Camera giant Nikon have been left red faced after they awarded first prize in their monthly amateur photography competition to a photo that had been altered with Photoshop. 

Singaporean photographer Chay Yu Wei submitted his entry Look Up, which appeared to capture a plane just as it flew over the fire escape of a building. He commented to users when he submitted the image that it was a really lucky shot and he didn't have to wait long for the plane to fly overhead. 

However, after awarding first prize to Mr. Chay, Nikon were bombarded with thousands of messages pointing out that the plane had very clearly been edited in. 

It also emerged that another photographer put up a similar image on Instagram. 

 

That was taken by Singaporean photographer Lee Yik Keat who doesn't know if Mr. Chay used the same image as his but has said that he has always admitted that his photo was a composite. 

Nikon issued an apology over the incident over the weekend and attempted to play down the importance of the incident by labeling it a "casual competition". 

However many feel it's unacceptable for one of the largest camera manufacturers in the world to make such a mistake and try and brush it under the carpet.

Mr. Chay also issued an apology on the same day on Instagram. 

Nikon have promised to take further action to rectify the problem since then and have removed Mr.Chay's image from their Facebook account.

The Internet's response has naturally been glorious. 

Pic by Naoki Tsukumo

Pic by Alex Hauck/Facebook

Pic by Gx Chua/Facebook

Pic by Glenn Guan/Facebook

Pic by Render Brant/Facebook

Pic by Hui Ying/Facebook

Via BBC