The old adage ‘the camera never lies’ was accepted as truth by many people for years, but the advance of modern technology has now thrown this idea into turmoil. A more accurate extension of the phrase might be ‘the camera never lies, but photographers do’!
Photos can create an illusion of truth and influence perceptions. But what is truth? Many reports on major events have been distorted, with the public asking whether they were staged or doctored to suit a particular agenda. Social media is frequently accused of facilitating scams, often accompanied by fake pictures and dubious comments.
This subject was fully addressed when Retford Men’s Probus Club held their meeting on Friday 18th October at Hallcroft Community Centre, at the usual time of 10.00am. Long-term club member Rob Boeuf delivered a presentation titled ‘Investigative Open-Source Intel’, accompanied by a slideshow.
The talk revealed many facts – some true, some questionable – and demonstrated how information can be manipulated to suit the current climate, both domestically and worldwide. Those in attendance were surprised, and even amazed, at how news or media information can be adapted or changed. So, the next time the phrase ‘the camera never lies’ is heard, view any information with suspicion!
This information illustrates why scams are so successful and increasingly common. The speaker’s presentation was the result of years of hard work and research, and he was more than pleased to share his findings with his peers at Retford Men’s Probus Club.
For more information, contact probyte@retfordmensprobusclub.org.