Real photo wins AI photography award, then disqualified
Miles Astray, a photographer, won the AI category at the 1839 Photography Awards with his authentic photo titled F L A M I N G O N E. But when he revealed that the image was captured using a camera, the award was taken back. Astray aimed to highlight the enduring value of human artistry and the edge of creativity over artificial intelligence. This situation is reminiscent of Boris Eldagsen's win at the 2023 Sony World Photography Awards, where he also declined his award for an AI-generated image, arguing against the notion that AI and traditional photography should compete against each other.
Key facts
- Miles Astray won the AI category of the 1839 Photography Awards with a real photograph.
- The photograph, titled F L A M I N G O N E, shows a flamingo's head curled around itself.
- Astray revealed the image was taken with a camera, leading to disqualification.
- He entered the real photo to prove human-made content still has relevance.
- In 2023, Boris Eldagsen won the Sony World Photography Awards with an AI-generated image.
- Eldagsen declined the award, stating AI and photography should not compete.
- The 1839 Photography Awards are organized by the 1839 Awards.
- Astray's statement emphasized that creativity and emotion are more than digits.
Entities
Artists
- Miles Astray
- Boris Eldagsen
Institutions
- 1839 Photography Awards
- World Photography Organization
- Sony World Photography Awards