Sony World Photography Award: One photo and many false memories

2023-04-21 14:57:03

media Rejected Price

Why this photographer turned down the Sony World Photography Award

Stand: 21.04.2023 | Reading time: 2 minutes

Boris Eldagsen next to his AI photo

Source: Alex Schwander/Boris Eldagsen/dpa

You can listen to our WELT podcasts here

In order to display embedded content, your revocable consent to the transmission and processing of personal data is required, since the providers of the embedded content as third-party providers require this consent [In diesem Zusammenhang können auch Nutzungsprofile (u.a. auf Basis von Cookie-IDs) gebildet und angereichert werden, auch außerhalb des EWR]. By setting the switch to “on”, you agree to this (which can be revoked at any time). This also includes your consent to the transfer of certain personal data to third countries, including the USA, in accordance with Art. 49 (1) (a) GDPR. You can find more information about this. You can withdraw your consent at any time via the switch and via privacy at the bottom of the page.

Boris Eldagsen has won a prize at the prestigious Sony World Photography Awards. But the Berlin photographer does not want the prize. He prefers to discuss the end of photography as we know it. Because he didn’t really photograph his picture.

Ein Man around 50 is next to a picture. his picture. Or not. Boris Eldagsen, that’s the man’s name, created this picture, yes. But he didn’t photograph it. Although he received the prestigious Sony World Photography Award for portraying two women in March. And then declined, not wanting the prize. The image is titled Pseudomnesia: The Electrician.

The twist of the story behind the scorned award is in the title, which translates to “False Memory.” Eldagsen is the creator of this memory of two women, but he never met and photographed them, instead designing them on the computer using powerful artificial intelligence (AI).

also read

The creation could have been recognized by the less than perfect hands, experts say. It is unclear whether she was recognized or not, the representations differ. He could accept the price, he was told, Eldagsen writes on his website when he revealed that it was an AI-generated photo.

However, the German artist said that he did not want to discuss the prize, but rather the role of AI in photography. His multiple offers for a debate have been rejected, however, and contact with the Weltfoto organization seems to have been broken off.

You can listen to our WELT podcasts here

In order to display embedded content, your revocable consent to the transmission and processing of personal data is required, since the providers of the embedded content as third-party providers require this consent [In diesem Zusammenhang können auch Nutzungsprofile (u.a. auf Basis von Cookie-IDs) gebildet und angereichert werden, auch außerhalb des EWR]. By setting the switch to “on”, you agree to this (which can be revoked at any time). This also includes your consent to the transfer of certain personal data to third countries, including the USA, in accordance with Art. 49 (1) (a) GDPR. You can find more information about this. You can withdraw your consent at any time via the switch and via privacy at the bottom of the page.

Artificial intelligence is not photography, says Eldagsen, but just as photography has replaced painting in the depiction of reality, AI will now replace photography. Nobody has to fear that, but one has to talk about it. Boris Eldagsen is now speaking to the media. He looks at his creation with a look that reveals more skepticism than pride. Or is that just imagination?

This is where you will find third-party content

In order to display embedded content, your revocable consent to the transmission and processing of personal data is required, since the providers of the embedded content as third-party providers require this consent [In diesem Zusammenhang können auch Nutzungsprofile (u.a. auf Basis von Cookie-IDs) gebildet und angereichert werden, auch außerhalb des EWR]. By setting the switch to “on”, you agree to this (which can be revoked at any time). This also includes your consent to the transfer of certain personal data to third countries, including the USA, in accordance with Art. 49 (1) (a) GDPR. You can find more information about this. You can withdraw your consent at any time via the switch and via privacy at the bottom of the page.