An AI Category Can Save Photography Competitions

Let's be honest. The idea of AI in photography probably makes you cringe. As a photography enthusiast, I share the concern that machines could undermine the art form we love. But we need to face a difficult truth: AI is here to stay. Trying to ban it from photography contests is like trying to stop a tidal wave with a sandcastle.

It's been two years since high-profile incidents rocked the photography world. First, Boris Eldagsen's AI-generated image won at the Sony World Photography Awards. Then, an AI studio tricked judges with a completely fabricated, dreamy drone shot of surfers. The outrage was immense, but in our rush to demand stricter rules, we overlooked a critical point: these images won because they were good enough to fool seasoned experts.

Left: Boris Eldagsen's AI image which won the Sony World Photography Awards Creative Category in 2023. Right: Absolutely AI's winning image from a digiDirect contest. Credit: Boris Eldagsen/Sony World Photography Awards 2023, Absolutely AI

A Losing Game of Cat and Mouse

Here's the problem: the technology that created those images is already obsolete. Today's best AI image generators are incredibly sophisticated. The classic giveaways we used to look for—like distorted hands, strange reflections, or unnatural lighting—are quickly becoming a thing of the past. While contest organizers desperately try to adapt with measures like requiring RAW files or metadata checks, AI is already evolving to create convincing fakes of those too. It's an endless game of whack-a-mole where the AI has an unlimited supply of hammers.

Every time an AI-generated image wins a traditional photo contest, it doesn't just discredit that single event. It erodes the trust in all competitions and in the art of photography itself. We’ve reached a point where even breathtakingly perfect images are met with suspicion. Is that incredible landscape real, or was it prompted into existence?

This growing paranoia, while understandable, is toxic. It breeds distrust and is slowly chipping away at the cultural significance of photography contests, one fooled judging panel at a time.

The Path Forward A Dedicated AI Category

So, instead of fighting a battle we're destined to lose, it's time for a strategic shift. Every photography competition should immediately establish a dedicated category for AI-generated images, complete with its own set of prizes and judging criteria.

This simple change would have a profound impact. It would largely remove the incentive for creators to submit AI work into traditional categories. Why bother cheating when you can compete legitimately?

More importantly, it would help restore faith in the 'human-only' categories. With a clear and sanctioned lane for AI art, enforcing stricter rules for traditional photography becomes far more manageable and meaningful. This isn't about giving AI a victory at the expense of photography. It's about drawing clear, logical lines in the sand that protect and benefit everyone involved. While it may not be a perfect, all-encompassing solution, it's a vital and necessary first step to secure the future of photography competitions.