The image has not been altered. The difference in sharpness around the signs is a result of lens aberration. The photo was taken through a 200 mm lens coupled with a 1.4x teleconverter - adding a teleconverter often lessens quality, but it's a trade-off most news photographers will take if it means getting the shot. The source of this photo is The Republic newspaper in Columbus, Indiana, and was published May 21, 2006 as the centerpiece on page A1. It ran with the following caption: "Lorraine Hensley, 18, sits between signs held by Alexis Hensley, 8, left, and Linda Jerome during a demonstration in opposition to illegal aliens Saturday, May 20, 2006 near the Bartholomew County Memorial for Veterans in downtown Columbus, Ind. President Bush urged Congress on Saturday to find a middle ground between mass deportation or instant U.S. citizenship for the estimated 12 million illegal immigrants already living in America. Bush's radio message was the third time this week he has spoken out about immigration."