Can you believe this is a real picture?

[connoisseur series500]

It's a photograph of the Russian city, Khanty-Mansiysk in Siberia where they are currently holding an international chess tournament.

[connoisseur series500]

Looks like fantasy.

[7/4]

Looks like the sky and the landscape are two different photos.

[Jim Alfredson]

The clouds do not look the right scale as compared to everything else. Well, the trees don't look the right scale either. I don't think it's a real photo.

[Jim Alfredson]

Also, when you look at the buildings, the light seems to be coming from the upper right corner, which is precisely where a gigantic storm cloud is. And the clouds are lit from the opposite side. I think 7/4 is right, the sky and the background are two different photos.

[connoisseur series500]

You guys may be right, but the website claimed the pic was real. You can find it on www.chessbase.com

[Joe G]

So I guess the answer is no.

[7/4]

Also, when you look at the buildings, the light seems to be coming from the upper right corner, which is precisely where a gigantic storm cloud is. And the clouds are lit from the opposite side. I think 7/4 is right, the sky and the background are two different photos.

That's what tipped me off.

[marcello]

I think it's two photographs.

The sky and the background being one.

The foreground and the buildings being another.

Look at the sun position(s).

The sky and background look to be taken from a longer distance away.

Al of it looks like it was used with a polarizing filter.

[connoisseur series500]

You guys have me convinced. I didn't examine it closely. I think it's a cool pic.

[Mr. Gone]

I can't see evidence in this lo-res pic that's it's fake. The chess guys have better things to do than faking pictures...

On December 10th Khanty-Mansiysk celebrated its 75-year anniversary.

The above is a real winter picture, not a fantasy painting.

Conclusion: yes, I can believe this is a real picture.

[connoisseur series500]

The mystery deepens...

[Kalo]

Looks like a table-top diorama to me. Or a Russian train-set layout?

[Guest]

Well I'll be a monkey's uncle...It's remarkably close to what East Dallas looks like after the boys from Austin drive up with their fresh-picked mushrooms.

[7/4]

Nice photo. Funky scan.

[sheldonm]

Looks like a table-top diorama to me. Or a Russian train-set layout?

...that was my first thought as well.

[Brownian Motion]

Mystery solved.

[slide_advantage_redoux]

Well I'll be a monkey's uncle...It's remarkably close to what East Dallas looks like after the boys from Austin drive up with their fresh-picked mushrooms.