He was surprised that this year they were, especially with an AI image, and he suspects it was helped by the prominence of an attractive young woman as the central figure.
Those responsible for the award, the World Photography Organization — Sony only sponsors it — claim that Eldagsen had not made it clear to what extent artificial intelligence had played a role in his work, suggesting that they believed it might be a retouched photograph or that he was using it as a prop. For his part, Eldagsen is very upset that the organization tried to cover up the issue, he says, without entering into the debate that he considers urgent and unavoidable.
All mentions of the award that the German photographer won have disappeared from the organization’s website and it is no longer on display at London’s Somerset House. Eldagsen even went as far as to travel to the venue to take to the stage during the awards ceremony last week and explain what happened. He also released an open letter saying, “Thank you for selecting my image and making this a historic moment, because it is the first AI-generated image to win a prestigious international photography competition. How many of you knew or suspected that it was AI-generated? Something doesn’t feel right, does it?”
It’s a creepy looking picture
He was surprised that this year they were, especially with an AI image, and he suspects it was helped by the prominence of an attractive young woman as the central figure.
The picture shows a curiosity about human relationships that’s often missing in human photography.
Its a rather fine picture really. If I’d taken that IRL I would be very proud of it.
El Pais is one of the top three Spanish daily newspapers. Its leftist in orientation, but I wouldnt call it hip. Or not more than usual. Call it the Spanish NYT, but with way less attitude.
The Spanish newspaper world is rather center-right in general. Think the NY Post crossed with the WSJ. Or, perhaps, more like the UK press.
You can thank all those folks that developed digital photography software, as far back as 2005. “photoshop” was one of many programs available, even with the photography magazines only touting “photoshop” in their articles. It was similar to the old MS Dos vs PC Dos combat.
I came from the ancient Tri-x, Pan-x, and ASA400 35mm film world.
When I moved to my present abode, I had lost all my equipment due to Katrina. I was at the mercy of part-time photo film processors, and yup, a great bunch of shots were ruined in the developing process.
I decided to “go digital”. It is not a Ricoh 401 with appropriate lenses, but neither a pinhole camera.
This person has created a discussion, all right!
“AI” enabled products are pieces of modern impressionist art, and not to be confused with photography.
Evocative. The younger woman definitely looks Germanic. The photo looks like it is from the WWII period.
Always look at the hands. AI can’t generate hands for some reason - those fingernails don’t belong. They’re bizarrely shaped.
I still shoot at times with a Hasselblad and a pair of Leica R4s.
I shoot because the event is mine.
AI may be meaningful, or meaningless. It is of no concern to me.
The snows of yesteryear disappear, our memories fade in a century or ten centuries,
But while I breathe I have these prints before they melt or burn,
the moments were mine, the shots were mine, mechanically,
and they are mine until I am gone.
I am reminded of Rutger Hauer’s beautiful words at the end of Blade Runner.