It’s easily my most controversial photo ever. It gets posted over and over again. My haters and doubters come up with all kinds of conspiracy theories based on this one photo.
So I’m writing this post to clear it up. What’s the deal with the missing shadow? For that matter, why do I take photos from all these places? Why am I almost always holding my laptop?
It’s not to brag. I do it to inspire and educate people.
I work with several different photographers who come with me on trips. Most of them are very talented — so I’m not trying to rip on any photographer.
In the case of my most controversial photo, the photographer wanted the photo to look good. So he edited it. If you look at it, he edited the color of the water — it’s not usually that blue. But also, there should be a shadow where I’m standing. I guess he didn’t like it, so he took it out.
Check it out…
Table of Contents
My Most Controversial Photo Ever
I’ve posted thousands of photos. But this ONE photo gets people saying I’m a fake and a liar.
I’m sick of it.
I don’t care if he took out a shadow. But because of that, it’s become my most controversial picture. Ever.
My photographers take photos and videos and give them to me. I posted this without even thinking about it. I had no idea it would become my most controversial photo.
“Gotcha, Sykes!”
Here’s the photo someone made to point out the supposed fake/photoshopped picture. The conspiracy theorists say, “They don’t match up.” They point out the missing shadow, the fact that I’m holding a laptop, and that I’m not on the same level as the chairs behind me.
This photo has been posted SO many times as a ‘gotcha.’ And it gets comments like, “Sykes doesn’t actually travel. He just photoshops himself in places.”
But it’s laughable…
The crazy thing about being real in an industry full of scams is that I’m not looking for more students. I’m not desperate, hanging out on the street saying, “Hey, who wants to be my student?”
Every time this gets reposted, my haters help me weed out bad students. And THAT lets me focus on dedicated students. The cool thing is, I’m not a fake.
Crushing Conspiracy Theories
I posted a video of me standing on that very rooftop. This IS real. You can see me standing on the rooftop. I actually did hold up the laptop. And you can see there’s a little ledge if you watch the video a few times. That’s why I’m a little higher up.
Check it out…
Here’s video of me standing with my laptop on the roof of my favorite hotel in Positano as we droned it to show you that YOU CAN WORK FROM ANYWHERE! Because @VillaFrancaHVF has the fastest wifi in all of Italy, not to mention great food/views/cappuccinos too! #laptoplifestyle pic.twitter.com/m3133FwmAS
— Timothy Sykes (@timothysykes) October 4, 2020
As you can see in the video, the water is still beautiful. But it’s not as blue as the photo would suggest. So I guarantee you the photographer boosted the water’s vibrancy. I’m not trying to throw any photographers under the bus. I like the photographers who travel with me. They just don’t realize how stupid and insane the financial Twitter community is.
But that doesn’t mean I wasn’t there. It doesn’t mean that I’m a fake. It just means I have an overaggressive photographer. Again, I have a bunch of photographers. They give me photos and videos … and I post them.
How Demented Are My Haters?
Of course, my haters weren’t happy with pointing out the bad photoshop job removing my shadow. They went further and questioned what happened there on the rooftop. Check it out…
Notice how they boxed out the section at the bottom?
There actually were other hotel guests lounging around the pool. And they actually were very confused. They actually did ask why I was standing there in my robe holding out my laptop like a crazy person.
And … surprise … I did make a joke about it being just another day in the life of the world’s preeminent laptop model.
People spreading this around think I’m faking these photos. They even think I’m faking the videos. This is how truly demented my haters and doubters are…
“You somehow edited yourself into this video.”
Are you insane? I’ve been to Positano six years in a row. This my first year not going — and that’s only because of the pandemic.
My Travel Photos and Videos Are Real
It blows my mind that people don’t realize it. I don’t even look at these stupid little things when these photographers give me their photos and videos. I’m sorry one of my photographers edited the photo thinking I would like it better. He thought it would look better for me.
But I assure you, I was…
Standing Poolside at Villa Franca
Villa Franca, in Positano Italy, is one of my favorite hotels. The funny thing is that I was holding up the laptop to show that you can work from anywhere. And Villa Franca has the fastest Wi-Fi I’ve found anywhere in Europe.
Several times when I’ve stayed at villas nearby instead of the hotel, I’ve gone there to upload videos. My trip last summer is an example. I had a lot of video lessons to upload before leaving Positano. I was going somewhere in Africa where good Wi-Fi wasn’t guaranteed. So I wanted to upload all my long videos.
Where did I go? Villa Franca. I didn’t go to the pool that time. I was there uploading five-, seven-, and 10-minute videos at midnight.
So in a way, it’s fitting that this is my most controversial photo.
Villa Franca Gets My Highest Recommendation
When this pandemic is over you can go to Villa Franca in Positano and experience its fast Wi-Fi. I highly recommend a stay there.
Also, they have this linguini with clams which is AMAZING. Their cappuccinos are excellent. And their breakfast bar is incredible, too. So I’m proud to give a huge shout out to Villa Franca! I look forward to visiting again. Hopefully soon.
Need a little inspiration to study harder? Check out the Villa Franca website.
Positano isn’t the only place I love to visit in that part of Italy. Check out my villa on the island of Capri…
We did a drone shot very similar to the shot we did in Positano so you can see I’m on the edge of a cliff. Again, I was holding a laptop and a smartphone to show you the laptop lifestyle. Or the keyboard warrior lifestyle. Whatever you want to call it, it’s a pretty cool shot.
Get Inspired to Study
I post these photos and videos to inspire you to study. The most beautiful, amazing world is out there just waiting for you to explore. (If you’re brand new to penny stocks, start with this free penny stock guide.)
Sadly, doubters and haters find a single missing shadow and say…
“Gotcha. If you lie about being in Italy, you probably lie about your success in the stock market, too. You probably lie about your charity. You’re probably lying about…”
It’s tragic that some negative people will use this to prevent people from learning. It’s sickening to me that this stuff prevents people from expanding their lives.
But, in the end, I’m…
Grateful for My Haters
My haters think they’re hurting me with their cries of “Gotcha! Faker!” What they’re really doing is weeding out crappy students. Why? If someone says “I’m not gonna invest in my financial education because I don’t like this photo,” they aren’t a good fit. They’d probably be a pretty crappy student.
So, contrary to what my haters think, I’m grateful for them. And this whole fake news BS where these idiots try to get the ‘gotcha’ is funny.
Let’s not forget that I’m the one person in this niche who tries to expose scams…
Real in an Industry Full of Scams
Over the years I’ve run across hundreds of penny stock scams. I’ve exposed dozens. Like these three I exposed five years before the SEC. And this blatant penny stock promoter who got newbies to believe in a sketchy company.
Then there’s the fun Justin Bieber had falling prey to a blatant paid promotion scheme. Or the Spongetech scam from 2011.
Not to mention my legal wrangles with NBA great Shaquille O’Neal. He actually sent me a cease-and-desist letter when I exposed the NXT pump. It was one of the most interesting penny stock scams I’ve ever seen.
Beware Penny Stock Scams! (Don’t Fall for the Pump)
Rumor has it that Shaq is still into penny stocks so he can put on his suit and feel smart. Maybe he should get a penny stock education? I mean, I’m not that smart and I win roughly 75% of the time.
Trading Challenge
If you’re ready for a penny stock education, the Trading Challenge is my most comprehensive program. You’ll learn to recognize the scams and pumps. (And how self-sufficient traders take advantage of them.)
But if you’re lazy or freaked out by a missing shadow … don’t waste my time. If you’re dedicated and committed to your education you might be a good fit. It’s not for everyone. And not everyone who applies gets accepted. If you’re ready to focus, apply today.
Back to…
My Most Controversial Photo Ever: The Bottom Line
To all my haters who try to rip on my photos and videos…
You do me a favor by weeding out bad students who would waste my time. Your conspiracy theories are laughable to me. When I get these photographs and videos from photographers I don’t even look for missing shadows.
It’s more like…
“That Was a Cool View, I’ll Post It”
I probably should’ve looked closer. But my thought was, “Cool. I remember that so I’ll post it.”
That’s what it comes down to. Not that I’m a fake. And not some kind of ‘gotcha’ moment. There’s no green screening or conspiracy behind the missing shadow. I actually do travel.
Surprise … it’s all real. That’s the story behind my most controversial photo ever.
What do you think of my most controversial photo ever? Comment below, I’d love to get your thoughts!
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