claim: A photograph shows seal hugging a beluga whale.
origin: In June 2017, an image purporting to show a sweet moment between a seal and a beluga whale went viralÂ on social media: Although theÂ image was often shared along with a description calling it an â€œincredible shotâ€, thereby insinuating that it isÂ a genuine photograph, it does not show an actual moment. Â This a piece of digital art originally created by artistÂ Elena Vizerskaya (and available via the â€œcreativeâ€ section on Getty Images). A statement on Vizerskayaâ€™s web site explains that herÂ artwork is a mix of collage, digital manipulation, and graphic design: < Welcome to the magical and mysterious world of Elena Vizerskaya aka Kassandra.Â Collage, photo-manipulation, photo-design are rather only the technical features of Elenaâ€™s approach that allow her to create uncommon and often surrealistic worlds perceived by a spectator intuitively, on the emotional level.Â It is a special space that looks rather like a dream filled with reflections and allusions. A space where many things meant to be felt, not understood, where you come backÂ again and again. > We also found several similar images featuring surreal beluga whales on Vizerskayaâ€™s Facebook and Getty Images pages: Vizerskayaâ€™s business partner told us in an e-mail thatÂ it is a digital composite: Itâ€™s a composited digital image â€“ the seal and beluga whale didnâ€™t really hug each other in real life, but they did that in Elenaâ€™s heart and imagination. Â If you check (for example, at her siteÂ www.levitazio.com) many Elenaâ€™s artworks are unbelievably unusual combinations of very different elements. After all, sheâ€™s one of the best photo artists on the planet (called the best photo artist in the world in 2016 at the largest photo competition in the world).