He won an award for AI images. Just one problem: It was a real photo.

Astray’s entry – which had won third place in the category and the People’s Vote award – was disqualified after the photographer revealed the truth. Still, Astray told The Washington Post, “FLAMINGONE” still accomplished its mission: sending a poignant message to a world grappling with increasingly advanced, powerful technology and the plethora of false images it brings.

“My goal was to show that nature is so fantastic and creative, and I don’t think any machine can beat that,” Astray told The Post. “But on the other hand, AI imagery has advanced to a point where it is indistinguishable from real photography. So where does that leave us? What are the consequences and pitfalls of this? I think that’s a very important conversation that we need to have now.”

When it comes to AI-generated photos, much attention has been paid to its strange results: the Pope wearing a Balenciaga-style puffer jacket, a melted-faced Elon Musk tanning on Mars, a flood of people with many teeth or many. fingers. However, the technology has also enabled the proliferation of deep fakes – images that can be used for more nefarious purposes, such as future elections or the spread of disinformation. In creative circles, it has led to debates about job security and fair compensation. It has all resulted in calls around the world to fix the technology.

As Astray sees it: “Technology itself is not inherently good or bad. That’s how we implement it, right? So I think we really need to get to that now; otherwise, it will be very difficult to achieve it.”

This is partly what prompted Astray to engage in several scams, which were inspired by similar stunts in recent years. But those other cases have involved AI-generated images that have won photography awards — “that’s why I approached it from the other side.”

For about two years, the 38-year-old globetrotter had been mulling over the “surreal photograph of an already surreal-looking bird” he had shot on a pristine beach off the coast of Aruba. On that sunny day, Astray had left around 5am on the first boat to a small island known for its flock of flamingos, hoping to beat the crowds. When he got there, he noticed a bright pink bird “doing its morning routine” and preening its feathers, he said. The “lucky shot” caught the flamingo mid-belly.

Over the past few years, he thought the funny-looking bird might be the perfect medium for his AI protest, “but there wasn’t much competition with the category.” Opportunity knocked late last year when Creative Resource Collective asked if he would like to enter the 1839 Awards Color Photography Competition, which is judged by a range of industry experts from the Center Pompidou, the New York Times and Getty Images . others.

“I felt bad for misleading them,” said Astray, who added that he disclosed to Creative Resource Collective that the image was not created by AI when the organization emailed him to let him know he had won. “And it goes without saying that they made the right decision to disqualify me for being impartial to the other entrants in that category who submitted real images of AI.”

In a statement to The Post, Lily Fierman, director of the Creative Resource Collective, said that while the organization fully appreciates the “powerful message that Miles conveyed with his submission,” it moved to disqualify him because Astray’s image did not meet the requirements. of the category.

The independent AI category, a first in the competition’s history, Fierman said, “was intended to be a space for artists working in this new medium. For example, we didn’t want people traveling to the ends of the Earth to capture incredible animals or landscapes to compete with AI.”

However, she added, “we hope this raises awareness (and sends 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, his voice will make a difference in this conversation,” she said.

Astray, whose work focuses on “capturing the world as it is,” said he didn’t expect that positive reaction — nor the hundreds of “hilarious, thoughtful and heartfelt comments” he’s received across social media.

“These are all human qualities that AI cannot replicate or relate to,” he said. “I think it’s beautiful and it’s part of that message that I originally wanted to send. In fact, all of these combined IS The message.”