Astray's entry – which won third place in the category and the People's Vote Award – was disqualified after the photographer revealed the truth. However, Astray told The Washington Post, “Flamingon” still accomplished its mission: to send a poignant message to a world plagued by ever-advancing, powerful technology and the plethora of fake images it produces. Suffering.
“My goal was to show that nature is so amazing and creative, and I don't think a machine can beat it,” Astray told The Post. “But, on the other hand, AI imagery has gotten to a point where it's indistinguishable from real photography. So where does that leave us? What are the implications and pitfalls? I think that's a very important conversation. That's what we need to do now.
When it comes to AI-generated images, more attention is paid to the weird results: the Pope wearing a Balenciaga-style puffer jacket, Elon Musk with a melted face on Mars, tanned, over-toothed. Or a flood of too many people. Fingers crossed that the technology has also enabled the proliferation of deepfakes — images that can be used for more nefarious purposes, such as rigging elections or spreading disinformation. In creative circles, this has led to debates about job security and fair compensation. All this is the result of worldwide calls to regulate the technology.
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As Astray sees it: “Technology itself is not inherently good or bad. It's how we implement it, right? So I think we need to move beyond that now. Otherwise, it It will be very difficult to catch up with.”
This is partly what prompted Astray to engage in some fraud, inspired by similar stunts in recent years. But those other cases include AI-generated images winning photography awards — “that's why I approached it from the other side.”
For nearly two years, the 38-year-old globe-trotting photographer had been mulling over the “already unreal image of an unreal-looking bird” he shot on a pristine beach off the coast of Aruba. On this sunny day, Astray had left around 5 a.m. on the first boat to a small island, hoping to beat the crowds. When he got there, he saw a bright pink bird “doing its morning routine” and preening its feathers. A “very lucky shot” caught the flamingo mid-belly scratch.
In the past few years, he thought a funny-looking bird might be the perfect vehicle for his AI protest, “but there weren't a lot of competitions with that category.” Opportunity knocked late last year when Creative Resources Collective asked if they would like to enter the color photography competition for the 1839 Awards, judged by an array of industry experts from the Center Pompidou, The New York Times and Getty Images. goes others
“I felt bad for letting them down,” said Astray, who added that he disclosed to the Creative Resource Collective that the photo was not AI-generated when the organization emailed him to say so. That he has won. “And it goes without saying that they made the right decision to impartially disqualify me from the other participants in the category who submitted real AI imagery.”
In a statement to The Post, Creative Resource Collective director Lily Fairman said that while the organization “fully appreciates the powerful message Miles presented with her submission,” she moved to disqualify him. Because Astray's image did not meet the category requirements.
The stand-alone AI category, a first in the competition's history, said Fairman, “was to create a space for artists working in this new medium. For example, we didn't want people who traveled to the ends of the earth Capture incredible animals or landscapes to challenge the AI.
Nevertheless, he added, “We hope this will raise awareness (and send a message of hope) to other photographers who are concerned about AI.” Now, Fierman added, Creative Resource Collective is working with Astray to publish a blog post on the topic. “As an artist, her voice will make a difference in that conversation,” he said.
Misguided, whose work focuses on “capturing the world as it is”, said he wasn't expecting the positive response – nor the hundreds of “funny, thought-provoking and touching comments” he received on social media. has been received.
“These are all human characteristics that AI can never replicate or relate to,” he said. “I think it's beautiful and it's part of the message I wanted to send initially. Actually, all of it together. Is Message.”