When does a Phot-O-Graph become a Phraud-O-Graph?

Earl Wrote {on another thread}:
===================================
> ... hard core photographers ... are out
> there to create the perfect "phraud-o-
> graph" (just made that up) where there
> is absolutely no difference between the
> image they took and an image taken in
> 1940-whatever.  That is all they are in-
> terested in ...  In my opinion, these guys
> will never win.  I have yet to see a pic of
> a modern event that does not have indi-
> cations of the time frame it was taken.


John, Matthew, Michael, Scott et al -

Clearly a photo taken on the C&TS or the D&SNG of equipment lettered for the Denver & Rio Grande Western is a Phraud-O-Graph®, but what about a photo of the D&RGW taken in 1968 or before that has been 'PhotoShopped' extensively to remove telephone and/or power poles, foamers, automobiles, etc.?  At what point does digital 'burning & dodging' cross the line from 'retouching' to 'manipulating'??

For example, here is a photo taken nearly 55 years ago of D&RGW #476 taking on water in Alamosa prior to pulling an excursion to Durango on June 3, 1960, and on to Silverton the following day:


Upon making a large print of this scan, I noticed some of the 'power lines' near the right edge of the photo were actually scratches and subsequently removed them using the PS Elements 10 "clone stamp".   I later realized that the power pole itself attracted my eye away from the hostler (and his cigar), and removed it and the wires as well:


For a more extreme example, here are two versions of an August, 1968 photo of the very last D&RGW freight to haul oilfield supplies (and wallboard) to Farmington, taken just as its helper - engine #483 - departed Cumbres Pass after taking water:


Is the second version a Phot-O-Graph or a Phraud-O-Graph ...

- El Abuelo Histœrico, Greengo y Curmudgeoño de los Locomoturas Viejos y Verdes,
aka Der Grossväterlich DünkelOlivGrünDampfKesselMantelLiebHabender



Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 03/27/2015 07:25PM by Russo Loco.