As stunning Olympic surfing photo goes viral, some question whether it’s too good to be true

A photograph of Brazilian Olympic surfer Gabriel Medina, suspended within the air over a wave, went viral earlier this week. His index finger is pointed to the sky as he is captured celebrating his recording-breaking 9.90 single-wave rating within the fifth warmth of the third spherical of males’s browsing on Monday. The 2024 Paris Olympics browsing competitors is going down on the French Polynesian island of Tahiti.

The gorgeous photograph had many individuals questioning whether or not it was too good to be true, and speculating about whether or not it was made by synthetic intelligence or Photoshopped.   

However Jerome Brouillet, the Agence France-Presse photographer who took the shot, defined that getting the image was a mixture of luck, experience and preparation.  

“I like this shot, for positive, as a result of it is particular, and I feel I’ll get just one shot like that in my complete life,” Brouillet stated. 

He informed CBS Information he had an thought of what Medina would do after a profitable trip. 

“Gabriel used to make this sort of gesture on the finish of his browsing, when he catches a superb wave,” Brouillet stated.  

“So, I used to be aiming someplace on the wave, as a result of you may miss the leap,” he stated. “And, once I noticed him, I pressed the button and I shot about six, seven pictures. I used to be capturing 10 pictures a second.” 

“I appeared on the pictures, and I chosen two photographs,” he defined. “The second was this shot due to the alignment of this gesture was particular.”  

The image went viral as quickly because it was revealed and Brouillet’s cellphone was flooded with notifications. Social media was abuzz with feedback, together with many who debunked the AI claims. 

Individuals had been saying, “‘Have a look at the video right here. You possibly can see the line-up of the board on the video and the opposite facet,'” he stated. 

Brouillet stated he was stunned by how a lot consideration this photograph obtained since it’s a celebratory photograph, not a traditional browsing shot. However he now realizes that the image speaks to everybody and highlights the game.  

“If everyone seems to be speaking about browsing by a celebration shot, it is excellent, and the browsing world is successful. We’re all successful.” 

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