The Sony World Photography Award winner has refused to accept the prize after revealing that the winning photo he submitted was created using an artificial intelligence image generator.
Berlin-based German photographer Boris Eldagsen won the Creative category of the award Open competition 2023, and received a garland at an April 13 ceremony in London. The award is considered one of photography’s most prestigious honors.
By entering a computer-generated image in a traditional photography prize and then refusing to accept the ensuing prize, Eldagsen says he hopes to “spark a debate” about a technology that is poised to radically alter the how we define and understand photorealistic imagery.
Eldagsen’s winning image, Pseudomnesia: Electricianwas created using DALL-E 2, an image generator developed by OpenAI, the San Francisco-based company that also created the AI chatbot ChatGPT.
In her submission, Eldagsen described the image as “a haunting black-and-white portrait of two women of different generations, reminiscent of the visual language of 1940s family portraits.”
A spokesperson for the prize responded by accusing Eldagsen of “deliberate attempts to mislead us” by entering the competition under false pretence and with the intention of rejecting the prize.
The prize jury was aware that Eldagsen’s image was generated by AI and awarded the prize for this knowledge, the spokesperson said.
In previous years, the creative category of the award has traditionally honored photographs that have challenged the boundaries of conventional photography. “The award welcomes diverse experimental approaches to image making,” the spokesperson said. The arts journal.
Shortly after the award was announced, Eldagsen appeared uninvited on stage to address the assembled audience. In an off-the-cuff address, he said AI images are not photographs and therefore should not be considered in competitions designed for camera-based practitioners.
Eldagsen then issued a statement on his website in which he accused the contest judges of failing to distinguish between a photographic image and a “generative” image created by an artificial intelligence machine.
“I applied as a cheeky monkey, to find out if contests are prepared for AI images to enter,” Eldagsen wrote. “They are not.”
“How many of you knew or suspected this was AI generated? Something about that is wrong, isn’t it? ” he added. “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 price.
Speaking to BBC Radio on April 18, Eldagsen said of the image: “It looks like a vintage wet plate from the 1940s [collodion] photograph.”
Eldagsen used the phrase “promptography” to describe the image, alluding to how platforms such as DALL-E 2 and ChatGPT rely on “prompts” – specific instructions from a user – to create custom images or content.
“Promptography is done with prompts. Photography is made with light,” Eldagsen told the BBC. “I think it’s very important to differentiate these [two things] by terms and then to have an open discussion about it in the world of photography. Is the photography umbrella big enough to say [this type of imagery] is part of ? Because the visual language is the same.
A Sony World Photography Awards spokesperson says The arts journal“During our various exchanges with Boris Eldagsen before announcing him the winner of the Creative category of the Open competition on March 14, he had confirmed the ‘co-creation’ of this image thanks to AI. In our correspondence, he explained that after “two decades of photography, my artistic focus has shifted more towards exploring the creative possibilities of AI generators” and that the greater focus on image relies heavily on his “wealth of photographic knowledge”. In accordance with the contest rules, the photographers provide the guarantees of their participation.
“The Creative category of the Open competition welcomes various experimental approaches to image creation, from cyanotypes and rayographs to cutting-edge digital practices.
“So, following our correspondence with Boris and the guarantees he provided, we considered that his candidacy met the criteria for this category and we supported his participation. Additionally, we were eager to engage in a deeper discussion on this topic and welcomed Boris’ wish for dialogue by preparing questions for a dedicated Q&A with him for our website.
“As he has now decided to decline his award, we have suspended our activities with him and, in accordance with his wishes, we have removed him from competition. In view of his actions and his subsequent statement noting his deliberate attempts to mislead, and therefore invalidate the guarantees he provided, we no longer feel able to engage in a meaningful and constructive dialogue with him.
“We recognize the importance of this subject and its impact on image making today. We look forward to exploring this topic further through our various channels and programs and welcome conversation around it. While elements of AI practices are relevant in the artistic contexts of image-making, the awards have always been and will continue to be a platform to champion the excellence and skills of photographers and artists working in this medium.
• THE Sony World Photography Awards Exhibition is at Somerset House, London, until May 1
