I wouldn't say a resolution from 300x244[0] to 3023x2456[1] is "slightly better." All things considered, it's pretty standard to use thumbnails in an article, but it definitely would be nice if they made the thumbnails directly link to the original resolution image.
Wait... You were given that 300x244 version before mucking about? I was given 1024x832[2] using latest Chrome for Android 13. Your point remains, but to a far lesser degree, in my case.
I don't think that's cut & paste, I think it's dodge & burn. It's something you do while printing a negative that emphasizes the subject, in this case the man, and de-emphasizes the background. I was a news photographer in the 1970s and we did this all the time.
This is a fascinating process I’d never heard of before. Thank you for sharing. If there’s any good sources for descriptions of the photo processes like this you’re aware of, I’d be hugely interested as well (maybe write a book :)
We’ve been all across the country and back trying to ID this man at his desk. Yes, that’s a Shriner’s certificate on the wall behind him. It was issued from the Sesostris Shrine located in Lincoln, NE. And his stationary says “Memo to Recorders.” The folks at the Lincoln Shrine have been very helpful to us be we still have not yet been able to ID this man.
Trying to decode the letter on the desk... The resolution is such that it's all guesswork, but it's clearly a "Memo to Records" or Recorders[0] which I think of as something for a "permanent record". Gov't records, medical records, etc.
And possibly the image of the person on the letterhead is the signer. So, his company? Gov't Position? Law/Medical Practice? I'm bad at this.
[2] https://blogs.loc.gov/now-see-hear/files/2021/11/48-1024x832...