Photographer rejects international award, reveals his work was AI-generated

A Berlin-based artist refused last week an international photography award, revealing he had submitted a photo generated by artificial intelligence.

Boris Eldagsen’s submission, “Pseudomnesia: The Electrician,” won the creative open category at this year’s Sony World Photography Award, CNN Style reported.

The black and white photo shows two women, the older crouching behind the younger, and another person’s hands touching the latter’s shoulder and breast.

The contest organizers said they were made aware of some AI involvement but did not know to what extent it had been used in the creation of the image.

Eldagsen said he hoped for the introduction of “separate competitions for AI-generated images.”

In a statement on April 13, the German artist said: “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.”

Eldagsen requested that his prize money be donated to a photography festival in Odesa, Ukraine, instead.

The artist created his entry by submitting commands to an AI generator several times, altering and refining it using the techniques of inpainting, outpainting, and prompt whispering, according to Art News website.

World Photography Organization, the contest’s organizers, said in a statement: “As he has now decided to decline his award, we have suspended our activities with him and in keeping with his wishes have removed him from the competition.

“Given his actions and subsequent statement noting his deliberate attempts at misleading us, and therefore invalidating the warranties he provided, we no longer feel we are able to engage in a meaningful and constructive dialogue with him.”

The organizers added that they recognized “the importance of this subject and its impact on image-making today,” but these awards “always have been and will continue to be a platform for championing the excellence and skill of photographers and artists working in the medium.”

Last year, an AI-generated painting by Jason M. Allen, titled “Théâtre d’Opéra Spatial,” won the Colorado State Fair’s annual art competition.