Boris Eldagsen, a German artist, has been the winner of the Creativity category, at the 2023 Sony World Photography Awards, one of the most reputable in the world of photography. Nevertheless, Eldagsen has refused to receive the award for his image PSEUDOMNESIA: The Electricia. The reason for his refusal? Well, according to Explainyour photo was created by artificial intelligence.
PSEUDOMNESIA: The Electricia presents us with an image that Sony has described as “a haunting black-and-white portrait of two women from different generations, reminiscent of the visual language of 1940s family portraits.”
To create it, Boris Eldagsen used the technology of inpainting and outpainting offered by artificial intelligence. Thus, and together with his knowledge of photography, she obtained a masterful result.
The photographer sent the image with the intention of generating an open discussion on the use of AI in conventional photography contests. According to the organizers of the event, the judges knew the nature of the image. However, they thought it was a collaboration between the artist and artificial intelligence.
I blatantly introduced myself, to find out if contests are set up for AI images to be submitted. They are not. We, the world of photography, need an open debate. A discussion about what we want to consider photography and what we don’t. Is the photography umbrella big enough to invite AI images to participate, or would that be a mistake? With my rejection of the prize I hope to accelerate this debate.
Boris Eldagsen
Although Eldagsen does not believe that artificial intelligence has a place in photography competitions – at least currently -, has claimed to use technology in his art. This practice is a recent chapter in his more than 30 years of experience. Thus, he explains having managed to generate “a complex interaction of rapid engineering, inpainting and outpainting that takes advantage of my extensive photographic knowledge” in the work presented.
The controversial role of artificial intelligence in art competitions
For his part, a spokesman for the World Photography Organization commented to the media motherboard His point of view. There, they assured that “the Creative category of the Open contest embraces various experimental approaches to imagingfrom blueprints and x-rays to cutting-edge digital practices”.
Therefore, after our correspondence with Boris and the assurances he provided us, we considered that his candidacy met the criteria for this category and we support his participation.
We recognize the importance of this topic and its impact on imaging today. We look forward to further exploring this topic through our various channels and programs and welcome the conversation around it.
Although elements of AI practices are relevant in artistic imaging contexts, the Awards have always been and will continue to be a platform to champion the excellence and skill of photographers and artists working in this medium.
World Photography Organization
It is not the first time that we have seen an artificial intelligence win a prize in an art contest. In 2022, an image generated by Midjourney took first place at the Colorado State Fair. In a short time the controversy was served and a multitude of artists and connoisseurs of the sector expressed their discontent.
Of course, this technology is nothing more than a new tool available to artists and consumers alike. However, there are so few regulations today; while it becomes more and more difficult to differentiate them from real images.