This is an impressive Photoshop fake
Hosette-ING
Posts: 3,470 ✭✭✭✭✭
I came across this while reviewing today and after a second look I was knew something was wrong. The lighting on the box is not consistent with the rest of the photo and the shadows are not where they should be. After a few seconds of staring at it I was almost 100% certain that it was a Photoshop job, and I decided to employ my own Photoshop skills to prove it.
Here's a screenshot from the submission.
The first thing I did was grab the full-size images of the main and supporting photo and pull them into Photoshop. I dropped the main photo on top of the supporting photo then carefully scaled the main photo so that the box was exactly the same size as in the supporting photo. Once I got the sizing right I could flip between layers and see that the photo of the box was 100% identical in both photos but that the placement on the ground was slightly different-- the background photos were taken from a different angle in the main and supporting but the box didn't move at all. In this photo the main is at 50% transparency so that the differences are visible.
When I was done I created a very short video so other people could see what I saw when I flipped layers. In the first two seconds I show just the supporting photo and in the next two seconds I show the main photo overlaid at 50% transparency.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqMhnzK82zc
For completeness, the street view is below, from two different angles. The shadow from the smaller box on the left is visible in the submission photos, and the shadow in the submission matches the size of the box that's actually there.
It's actually an impressive Photoshop job in many ways and it probably fooled a fair number of reviewers. It would have only taken slightly better Photoshop chops for the submitter to get it past me... and I've probably spent a couple of thousand hours editing photos in Photoshop. Nice try, submitter. Nice try.
Comments
They forgot the lighting 🤣
The shadow doesn’t line up with the left corner of the box on the ground. Dead giveaway.
it isnt really a good fake. But there are enough ppl out there that will fall for it.
Here in Germany nowadays 90% of these things that are submitted are fake placed.
You should tag in one of the Niantic staff to report that nomination and get it pulled since it is likely to slip past many reviewers and end up approved.
I have to admit, I was tempted to see how long it would take me to turn it into a fake that would have gotten past me. I think it would be about ten minutes.
@NianticGiffard Would you be the right person to look at this? I wouldn't be surprised if the same person has created other nearly-convincing fakes and had people fall for them.
Hello @Hosette-ING! We have reviewed the report and rejected the invalid nomination and took action on the Wayfinder in accordance with our policies. Thanks for helping us maintain the quality of the Wayspots.