'Boat People Tragedy' - Lampedusa Oct3, 2013

[simonshack]

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"LAMPEDUSA BOAT PEOPLE TRAGEDY"

http://www.repubblica.it/cronaca/2013/1 ... ref=HREA-1

As the story goes here in Italy, "hundreds" of immigrants have perished just off the coast of Lampedusa - as they lit a torch to make themselves visible as they were about to land on this Italian shore. The torch caused a fire which made everyone move to one side of the boat - and so making their boat capsize. This is now top news in the Italian media - and the government is asking Europe for help to deal with this "continuous flow of desperate boat people seeking the good life in prosperous Europe".

The problem is : the imagery the media has released of this event is centered on ONE SINGLE (purported) pier of the island of Lampedusa - where a dozen or so "bodybags" are being lined up by the rescuers. And those few images are clearly doctored:


Image sources:
http://palermo.repubblica.it/cronaca/20 ... =HREA-1#15
http://palermo.repubblica.it/cronaca/20 ... =HREA-1#16

However offset the vantage points of these two images may be, it seems implausible that the two backdrops would be entirely different.
Again, please know that this is TOP news in Italy right now - and that ALL media outlets are focusing on this 'tragic event'.


Another comparison (keep an eye on the backdrops):



Image sources:
http://palermo.repubblica.it/images/201 ... 03b666.jpg
http://palermo.repubblica.it/images/201 ... 0e4090.jpg

[dblitz]

Looking at the supports, or pillars of the roofed structure, and the arrangement of various objects in the scene, it seems the two photos have been taken from different angles; could it be enough of a difference in viewpoints for the the background of one image to leave off where the other one starts?

I made this picture to illustrate my point, I hope it makes sense.



I know I'm a noob, and hesitate to question Simon, who has done such excellent work, I just think we should try to eliminate this possibility before assuming fakery.

I created this post before you updated yours with this:

However offset the vantage points of these two images may be, it seems implausible that the two backdrops would be entirely different.

[simonshack]

Looking at the supports, or pillars of the roofed structure, and the arrangement of various objects in the scene, it seems the two photos have been taken from different angles; could it be enough of a difference in viewpoints for the the background of one image to leave off where the other one starts?r

Thanks for your time testing out these analyses, dblitz.

Please do have a go at the second comparison I made (and remember the tall "y"-shaped posts seen in the left image.)

[dblitz]

And where was this photo taken?



Seems like a completely different place.

Photo from Sydney Morning Herald here:

http://www.smh.com.au/world/hundreds-fe ... 2uxj4.html

This will be big news in Australia, we have a major problem with boat peop.., sorry, 'asylum seekers'

[simonshack]

Image sources:
http://palermo.repubblica.it/cronaca/20 ... f=HREA-1#7
http://palermo.repubblica.it/cronaca/20 ... =HREA-1#17

[dblitz]

[dblitz]

[simonshack]

Dear dblitz, please help me out:

Can you make any sense out of this? Just a question of perspectives, perhaps...?




And, in this image, isn't "A" much further 'down' ("to the left of" - as seen from a frontal view) than "B"?


image sources:
http://palermo.repubblica.it/cronaca/20 ... =HREA-1#14
http://palermo.repubblica.it/cronaca/20 ... f=HREA-1#7
http://palermo.repubblica.it/cronaca/20 ... f=HREA-1#2

[dblitz]

My only explanation is that there are two cracks in the wall, but the one next to the coffins is not visible in the second photo.

I don't think it can be perspective because we are looking at opposite sides of that box thing in front of the coffins.

'A' cannot be the same feature in both photographs.

[dblitz]

Another view:

[simonshack]

My only explanation is that there are two cracks in the wall, but the one next to the coffins is not visible in the second photo.

Well, there is no other such deep crack in the wall, dblitz. Take another look.

[brianv]

Amazing that this guy should show up in the nick time to tell us all about these images - and fuck up the thread.

Another nautical tale from Italy. Common themes from Norway and Giglio. Ports, jettys and quays I imagine, are easily controlled areas.

[dblitz]

Yeah, that's what I mean. There is no way to explain the missing crack by the coffins unless it just doesn't resolve in the other photo. An extremely unlikely possibility. I share your conclusion, there is no other such deep crack.

Another angle showing the crack much closer:



Nowhere near far enough away compared to your third image of 'A,' considering the angle.

[dblitz]

When you have a theory, you test it with alternative explanations. That's how you don't f*** up an investigation.

[simonshack]

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Here is the "A" crack in the wall:



Can you see the "A" crack here?