Photographer Joins AI Photo Contest, Wins Top Prize with Real Image

In an unexpected turn of events, a photographer has managed to secure top prizes at a prestigious AI-generated photo contest with a real photograph (via Android Authority).

Real Image Wins AI Photo Contest

Miles Astray, a talented photographer, entered his real photograph into the AI category of the 1839 Awards, a renowned photography contest known for its emphasis on cutting-edge technology and creativity.

The image, titled "F L A M I N G O N E," depicts a flamingo in such a way that it appears headless due to the angle of the shot. Captured in 2022 at a beach in Aruba where flamingos roam freely, the photo was taken with a Nikon D750 camera using a 50mm prime lens at ƒ/1.8 and a 1/1600 shutter speed.

Initially, "F L A M I N G O N E" won both the Bronze award in the judge's category and the People's Vote Award. However, Android Authority reports that this victory was short-lived as the 1839 Awards organizers quickly revised the winners' list, replacing Astray's photo with two other AI-generated images that were previously listed as honorable mentions.

The Creative Resource Collective, the organization behind the 1839 Awards, issued a statement explaining the decision to disqualify Astray's entry. They emphasized their commitment to ensuring fairness and clarity for all participants by maintaining distinct criteria for each contest category.

The jury, composed of esteemed professionals from institutions like The New York Times, Christie's, and Getty Images, initially recognized Astray's photo for its creativity and visual impact. However, upon realizing the image was not AI-generated, the organizers felt it necessary to reallocate the awards to other artists who adhered to the category's specific requirements.

Why The Photographer Did It

Speaking with Android Authority, Astray said his motivation behind submitting a real photograph to an AI contest was to highlight the ethical implications of AI in photography. He sought to demonstrate that real-life scenes could be as fantastical and creative as those generated by artificial intelligence.

Reflecting on his actions, Astray said, "Of course, I feel bad about leading the jury astray, but I think that they are professionals who might find that this jab at AI and its ethical implications outweighs the ethical implications of deceiving the viewer, which, of course, is ironic because that is what AI does."

Astray teased the true nature of his photo on social media, hinting at its authenticity with a caption that read, "We've all seen a flamingo, but have you ever seen a flamingone? Only an AI could make that up. Or did I just make that up?"

Read Also: OpenAI Transcription Tool Whisper Found to Generate Harmful, Violent Text Due to Hallucinations, Study Finds

AI Wins Art Competition

This incident is reminiscent of a similar case in August 2022 when game designer Jason Allen won a digital arts competition at the Colorado State Fair using an AI-generated image.

Allen's victory with his piece "Theatre d'Opera Spatial" sparked widespread debate about the legitimacy and artistic value of AI-generated works.

Despite winning a $300 cash prize, Allen faced criticism from the digital art community, with many arguing that creating AI-generated images lacked the effort and skill required for traditional digital art.

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