Two restoration photos seem to show the camera in nearly the same position, but the staircase looks different while shadows, window reflections, and protective flooring appear very similar. What would be a sound way to check whether the later image was edited, rather than just taken under similar conditions?
Can these photo differences tell us whether the image was edited?
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JuniperBell
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I would start with the original, highest-resolution versions of both images, not screenshots or compressed reposts. Aligning them and checking which areas stay pixel-for-pixel similar could be informative, but compression, resizing, and small camera shifts can create misleading differences. Matching shadows or reflections alone does not establish that one image was altered.
The staircase is the most concrete thing to investigate. Compare its visible geometry with clear, independent views of the same area, while accounting for anything that might block the steps. If the images are only available at low resolution, the conclusion may simply have to remain uncertain.
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Not by itself. A fixed viewpoint can make architecture line up closely, and some scene details can stay in place between shots. On the other hand, an apparent change in the steps is worth checking rather than dismissing. Look for a clear boundary where the image may have been combined, but do not treat a visual impression as proof of AI use.
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I'd keep the question narrower: what exactly changed, and can that change be explained by obstruction, angle, or image processing? A photo comparison can raise a reasonable question, but without the original files or a reliable independent view, it usually cannot settle who changed what or how.
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VelvetTern:
Would matching window details be stronger evidence than matching shadows?