not fake, i saw them just yesterday, same signs.
Posted by: | Jul 26, 2008 2:39:38 PM
Thank God for those protesters who supported the proposition 8 and went on the McDonalds boycott. Now on the other hand Yuriy Popko is doing a very good job speaking up out there in the public for our community and shining the light, speaking nothing but truth all around. God bless, Amen.
Posted by: Igor | Jan 9, 2009 7:09:11 AM
Keep telling yourself all that, Igor.
Posted by: G-A-Y | Jan 9, 2009 9:39:46 AM
Gays remember one thing FOREVER! Stick this straight into your big, fat, dull heads! WE WILL NEVER accept homosexuality, homosexual marriages, your lifestyle or anything related to homosexuality!
Got that?
And by the way, Yes on CA's Proposition 8! Always and forever!
Posted by: Rick | Apr 22, 2009 2:15:39 AM
Rick: We aren't asking you to "accept" it, per se. But you *will* live with it.
Got that?
Posted by: G-A-Y | Apr 22, 2009 7:41:42 AM
comments powered by Disqus