Has This Picture Been Posed In Such A Way That The Rat Looks Bigger Than It Really Is?

[sandyRoe]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-27156951

[tonyav]

I would say yes, sandy. Jack Russell dogs aren't very big any way.

[ladyalex]

oh I do hope so

[Baldric]

///Sé McKendry said he has caught almost 59 rats since he started counting///

Why would you pick a figure of 'almost 59' sounds fishy to me!

[Zacs-Master]

'S not a Rhat. 'S a Hhamster Mr Fawlty!

[tonyav]

Maybe he means 58 and a half, Baldric.

[Baldric]

The half that got away ?

[tonyav]

The dog ate half of it.

[EDDIE51]

Yes it has been 'posed', the rat is in the foreground nearer the camera to make it look bigger. The photographer has used a wide angle lens (short focal length) close up to make the effect even more pronounced. Standard photographic technique, wide angle lens close up with a small f stop for greater depth of field.
Rats really are a lot bigger than most people realise ( ask ABs own 'Ratter' for confimation)

[whirlyhurly]

The one I saw in my garden was as big as a cat.

[wolf63]

He says that nobody else is plagued by rats, do you think that his little dog's breed was originally bred to be rat catcher.

Maybe the mutt is doing as cats do - bringing home 'gifts' for the human.

I had to type and retype the above a few times as one of those cat things is snoozing on my left arm. Blame her for any spelling or grammar errors.

[1ozzy]

I guess someone needs to ratify the story.

[1ozzy]

Wow!!! I had been an "AB" member for two minutes and I posted a "best answer"
I think I'll come back again.
Thanks

[Chipchopper]

Its an old fishermans trick Sandy.
You hold the fish out at arms length for the photo and the big fish looks even bigger!

[jno]

does he actually say almost 59? The story says 60 and he didn't start counting until some way in.

The film suggests they're pretty big.

[Gromit]

Yes both pictures are composed so that the rat appears bigger than it actually is.

// has caught nearly 59 rats //

- so that is 58 rats then.

[royfromaus]

He added that he had counted 59 caught rats since 2010.

But he said the actual figure is higher as he did not start counting them until six months after the infestation started.



I can't see where it says 'almost 59'

[jno]

it says it in the caption to the video clip, but I don't know why - I couldn't hear the guy himself say that.

[1ozzy]

Didn't watch the video clip.
"Almost 59"
As Tonyav pointed out, could have been 58 and a half.
Maybe someone should give a "rats @#$#"

[royfromaus]

So it does, very odd.

[sandyRoe]

Sherlock Holmes once mentioned The Giant rat of Sumatra. In the same way Cane Toads were brought to Australia could someone, a rat fancier, have brought giant rats to NI and they've escaped?