Spy Shoots Back

[Flybrian]

SPY SHOOTS BACK

-An Editorial by Chris Doane (CD/BP)

For the uninitiated, read the story of VetteGate here. - Flybrian

It is not uncommon for the prototypes we see in spy photos to be deceiving. Some cars may be comprised of fake body panels, others may be covered in rolls of tape that appear to be inspired by a zebra. Sometimes even the entire shell of a current model car is shoehorned over a chassis that’s still in development.

On Friday afternoon, word started getting around on several automotive websites that something was awry with a few current spy photos of a silver corvette purported to be the Blue Devil “super vette.” When these photos first hit the web some weeks ago, I knew something wasn’t quite right with them. The most glaring issue was the lack of a manufacturer license plate. To me, something also didn’t look quite right with the camouflage material. As it turns out, an online automotive magazine, Winding Road, fabricated a mock-up of a test car and drove it around the metro Detroit area.

I’m struggling to see the point of this stunt. I’m sure I will get responses like “Lighten up, it was a joke,” but hear me out. If you read the story in the Jan 2007 edition of Winding Road that tells the tale of the fake prototype, the point of the ruse was to deceive other publications into running the photos. The story also chides "Irresponsible speculation has been put forth by Corvette fanatics, magazine editors and competing manufacturers."

If I had to guess, Autoweek, Motor Trend and The Car Connection aren’t laughing. All of these outlets published the photos of the fake car on their websites believing it to be an authentic GM prototype. It was, after all, a fairly convincing forgery. Needless to say, this obviously doesn’t make those outlets look good in the credibility department. Some of you may think these media outlets don't have any credibility to begin with. That’s fine if you think that, but we’re talking solely about this particular incident.

I know competition gets fiercer by the day among the various automotive publications, but purposely tricking your competitors borders on something that is less-than-professional journalism. It’s certainly not a trend I want to see continue to the point where we have magazines warring with each other much like election time, TV attack ads. In the end, however, whether this stunt is equally or more “irresponsible” than printing speculation is up to all of you to decide.

The bigger issue for me, however, is that the fake corvette hurts the credibility of people like myself, Brenda and others who make their living shooting prototypes for everyone’s enjoyment. It didn’t take long after the fabrication was revealed for people to start asking if the photos of the black powertrain mule that I photographed back in October were fake as well. Let’s answer that right now. No, they are not fake. We have very credible information that this black prototype I shot is a development car for the “super vette” program. For all those worrying that the program is a pipe dream, rest easy. It’s very real and it’s very loud. The black car I shot wore a typical blue “Michigan Manufacturer,” license plate, was with a large group of other GM test cars and was driven by a person I know to be a GM engineer.

Needless to say, we certainly don’t want people in the automotive world getting the idea that we fake our spy photos because that is something we NEVER do. If our clients thought we were giving them fabricated photos, we obviously wouldn’t be in business very long. We were even offered photos of the fake silver corvette test car by someone via email, but we passed knowing something wasn’t quite right with the car. I’m sure it may sound a little funny to hear someone who spies on large corporations for a living talking about his ethical business practices, but we do play by the rules. That is something even the OEMs themselves would tell you.

On a lighter note, the Winding Road crew did a pretty good job making a convincing mock-up. If I’d seen it go past me on the road, I would’ve turned around to shoot it. I just wouldn’t have sent the images out after I got a good look at it on my computer screen. The spy photography business puts me in the unique position of being able to shoot first and ask questions later.

Overall was this meant as a joke? Yes, I think so. I hope so. Were there some unforeseen negative effects? Unfortunately, yes. Hopefully Winding Road and I can agree to disagree on the staging of this prank. I’d hate to lose them as a client. Especially since I’m selling a kidney tomorrow... how else can I afford the plane ticket to Australia to photograph those Camaro prototypes?

-- Chris

[email protected]

Chris Doane is a spy photographer who works with Brenda Priddy & Co. scanning the globe for the latest, greatest cars that have yet to hit the showroom.

Brenda Priddy is the queen of the long lens and one of the most accomplished spy photographers in the world.

In the interest of full disclosure; Autoweek, Motor Trend, The Car Connection and Winding Road are all our clients.

-------------------------------------

Response by BRENDA PRIDDY - Courtesy of Autoblog

AB: What was your reaction to hearing that the Corvette prototype in these spy photos was faked?

Priddy: I was a bit disappointed when I heard about the "prank". Frankly, my major concern was that our actual "spy photos" would lose their value - their creditability. I've already had dozens of e-mails from readers questioning our Blue Devil / Stingray photos, which are in fact actual General Motors' prototypes.

AB: Do you think the prank will negatively effect your business in any way?

Priddy: I think publications will be more careful with "reader's photos" -and several may no longer want to deal with them anymore. It will be harder for the guy down the block to sell a pictures to XXXX Magazine in the future, as the publications will likely only want to deal with the professionals in the future - hoping to avoid such issues.

AB: Why didn't your company buy photos of the Vette in question when they were offered to you?

Priddy: Let's just say that we carefully examine each and every image that arrives in our mailbox. And although we want to distribute more images than any other company, we tend to be rather selective on the photos that we agree to work with.

AB: What do you want auto enthusiasts know about the way you take and screen spy photos before they're sold?

Priddy: When "spy photos" are offered to us by other photographers - professional or amateurs - I ask a lot of questions. Basically I want to make sure that the pictures weren't taken "on the other side of the fence" - and I want to make sure that no laws were broken - such as trespassing. Depending on the circumstances, I tend to ask a lot of questions! As for the photos we personally take - again, we never trespass. Nor do we ever touch the vehicle, or break any laws while getting the perfect shot.

[johnnyb]

I'm going to be one of those guys and say "so what, big deal."

There's a lot of talk about credibility and being professional, but I think we need a wake up call once in a while. I think what these guys did is pretty amusing.

Were they being a bit childish? Yeah I think so. I'm pretty sure the spy photography community are a little peeved. There's a little slant in the editorial obviously, Chris takes pictures and is afraid of losing credibility. But we need to take a joke I guess. Personally, I think spy photos are just a waste of time. (I have a slant too) Cars with big pieces of black plastic and zany paint jobs that basically show nothing aren't my cup of tea anymore.

I actually find it funny that a couple (or many) magazines and websites had a joygasm when a car with black plastic that could possibly be that oh so elusive Corvette stinray/ss/whatever finally got photographed. Personally, I really don't give a shish-kabob until it's in a dealership. Then we're talking...

Anyway, wish you the best Chris with your business.

[Bimmer325]

Winding Road just lost so much credibility.

[Chris_Doane]

Anyway, wish you the best Chris with your business.

223560[/snapback]

Uh...thanks...I guess?

I suppose I could go into why what I do isn't a waste but you seem to be pretty dead set. Oh well, can't please em all.

Edited December 4, 2006 by CD/BP

[NOS2006]

Good write-up, Chris. Perhaps we should put an "Automotive Journalism" link on your page, too? :AH-HA_wink:

[gm4life]

Hey, I am not upset because I really could care less about a car I will never be able to afford. Had it been a midsize sedan I would be pissed. That is too bad, the "Winding Road" lost all of my respect! (Aren't they owned or associated with Ebay in someway?) Not that I don't like Corvettes but we all know it is coming anyways right?

Edited December 4, 2006 by gm4life

[bdc]

I thought they looked strange with the lack of “Michigan Manufacturer" plates as well. I enjoy seeing spy pics, keep up the good work. I tend to see a lot of camo vehicles living in metro Detroit and alway forget to have my camera ready - maybe some day.

[Hey Now]

I'm not sure what to think of this whole thing. On one hand, I am thinking, sweet this car is going to have a retro hood scoop, then on the other hand I'm thinking why didn't I think of this? If a private citizen took a production car and added $100 worth of garbage bags and foam and drove it around Detroit looking for attention to see who would publish it, it would be hilarious. An auto website still makes it funny but not as cool.

In the end, I guess it really all comes back to that age old question of "Should you really believe what you see on the Internet?" I believe the answer will permanently be "no", no matter what the "source".

[tmp]

Even the best of them can get caught. I've seen two photos on the pages of very respected national newspapers in the past ten years that were clearly photoshopped, and only one of them was caught by the paper.

[Intrepidation]

I think spyshots are pretty neat ways to preview a car. I don't really find their stunt funny...just stupid.

[johnnyb]

Winding Road just lost so much credibility.

223563[/snapback]

Did they even have credibility? They're an online magazine for chicken's sake! Personally, I wouldn't be surprised if their magazine downloads go up! Hooray for publicity stunts!

[johnnyb]

Uh...thanks...I guess?

I suppose I could go into why what I do isn't a waste but you seem to be pretty dead set. Oh well, can't please em all.

223565[/snapback]

No problem. We all have different passions and I respect that.

[Mr.Krinkle]

Whew! what is that sexy silhouette?

[Mr.Krinkle]

Fortunately for you in your line of work especially, its your reputation that precedes you. Your latest scoop or story is only as good as your last.

Unless youre worried about being undercut by all the chumps who fell for this stunt I think youll be alright. You seem to have a good beat ont his stuff anyway.

[novajeff69]

For the people who said they don't care too much for spy shots, or that they don't care about a car they'll never own...I don't get it. Why would you visit this site, let alone read this post, let alone respond to it? This site is all about what's new with GM and it's competitors. Spy shots give us information way before the manufacturers do, so how are they 'no big deal'? I know I'll never own this super Vette either...but that doesn't make it any less fun to read about. We can all dream, right? Besides, it's exciting to think about an American car that is going to smack down some Italian exotic at 1/5 the price. To each his own, I guess.

Edited December 4, 2006 by novajeff69

[FUTURE_OF_GM]

This is a PRIME example of how willing the media is to run a story (FRONT PAGE, nonetheless) without checking any of the facts...

If they're dumb enough to fall for this, then what of their credibility overall?

[FAPTurbo]

At first, Spy Shoots Back sounded like CD saw his old nemesis and exacted vengeance.

[bdubsee]

These guys were just Josh'ing - you have to change your Outlook.

[toesuf94]

It was a funny prank that screwed their own credibility...Chris your stuff seems to check out each and every time, you have sources that back you...and you have information that adds to what the photos tell us. No worries for your cred...as for the stunt with the gussied up Vette running around...take solace in the fact that they probably scratched it up and some schmuck will be wet sanding the scratches out of it for days...to me, that is the truly funny part of the prank...the aftermath to themselves

Edited December 4, 2006 by toesuf94

[Flybrian]

These guys were just Josh'ing - you have to change your Outlook.

223683[/snapback]

:rotflmao:

[Satty]

I definately agree with Chris, this was a douche move.

This is a PRIME example of how willing the media is to run a story (FRONT PAGE, nonetheless) without checking any of the facts...

If they're dumb enough to fall for this, then what of their credibility overall?

223651[/snapback]

No conspiracy about Winding Road being a puppet outfit run by Toyota hell bent on making Chevrolet look bad somehow?

[Guest YellowJacket894]

These guys were just Josh'ing - you have to change your Outlook.

223683[/snapback]

:rotflmao:

Oh ho! Puns abound!

[Team ZR-1]

ooh please, you have over what 7,400 plus posts here alone in less then 2 years and make it look like you and the others publishing photo shots for a high profit are some type of valid business.

Anyone who knows Corvettes or even cars knew just by looking at the hood that it was a phony.

Most of us knew it and just laughed it off as a good joke

You make it sound like your not what you are, post some images with them ruined with with your names plastered on top of the image like you just broke a spy story. That Priddy is the worst is how they ruin the photo with their domain plastered on it.

Sounds like your just miffed because you did not think of this stunt but we all know many of the so called spy shots are phony.

Who really cares what a "could, might, maybe" is, we either see a real car and like it or not, spy shots are for the kiddies but real people see what you do no different then those taking spy shots of Britney Spears crotch. Get over it and learn about Corvettes before jumping on clearly pranks

<span style='font-size:20pt;line-height:100%'>SPY SHOOTS BACK</span>

<span style='font-family:Courier'><span style='font-size:12pt;line-height:100%'>-An Editorial by Chris Doane (CD/BP)</span></span>

For the uninitiated, read the story of VetteGate here. - Flybrian

It is not uncommon for the prototypes we see in spy photos to be deceiving. Some cars may be comprised of fake body panels, others may be covered in rolls of tape that appear to be inspired by a zebra. Sometimes even the entire shell of a current model car is shoehorned over a chassis that’s still in development.

On Friday afternoon, word started getting around on several automotive websites that something was awry with a few current spy photos of a silver corvette purported to be the Blue Devil “super vette.” When these photos first hit the web some weeks ago, I knew something wasn’t quite right with them. The most glaring issue was the lack of a manufacturer license plate. To me, something also didn’t look quite right with the camouflage material. As it turns out, an online automotive magazine, Winding Road, fabricated a mock-up of a test car and drove it around the metro Detroit area.

I’m struggling to see the point of this stunt. I’m sure I will get responses like “Lighten up, it was a joke,” but hear me out. If you read the story in the Jan 2007 edition of Winding Road that tells the tale of the fake prototype, the point of the ruse was to deceive other publications into running the photos. The story also chides "Irresponsible speculation has been put forth by Corvette fanatics, magazine editors and competing manufacturers."

If I had to guess, Autoweek, Motor Trend and The Car Connection aren’t laughing. All of these outlets published the photos of the fake car on their websites believing it to be an authentic GM prototype. It was, after all, a fairly convincing forgery. Needless to say, this obviously doesn’t make those outlets look good in the credibility department. Some of you may think these media outlets don't have any credibility to begin with. That’s fine if you think that, but we’re talking solely about this particular incident.

I know competition gets fiercer by the day among the various automotive publications, but purposely tricking your competitors borders on something that is less-than-professional journalism. It’s certainly not a trend I want to see continue to the point where we have magazines warring with each other much like election time, TV attack ads. In the end, however, whether this stunt is equally or more “irresponsible” than printing speculation is up to all of you to decide.

The bigger issue for me, however, is that the fake corvette hurts the credibility of people like myself, Brenda and others who make their living shooting prototypes for everyone’s enjoyment. It didn’t take long after the fabrication was revealed for people to start asking if the photos of the black powertrain mule that I photographed back in October were fake as well. Let’s answer that right now. No, they are not fake. We have very credible information that this black prototype I shot is a development car for the “super vette” program. For all those worrying that the program is a pipe dream, rest easy. It’s very real and it’s very loud. The black car I shot wore a typical blue “Michigan Manufacturer,” license plate, was with a large group of other GM test cars and was driven by a person I know to be a GM engineer.

Needless to say, we certainly don’t want people in the automotive world getting the idea that we fake our spy photos because that is something we NEVER do. If our clients thought we were giving them fabricated photos, we obviously wouldn’t be in business very long. We were even offered photos of the fake silver corvette test car by someone via email, but we passed knowing something wasn’t quite right with the car. I’m sure it may sound a little funny to hear someone who spies on large corporations for a living talking about his ethical business practices, but we do play by the rules. That is something even the OEMs themselves would tell you.

On a lighter note, the Winding Road crew did a pretty good job making a convincing mock-up. If I’d seen it go past me on the road, I would’ve turned around to shoot it. I just wouldn’t have sent the images out after I got a good look at it on my computer screen. The spy photography business puts me in the unique position of being able to shoot first and ask questions later.

Overall was this meant as a joke? Yes, I think so. I hope so. Were there some unforeseen negative effects? Unfortunately, yes. Hopefully Winding Road and I can agree to disagree on the staging of this prank. I’d hate to lose them as a client. Especially since I’m selling a kidney tomorrow... how else can I afford the plane ticket to Australia to photograph those Camaro prototypes?

-- Chris

[email protected]

Chris Doane is a spy photographer who works with Brenda Priddy & Co. scanning the globe for the latest, greatest cars that have yet to hit the showroom.

Brenda Priddy is the queen of the long lens and one of the most accomplished spy photographers in the world.

In the interest of full disclosure; Autoweek, Motor Trend, The Car Connection and Winding Road are all our clients.

-------------------------------------

Response by BRENDA PRIDDY - Courtesy of Autoblog

AB: What was your reaction to hearing that the Corvette prototype in these spy photos was faked?

Priddy: I was a bit disappointed when I heard about the "prank". Frankly, my major concern was that our actual "spy photos" would lose their value - their creditability. I've already had dozens of e-mails from readers questioning our Blue Devil / Stingray photos, which are in fact actual General Motors' prototypes.

AB: Do you think the prank will negatively effect your business in any way?

Priddy: I think publications will be more careful with "reader's photos" -and several may no longer want to deal with them anymore. It will be harder for the guy down the block to sell a pictures to XXXX Magazine in the future, as the publications will likely only want to deal with the professionals in the future - hoping to avoid such issues.

AB: Why didn't your company buy photos of the Vette in question when they were offered to you?

Priddy: Let's just say that we carefully examine each and every image that arrives in our mailbox. And although we want to distribute more images than any other company, we tend to be rather selective on the photos that we agree to work with.

AB: What do you want auto enthusiasts know about the way you take and screen spy photos before they're sold?

Priddy: When "spy photos" are offered to us by other photographers - professional or amateurs - I ask a lot of questions. Basically I want to make sure that the pictures weren't taken "on the other side of the fence" - and I want to make sure that no laws were broken - such as trespassing. Depending on the circumstances, I tend to ask a lot of questions! As for the photos we personally take - again, we never trespass. Nor do we ever touch the vehicle, or break any laws while getting the perfect shot.

[wpbharry]

ooh please, you have over what 7,400 plus posts here alone in less then 2 years and make it look like you and the others publishing photo shots for a high profit are some type of valid business.

Anyone who knows Corvettes or even cars knew just by looking at the hood that it was a phony.

Most of us knew it and just laughed it off as a good joke

You make it sound like your not what you are, post some images with them ruined with with your names plastered on top of the image like you just broke a spy story. That Priddy is the worst is how they ruin the photo with their domain plastered on it.

Sounds like your just miffed because you did not think of this stunt but we all know many of the so called spy shots are phony.

Who really cares what a "could, might, maybe" is, we either see a real car and like it or not, spy shots are for the kiddies but real people see what you do no different then those taking spy shots of Britney Spears crotch. Get over it and learn about Corvettes before jumping on clearly pranks

Thank you for showing us all that AA is not such a bad idea.

(If anyone should know, its me! Now where is my Joshie and his St. Ides.?)

Edited January 10, 2007 by wpbharry

[Mr.Krinkle]

Thank you for showing us all that AA is not such a bad idea.

(If anyone should know, its me! Now where is my Joshie and his St. Ides.?)

youre going to give alcoholics a bad name.