Nikon photography competition: Winning entry turns out to be badly doctored image

The photographer who submitted the fake photo has since apologised

(Chey Yu Wei)

Organisers of a photography competition have apologised after it was discovered the winning entry was a fake.

Nikon Singapore announced Chay Yu Wei's image of an aircraft flying directly above a set of ladders had won the contest.

But as dozens of enthusiasts pointed out, a relatively brief analysis of the image revealed it must have been doctored.

Nikon Singapore had written on its Facebook page: “Yu Wei chanced upon a set of ladders while on a photowalk with his friends in Chinatown, and thought the view above would make an interesting perspective. Little did he expect to catch an airplane in mid-air.”

Yu Wei had uploaded the image to Instagram, claiming he was very “lucky” to have been there when the plane flew past.

But commenters quickly pointed out how pixelated the plane was and, by adjusting the levels on the image, showed it must have been pasted on to the original photograph.

The photo rapidly became a meme, with dozens of social media creating their own version of the shot.

“Such a poor copy and paste by Yu Wei can win a Nikon trolley bag, my entry can win the new Nikon D5 with AF-S 400mm f/2.8E FL ED VR." (Glenn Guan // Facebook)

(Twitter)

Chay Yu Wei later posted on Instagram to apologise, saying: “I was on a photowalk in Chinatown and I chanced upon that set of ladders. I snapped a picture of it, and subsequently felt that a plane at that spot would make for an interesting point of view. Hence, I inserted the plane with PicsArt and uploaded it to Instagram.

“I would have done it with Photoshop if I really meant to lie about it, but no, it was a playfell edit using the PicsArt app and uploaded to Instagram.

“However, I made a mistake by not keeping it to Instagram as a casual social media platform. I crossed the line by submitting the photo for a competition. I meant it as a joke and I’m really sorry to Nikon for disrespecting the competition.”

 

Hello everyone, This goes out to everyone who has seen my Chinatown plane post. I'm sorry! This is going to be quite a read so that's the first thing I would like you to read if you don't have time to read below; I would like to apologize for the mistake I have done. I've been quiet so far because I've been trying to contact Nikon and have been waiting for them to contact me back to discuss about this. I understand that what I would say might affect Nikon's brand hence I decided to wait for their advice. However, since more than 24 hours have passed and I have not managed to have discussions with Nikon, I think I shouldn't wait and it's important for me to come out to address this issue. Like one user commented, I was on a photo walk in Chinatown and I chanced upon that set of ladders. I snapped a picture of it, and subsequently felt that a plane at that spot would make for an interesting point of view. Hence, I inserted the plane with PicsArt and uploaded it to Instagram. That's how I use Instagram, sometime it's to showcase the work I'm proud of, sometimes just to have fun. This case, that small plane was just for fun and it was not meant to bluff anyone. I would have done it with photoshop if I really meant to lie about it, but no, it was a playful edit using the PicsArt app and uploaded to Instagram. When my friends commented with some questions, I also answered it jokingly, saying it's the last flight of the day and saying it was my lucky day that I did not wait too long. At that time, of course everyone who read it took it as a joke, before this issue arrived and it is taken seriously. However, I made a mistake by not keeping it to Instagram as a casual social media platform. I crossed the line by submitting the photo for a competition. I meant it as a joke and I'm really sorry to Nikon for disrespecting the competition. It is a mistake and I shouldn't have done that. I also shouldn't have jokingly answered Nikon that I caught the plane in mid-air and should have just clarified that the plane was edited in using PicsArt. This is my fault and I sincerely apologise to Nikon, to all Nikon Photographers, and to the photography community as general.

A photo posted by Yu Wei (@yuuuuuwei) on Jan 30, 2016 at 5:06am PST

It is unclear whether he ever received his prize.