Real photos that look computer generated
Posted on 27. Apr, 2009 by Andrew Price in Articles
We’re living in an age now where video games and computer imagery have become so close to reality, that we can now enjoy a 3 hour long movie and realize only a week later that the main actor was bearly ever on screen.
It’s the tale of the boy who cried wolf all over again. And much like the angry village people we’re getting a little tired of running up hills with pitchforks, only to find that the wolf was photoshopped. Now even genuine photos don’t cut it. When I posted the following photos on blenderartists.org there were a mixed bag of opinions:
“I don’t believe that they are real”
“I smell cynics.”
“It just looks like a copy and paste with some slight changes.”
Let me start by saying that I do not claim to have taken these photos or know the photographer that did, but according to his blog, they are 100% real:
Chalk it up to the bird’s eye view or too many Sim City sessions, but there’s no denying this town’s distinct lack of imagination. If you still aren’t convinced, some cynics from another forum have dug up some satellite imagery, which proves… nothing really, but it makes it look plausable at least:
Do you believe me yet?
The same photographer has also posted these fishy pieces of work:
Central de Abasto - The largest most repetative foodmarket in the world.
Not bad. Fog looks a bit painted and the trees could use some work, but a good effort overall.
(source)
At a first glance these next photos look like someone on a forum requested ‘wires’ and the OP obliged, but this time they’re real:
This real life wireframe of a subaru was sculpted by artist Benedict Radcliffe for a gallery in Mayfair, which he obviously enjoyed, because 9 months later he did a Lamborghini Countach:
And the last photo I’ll leave you with is from Venice (or Crysis, you be the judge):
(source)
So what’s your verdict? Are they genuine or not?
7 Responses to “Real photos that look computer generated”
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Pawel
28. Apr, 2009
The rows of houses, the fields,and the fog are quite likely real. I’m not so sure about the wireframe car – for one thing, there are no shadows, and the Lamborghini looks totally unreal – maybe they’ve bumped up the saturation too much. The Venice island looks unlikely too. I suppose you could check that on Google Earth – it should be there, if it exists…
Cubbie
28. Apr, 2009
The venice island is real… it’s called “San Michele”. Pawel, your Google Earth idea proves it. Just search for “Venice, Italy” and you’ll spot it right away.
The wire cars seem genuine, too. Search for “wire lamborghini”.. there’s a even a pedal-powered version of the Countach.
Vladimir
28. Apr, 2009
The rows of houses are real, I’ve seen them several times when taking a bus from Mexico City to Pachuca, it’s one of the most surreal experiences in an already surreal country.
I’m not completely sure, but I would say that they are here: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=19.87799,-98.937764&spn=0.010574,0.021973&t=h&z=16
Man from Doire
29. Apr, 2009
The cars exist – I’ve seen a feature on them before, and the man who made them’s website. There was even a pedal version of one.
Craigsnedeker
22. May, 2009
I think the wireframes are real. On the guys website it shows the people building it, and touching it. Lol.
victor
02. Sep, 2009
the rows of houses are real, i don`t live in mexico city, I live in guadalajara but all that house are real, and it`s very common, but it`s boring how they make a lot o copies of the same house.
Sam
21. Mar, 2010
You spelled “barely” wrong