A German artist sparked controversy by winning a prestigious photography award with an image that was generated entirely with the help of artificial intelligence (AI).
The artist, Boris Eldagsen, says he clearly explained to the organizers of the Sony World Photography Awards that he was going to use an algorithm to create his image, and now he has turned down the award.
For their part, the organizers say that, to their understanding, Eldagsen had told them that he was going to use the AI only as a support, and they accused him of having "deliberately lied", although they later withdrew that accusation.
The sepia-toned image is titled
"Pseudoamnesia: The Electrician"
and shows two women facing the camera, in a vaguely vintage style, as if it were an early 20th century photograph.
The AI-generated photo that won a prestigious contest.
Sony World Photography Awards gave him the award for best creative photography in March.
Photography is one of the artistic fields most affected by the advent of AI, which allows anyone to create ultra-realistic images simply by conversing with a "chatbox".
Last year, an AI-created piece of art won a prize in a contest in Colorado, United States, and also sparked controversy.
Eldagsen said in interviews that his proposal was intended to spark debate around AI.
"I competed like a cheek, to find out if the competitions are ready for the arrival of AI. They are not," he said.
The AI-generated photo that won a prestigious contest.
The photographic contest assured for its part in a statement that following the wishes of the artist, they withdrew the work.
"Given his actions and subsequent statements (...) we no longer believe it is possible to have a constructive dialogue with him," Sony World Photography Awards explained in its statement.
Timeline of a fight over AI
Through his blog, the German artist reproduced a detailed chronology to clear up doubts about his participation in the photography prize and also to expose the organizers.
Here is his first-person account:
Dec 2022 I applied without additional information on the way of production, since SWPA allowed to use "any device".
Jan 13, 2023 Short List Announcement: CREO told me I was on the short list and asked for the hi-res file, date and publication history which I provided.
February 22 CREO asked for the title of the work.
I responded with “Boris Eldagsen, “PSEUDOMNESIA The Electrician”, 2022” If you follow this information, you can find out for yourself about the nature of the work.
Even the title might give you a clue, as it means "false memory."
UNTIL THIS BRIDGE THERE WAS NO INFORMATION EVER WHICH WAS GENERATED BY AI.
As the regulations allowed "any device" I just sent the image.
March 2 I THINK he told me I've won.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Photomedia & AI Artist (@boriseldagsen)
March 3 I responded by stating outright: “The links you requested earlier this year (website and Instagram, exhibition history) clearly show that after two decades of photography, my artistic focus has increasingly shifted towards exploring the creative possibilities of AI generators [… ] Since I don't want any misunderstandings here, it is important for me to explain in this email the background of the image you have chosen in as much detail as possible.
[…] In Germany, I am active as […] an AI expert at the “Deutscher Fotorat” to discuss the possibilities and risks of AI imagers.
Sony may be interested in revisiting the topic for a panel discussion in this context."
March 7th CREO sent a brief response so that I could keep the prize.
My suggestion was not followed.
March 14 CREO sends a press release on the selected winners.
Immediately a lot of press inquired about the nature of my work.
I received an email from the CREO Press executive saying, “We have received some inquiries from the media regarding your image, and the only information we have available regarding it is 'From the Pseudomnesia series.'
Would you have more information about this image that we can share with the media, please?
It was obvious that he was not informed by his team.
I am sending you the first release that you can still find on my website, describing how the work was produced.
9 minutes later I replied: “I had an email exchange with Karolina Hopanaite about this two weeks ago.
Reassuringly, SWPA knew the work was produced as an experiment with AI generators, knowing there would be an outcry among the photography community.
Below you will find my statement.
As I have been one of the best known German experts for discussing the relationship between AI and photography, I have also offered to participate in an open discussion on the subject, either online or before the award ceremony, if SWPA is interested. On it.
” And he sent the statement that you find on this web page below.
My statement was not used, instead the press executive sent this email to the press who wanted to know if the image is AI or not: “Dear […], Thank you very much for your inquiry.
Below is a quote from Scott Gray, Founder and CEO of the World Photography Organization: "As a medium, photography has always been at the forefront: constantly adapting and evolving, it has a unique ability to transform itself and push boundaries." .
We are interested in photography as an art form, and within the Sony World Photography Awards we have our Creative categories in the Professional and Open Competitions that invite photographers to experiment and explore the dynamism of the medium.
With technological advances,
a broader audience of creators is engaging with lens-based work and we look forward to seeing how this can expand the reach and impact of photography.”
Sincerely, […]" In the evening I received a brief response from the CREO Press executive with a smile and a “thank you”. There is no explanation why they did not use my statement. Not responding to my suggestion to discuss the issue. It is possible may not have expected that I have friends in the press who sent me their response.
The following week, the photographers contacted me on Facebook and told me that they wrote to CREO asking about the nature of my work and they didn't get an answer either.
March 21 Third offer for an open discussion: I pushed CREO in a new email to pick up the conversation and “discuss the issues we are already facing and will face”.
I explained again: “Two weeks ago I had an email exchange with [CREO assistant] about my image.
Reassuringly, SWPA knew that the work was produced as an experiment with AI generators, knowing that there would be protests among the photography community.
And there was and there is.
I have been receiving many messages, you have been receiving them.
[CREO's press officer] contacted me last Tuesday, requesting more information, and then used a generic response for the press.
Because?
To calm things down?
There is no answer to this question.
March 21 CREO Press executive response to my third offer: “However, we do have our blog on the worldphoto.org website where we post Q&As with the shortlisted and winning photographers on a regular basis, which we think would be a good platform to start the conversation.
and to talk more about your creative process.
If that's something you're interested in, our managing editor […] will be in touch with questions late next week, with the goal of having the article published by early April.”
March 21 My response to CREO: “Thank you […]!
If we do that." April 4 CREO editor contacts me: "I'm putting together some questions for us to do a Q&A on our blog. I hope to send them to you in the next few days, we've been very busy with the general announcement for the day 13”.
Never happened.
I've been waiting 22 days for these questions.
In my opinion, CREO is not interested in the fears and needs of the photographic community.
Why didn't they talk to me at the ceremony after I went on stage?
I stayed until the end and 30 more minutes.
Why have you not contacted me for the last few days?
They have my contact details.
They never responded to my mail that I sent 2 hours after the ceremony, sending them my statement and suggesting to donate the additional prize to the Ukrainian photography festival (photographic equipment) in Odessa, for a good cause.
Source: Boris Eldagsen agencies and blog
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