Photographer Miles Astray submitted a human-made image "Flamingone" in an AI competition and won. Unfortunately when the organizers realized his photo was not AI generated, they disqualified him. Astray wanted to highlight the importance of questioning the authenticity of photos, videos and audios.
Following his disqualification, Astray had this to say, "I couldn’t live the life I’m living without technology, so I don’t demonise it, but I think its often a double-edged sword with the potential to do both good and harm.
*Flamingone - pronunciation - "flæ-ming-gone"
Background info:
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Rise of AI in Photography: AI technology has rapidly advanced, allowing for the creation of highly realistic images that can be difficult to distinguish from those taken by human photographers.
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AI Image Competitions: Many photography contests have introduced categories specifically for AI-generated images, recognizing the growing influence of AI in creative fields.
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Controversies and Challenges: The inclusion of AI in photography competitions has sparked debates about fairness, creativity, and the definition of art. Traditional photographers often feel threatened by AI-generated works.
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Boris Eldagsen Incident: In 2023, German artist Boris Eldagsen won a Sony World Photography Award with an AI-generated image, which he later revealed, leading to his disqualification. This incident highlighted the blurred lines between AI and human creativity.
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Technology's Double-Edged Sword: While AI technology can enhance creativity and streamline processes, it also poses risks of misinformation and challenges in verifying authenticity