“Seeing is believing” is an idiom first recorded in 1639 that means "only physical or concrete evidence is convincing". Can you truly believe what you see in a photograph? Is a picture worth a thousand words? In this presentation, I discussed three ways a person can be manipulated through images and why we should always keep an open mind.

1. Really?
By Brian Lin, DTM PDG

2. “Seeing is believing” is
an idiom first recorded in this
form in 1639.
It is problematic
in the modern
world.

3. Did we really land on the moon?

4. V-J Day in Times
Square
By Alfred Eisenstaedt
Did the sailor
really kissed a
stranger? Was it
taken on V-J day?

5. Manipulation Source #1
PHOTOSHOP

6. North Korea: military training (How many boats were real?)

7. Iran: Missile(s) Launch.
How many missiles actually flew?

8. China: Government official visit. Who
were actually there?

9. Manipulation Source #2
Snap Shot Bias
An image represents a frozen frame in time. It may not be
what the person always does. People can be taken out of
context.

10. Does Obama
love rabbits?
Does he fight
for animal
rights?

11. Does Bush eat cats?

12. Has the Prince Cheated? When?

13. Was this taken when Justin Bieber was arrested for
drunk driving?

14. Manipulation Source #3
Story Bias
You can spin a story in many ways to your advantage.

15. What stories can you tell from just looking at this picture?

16. Is peace really in sight? What else can this photo tell us?

17. What is this all about?

18. Jamie Lynne
Grumet
photographed by
Martin Schoeller

19. Image cannot always be trusted. It is up to the
seer to determine what story s/he will believe.
What you see may not be what it was.
Always keep an open mind.