IPhoto has rotated and distorted a lot of my old photos

Question

Something strange has happened to some of my older photos. The photos are in portrait orientation, like they're supposed to, but the image itself is rotated and stretched (as you can see in the image). After looking at the distorted image in full screen, the thumbnail is also distorted. Rebuilding the library didn't fix the problem. Is there a way to fix this?

Answer 1

First, try this:
1 - delete the iPhoto preference file, com.apple.iPhoto.plist, that resides in your
     User/Home/Library/ Preferences folder.
2 - delete the contents the following folder:
User/Library/Containers/com.apple.iPhoto
3 - reboot, launch iPhoto and try again.
NOTE: For Mavericks, 10.9,  go to your Home folder and use the View ➙ Show View Options menu to bring the this window:
where you can check the Show Library Folder checkbox.
If this doesn't help give this a try:
Starting over from scratch with new library
Start over with a new library and import the Originals (iPhoto 09 and earlier) or the Masters (iPhoto 11) folder from your original library as follows:
1. Open the library package like this.
2. Launch iPhoto with the Option key held down and, when asked, select the option to create a new library.
3. Drag the subfolders of the Originals (iPhoto 09 and earlier) or the Masters (iPhoto 11) folder from the open iPhoto Library package into the open iPhoto window a few at a time.
This will create a new library with the same Events (but not necessarily the same Event names) as the original library but will not keep the metadata, albums, books slideshows and other projects.
If all photos appear normal in this new library we know it's not damaged image files and that the problem lies with your existing library.
Note:  your current library will be left untouched for further attempts at a fix if so desired.