Forum: F-16 Spotting & Photography

I read an article about the airstrikes in Iraq and noted the tail flash and munitions colors right away. Sad to see that such a photo represents a deployed crew. You would think that they could use a proper photo showing at least live operational bombs.

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This looks like a stock photograph release by the DoD. I've seen this before as it a Edward Viper dropping a test JDAM (Correct me if I'm wrong.. Will blame my eyes if thats the case! Wink

).

Knowing the press in which ever format they exist they don't often research there info in great depth. A picture of a F-16 dropping a bomb is a F-16 dropping a bomb to them! At least they got the right make of aircraft in the picture at this site. Have seen many with the wrong image or caption to tell the story!

I knew it was a stock picture. But you would think they could at least show a jet droping a regular bomb instead of a test bomb. I hate when I see or read something in the news and know what they are showing or saying is not even close to the story at hand. It's like some new reporter talking about a traffic jam and then show a car lot. Sure the car lot has cars and so does the traffic jam, you would think they would at least show cars on the road. Anyway I just wish the media would closely represent what they are telling me with something close to what they are showing me.

Having just returned from Iraq, the use of photo's of operating units are not used. Granted something more realistic would be nice but again they would probably become just as redundant as the Edwards aircraft. I noticed that news reports were never accurate in the happenings of Air units in Iraq and witnessed this first hand. Very frustrating but I also understand the need to keep this info classified. Even the Stars and Stripes used an AP story that had inaccurate info in it. But I surely can't write to the editor. There are avenues to find out what units are deployed you just have to know where to look. That's about all I can say about that. Have a good one.
Chickenlegs

The news doesn't care about accuracy in most cases. They are telling a story, not writing history. When they mention a .50mm machine gun for example, I have to laugh. I'd really be afraid of one of those!

Back in the Desert Storm there was a TV reporter who mentioned that we were launching cruise missiles against the Iraqis, which was much safer for our pilots because they were unmanned and thus our pilots 'wouldn't have to ride the missiles into the targets'! My wife and I couldn't stop laughing for an hour...

Kevin
The Ejection Site
ps I have written and bitched about stock photo use, and it has gotten me some interesting contacts, but not in the press.

Yeah, I was quoted in the New York Times once and the reporter got my rank wrong and called me a Senior Staff Sergeant.
The press anymore now a days just reports hype or shock that they think will sell in the media. (Whether they get it right or not)

Forum: F-16 Spotting & Photography

Stock photos in news articles