AI-Generated Image Receives International Photography Award, But Creator Declines
In an era of rapid technological transformation, another event has been etched into the history of photography.
German photographer Boris Eldagsen was awarded first prize in the Creative category of the prestigious Sony World Photography Award. However, he declined the award, citing the use of an AI image generation model in the creation of his work.
The awarded piece, titled ‘Pseudomnesia: The Electrician’, was produced using the AI image generator DALL-E 2. This model was developed by OpenAI, a Bay Area company also known for creating ChatGPT.
© Boris Eldagsen ‘Pseudomnesia: The Electrician’
The Creative category of the Sony World Photography Award praised the experimental approach of using AI image generation in artistic practice and officially stated that they were aware the work was AI-generated.
However, Eldagsen refuted this claim, stating (originally in English):
How many people knew or suspected that the image was generated by AI? Doesn’t something feel off? AI images and photographs should not compete against each other in such awards. They are fundamentally different. AI is not photography. That is why I will not accept this award.
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The photography community needs an open discussion. We need to debate what we consider to be photography and what we do not.
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By refusing this award, I hope to accelerate this conversation.
©︎ Boris Eldagsen
This incident can be seen as historically significant, as it has accelerated the debate around the meaning and implications of AI-generated imagery in photography, just as Eldagsen intended.
