Even the most experienced professionals can make mistakes. However, Nikon, with its 10 million fans on Facebook, made a big one.
The firm recently announced it was giving a prize to Chay Yu Wei for catching “an airplane in mid-air.” However, the original didn’t actually have a plane, as it was Photoshopped into the image, leaving Nikon red in the face and scrambling to apologize.
Photoshopped photo selected by Nikon Singapore for a prize. #guaguahttps://t.co/F5yVgSVCJM pic.twitter.com/nZjtf89WBl
— mrbrown (@mrbrown) January 30, 2016
#NikonSingapore & contest winner #ChayYuWei apologises for fake #NikonCaptures picture: https://t.co/VslTobgKdo pic.twitter.com/U8p9XS2dPE
— Hype Malaysia (@HypeMY) January 31, 2016
The photo was poorly edited and was easy for anyone with experience in Photoshop to find the “levels” or “curves.”
The photographer also added fuel to the fire. On Twitter, someone asked him: “How long did you wait for that plane?” to which he replied: “Not too long! I was lucky! Thank you so much!”
User Kang Heong noted the Photoshop error on Nikon’s Facebook post, saying: “I believe the story behind the image is closer to: ‘Yu Wei chanced upon a set of ladders and thought the view above would look nicer with a plane,” according to The Mirror.
“He went home and digitally manipulated the picture to add an airplane.”
A number of people added their own flavor to the image.
Nikon has since apologized for the gaffe.
Oh Nikon Singapore, your follow up response is even worse than your first. Time to put out a RFP & hire new agency. pic.twitter.com/5d6DBu2iHM
— Jason Lioh (@jasonlioh) January 31, 2016
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Here’s the apology, in full:
At Nikon, we believe that innovation and imagination are at the heart of every image. While innovation is driven by the technological advances in our devices and cameras, we see imagination as the ability to see greatness and use each and every tool at your disposal to make them real.
NikonCaptures is a casual photography contest that focuses not on the devices or props you use, but on the imagination and creativity that each photographer exudes while capturing and sharing their images. We have taken in every feedback received, and we sincerely apologise for the oversight on our part. We are now in the process of carefully revisiting the contest’s rules and regulations, for the benefit of all our current NikonCaptures members. We will update everyone of the contest rules once we have revisited all of them.
At the same time, we welcome the funny and witty entries being shared in response to our recently awarded image. It’s with joy that we acknowledge that the global photography and image community is alive and thriving. We thank you for the numerous spontaneous contributions and encourage everyone to keep the imagination alive.
Also, Chay Yu Wei has since apologized, saying “I crossed the line by submitting the photo for a competition.”
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