In a unique twist, a picture taken in real life clinched a victory in the Artificial Intelligence (AI) category of a global photography contest. The shot, taken by writer and photographer Miles Astray on a beach in Aruba in 2022, showcases a flamingo coyly hiding its head behind its body. This photograph was submitted as an entry to the 1839 Awards, an esteemed organization known for hosting two annual photography competitions worldwide. This year, the panel of judges featured representatives from globally renowned entities such as The New York Times, Getty Images, and the auction house Christie’s.
Initially, Astray’s photo was lauded as the AI category winner and subsequently published on the winners’ page. However, technology publication Android Authority took notice of what they deemed as a ‘sneak’ and contacted the awards committee. Before the publication’s article was made public, Astray’s photo was removed from the AI category.
Contrary to Astray’s genuine photo, the AI category usually champions images generated by AI. This year, the gold winner was Robyn Finlayson from Queensland, who earned the top spot with an AI-rendered image titled “Untitled.” The image, composed of a woman and three herons in the backdrop, was created using a series of text prompts fed into an AI. Interestingly, the People’s Choice Award was taken home by Oklahoma-based photographer Josh New for a ‘self-portrait’ he made using an AI art generator named Midjourney.
The 1839 Awards’ spokesperson confirmed Astray’s photo’s removal from the AI category. Their decision to fix this mishap was aimed at upholding the fairness of the competition for other artists vying for the top spot in the AI category. Furthermore, the awards body invited Astray to share his thoughts on this matter in an upcoming blog post devoted to discussing this exceptional occurrence. The organization expressed that they believed Astray’s perspective would be influential in shaping this conversation.
Responding to the invitation, Astray emphasized that his victory in the AI category attests to his belief that Mother Nature’s creative splendor surpasses any AI’s creativity. Even though Astray acknowledged the potential of AI technology, he voiced his concerns about its current limitations and risks.
Therefore, despite the groundbreaking strides, AI technology is making in the world of photography, it appears that, for now, the genuine artistry offered by real-life and human skills continues to hold its ground and charm.
