Boris Eldagsen
GHOSTED | Resurrection of a Disappeared Image

Conceptual Object, 2023: Hahnemühle Baryta print, 40 x 68,3 cm, mounted on Alu Dibond and framed as framesize B 45 x H 73,3 cm, and handwritten statement of the artist on its back (“AI is not photography!)”

BACKGROUND STORY
I applied to the Sony World Photography Awards to find out whether major photography competitions are prepared for the submission of AI-generated images. When guidelines were not adapted in this respect, I submitted the image THE ELECTRICIAN without any information to test the system.
Early March I was informed that I was the winner of the Creative Category / Open Competition. I immediately clarified how the image was generated and asked to be disqualified. Or to combine the award with an online talk discussing the relationship between AI-generated images and photography. The organiser wanted to stick with the award, but did not respond to my suggestions for discussion, nor were press enquiries "Is it AI or not"? answered clearly, nor was a promised Q&A followed through. In short: despite several attempts on my part, the organiser did not want to take a clear position on the nature of the work and what the consequence of the award as the winning photo will be for photography, art and society.
On 13.4.23, I therefore declined the Sony World Photography Award (Open Competiton / Creative Category) at the award ceremony in London. I was hijacking the microphone on stage to deliver my statement in person:
“Thank you for selecting my image and making this a historic moment, as it is the first AI generated image to win in a prestigious international PHOTOGRAPHY competition.
How many of you knew or suspected that it was AI generated? Something about this doesn’t feel right, does it?
AI images and photography should not compete with each other in an award like this. They are different entities. AI is not photography. Therefore, I will not accept the award.

I applied as a cheeky monkey, to find out, if the competitions are prepared for AI images to enter. They are not. We, the photo world, need an open discussion. A discussion about what we want to consider photography and what not. Is the umbrella of photography large enough to invite AI images to enter – or would this be a mistake?

With my refusal of the award, I hope to speed up this debate. Having been a photographer for 30 years before I turned to AI, I understand the pros and cons of this debate and will be happy to join the conversation.

If you dont know what to do with the prize, please donate it to the photo festival in Odesa, Ukraine. I will happily provide you the contacts.

Many thanks
Boris”

After my rejection of the award on stage, I stayed until the end of the event and beyond. No one from the SWPA, SONY or the press present approached me and tried to have a dialogue. If a young photographer hadn't asked for more background information, I might have doubted that I existed.
That same night, I sent an email from my hotel to the organisers with my statement, to which I have still not received a reply.
At the same time, I posted my statement on Facebook and Instagram. During the night, these posts went viral.
I woke up to find that my name and picture had been deleted from the SWPA webpage.
The work that was presented as the winning picture during the press tour was taken down the next morning before the opening to the public and replaced by another picture.
In contemporary language, this is called ghosting, it means “a way of ending a relationship by stopping all communication with them” (Cambridge Dictionary)
It is not possible to find out what happened to the picture produced for the exhibition. What remains are photos of the lost work and the exhibition space before and after the scandal.
From 14th of April, the image took on a digital life of its own and dominated the world press for more than 10 days.
Between April 16 – 23, I have been LIVE on TV via BBC World, Al Jazeera, CNN Spain, CBS, SBS Korea, ITV Ireland, RAI Italy, France24, Euronews, ABC Australia, and Radio shows like ABC Radio US, NPR, The Times Radio, LBC Radio UK, Deutsche Welle, Bayrischer Rundfunk, I vaguely remember TV appearances in Australia, New Zealand, France, Romania, have spoken to El Pais, Liberation, The Guardian, The Times, Beijing News, El Universal Mexico, Amercian Science, New York Times, Die Welt, Die Süddeutsche, Frankfurter Allgemeine and Reuters who got it into more global newspapers that I could follow up.
It became „the picture that stopped the world” (The Guardian).

MESSAGE
To those who want to keep problems quiet: You’ll lose.

KUDOS
Thanks to the photo community for turning the discussion I hoped for into a worldwide debate. You rock!