I chose the Lebanese photo image (no.2) because I feel that this photo manipulation is an example of the commonplace exaggeration of destruction in the media. The photo was taken by a Lebanese photographer named Adnan Hajj, and originally only showed one plume of smoke above the Lebanese capital, but Hajj manipulated it to show more, and exagerate the destruction. He maintains that he was attempting to remove dust, and that it was a mistake, but other photos of his have also been shown to be doctored. This photo manipulation was certaintly harmful because it shows that photos can no longer be trusted, and influences the public's empathy and perception towards events. Photos of destruction are powerful tools over people's emotions, but how can we remain empathetic when we aren't even sure what we are looking at is real?