Obama’s skeet photo is one of many acts of high-profile photo theater

Verdict: Fake. An internal Reuters investigation discovered that Mr. Hajj had added extra smoke plumes to the first photo and altered an image of an Israeli fighter dropping a single defensive flare in the second.

Fun fact: Other photographs from the 2006 conflict between Israel and Hezbollah also were called into question, including ones in which undamaged children’s toys were surrounded by piles of rubble. Quipped Los Angeles Times writer Tim Rutten: “Reuters might want to check its freelancers’ expenses for unexplained Toys R Us purchases.”

‘Abbey Road’ rabbit hole

Picture: In the iconic “Abbey Road” album cover, the four members of the Beatles cross a London street.

Controversy: “Paul is dead” conspiracy theorists maintain that the Paul McCartney in the photo is actually an impostor — perhaps a McCartney look-alike named William Shears — and that the album cover is full of hidden clues and morbid symbolism, including the left-handed Mr. McCartney holding a cigarette in his right hand and being out of step with his bandmates.

Verdict: Real photo. Bogus conspiracy theory. Never mind Mr. McCartney’s prolific post-“death” musical career — no self-respecting global conspiracy dedicated to maintaining the illusion that a supposedly deceased artist as talented as Mr. McCartney was still alive would ever have allowed “Wonderful Christmastime” to be released.

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