After admitting to using artificial intelligence (AI) for an award-winning photo of his in a competition, a German photographer refused the prize he was entitled to because of his first place.
Boris Eldagsen, an artist from Germany, announced on his website that he will not accept the award for the “creative open category” that he was awarded at the Sony World Photography Awards. This captivating winning photograph depicts two women from different eras. It is a timeless black and white image.
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In a statement on his website, Eldagsen, who studied photography and visual arts at the Mainz Academy of Art, conceptual art and intermedia at the Academy of Fine Arts in Prague, and fine arts at the Sarojini Naidu School of Arts and Communication in Hyderabad, said he “applied as a cheeky monkey” to see if photography competitions were prepared to accept AI-generated photos.
“We, the photography world, need an open discussion,” Eldagsen said. “A discussion about what we want to consider photography and what we don’t. Is the umbrella of photography big enough to invite AI in – or would that be a mistake?” he wondered.
"By declining the award, I hope to accelerate this discussion," he said.
Regarding the distinction and the award, he said that this was a “historic moment,” as it was the first time that a photo created through AI won a prestigious international photography competition, adding: “How many of you knew or suspected that it was created with artificial intelligence? Something about it is not right, isn’t it?”.
“AI imagery and photography should not compete with each other in an award like this. They are different entities. AI is not photography. Therefore I will not accept the award . “.
Eldagsen suggested donating the prize to a photography festival hosted in Odessa, Ukraine.
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It is worth noting that this story comes to light at a time when there is intense debate about the use and implications of artificial intelligence. Many believe that its excessive use can ultimately cause problems in everyday life and at work.
A spokesperson for the World Photography Organization said Eldagsen confirmed the photo was “co-created” with AI before being announced as the winner.
As he said, there was a communication between them during which the German explained how he has shifted more to exploring the creative possibilities of AI generators and that “the further emphasis on the image is largely based on the wealth of his photographic knowledge.” According to the competition regulations, photographers provide their participation guarantees.
“The creative category of the competition welcomes various experimental approaches to image-making from cyanotypes to cutting-edge digital practices. Therefore, after our communication with Boris and the guarantees he provided, we considered his entry to meet the criteria for this category and supported his participation… Furthermore, we were eager to engage in a more in-depth discussion on this topic and welcomed Boris’s desire for dialogue by preparing questions for a special Q&A with him for our website,” the spokesperson said.
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However, it stressed that since the artist decided to refuse his award, activities with him have been suspended and he has been removed from the competition. “Given his actions and his subsequent statement noting his deliberate attempts to mislead us, and thereby nullifying the guarantees he provided, we no longer feel that we can engage in a meaningful and constructive dialogue with him.”
In an era where everything is done using technology, it is important to understand how artificial intelligence is also affecting the photography industry. AI technologies allow for the creation of more expressive photos, while at the same time they can leave room for the individual's creativity and imagination. It is an appropriate time to get to know the evolution of this new approach to photography, but certainly these images should not be confused and compared with the real photos taken by photographers.
See also: www.theguardian.com
