Berlin-based German photographer Boris Eldagsen started a dialogue recently after revealing that his Sony World Photography Award-winning image was actually an artificial intelligence (AI)-generated photo. He refused to accept one of photography's most honorable distinctions.
Eldagsen had won the Creative category of the award's 2023 Open competition and had been awarded accordingly in London on April 13. His image, "Pseudomnesia: The Electrician," depicts one woman placing her hands on another, rendered in an old fashion. He described it as "a haunting black-and-white portrait of two women from different generations, reminiscent of the visual language of 1940s family portraits."
"Pseudomnesia: The Electrician"
He would later announce that the image was actually developed using DALL-E 2, a generator credited to OpenAI. With this, the veteran photographer wanted to "drive debate" about the technology, which he says would change the state of photorealist imagery.
Eldagsen accused the judges of failing to tell apart a photograph and a "generative AI image. "I applied as a cheeky monkey, to find out if the competitions are prepared for AI images to enter," Eldagsen wrote in a statement on his website. "They are not."
He added: "How many of you knew or suspected that it was AI generated? Something about this doesn't feel right, does it? AI images 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."
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A spokesperson for the award-giving body accused Eldagsen of "deliberate attempts at misleading us (the panel)." The creative category is meant to showcase photographs that challenge the conventional. It primarily values experimental images.
In an Instagram post, the photographer responded: "Also, pretending that you knew the picture was AI is wrong. I told one of your assistants in length, but then after the press release your PR executive contacted me, being surprised about all the inquiries regarding my image and asking for more info."
Sony World Photography Award also explained to The Art Newspaper that they "recognize the importance of this subject and its impact on image-making today." The group furthered: "We look forward to further exploring this topic via our various channels and programs and welcome the conversation around it."
The Sony World Photography Awards Exhibition Continues at Somerset House in London until May 1, 2023.
