In photo news this week, an AI has won a renowned photo competition for the first time. Boris Eldagsen from Berlin entered the photo “The Electrician” to the Sony World Photo Awards, claiming the “Creative” category, but ultimately rejected the award. This is due to Sony’s failure to disclose that it was an AI-generated work and not addressing the issue at the award ceremony. This incident raises questions about the need for new rules and definitions for AI-generated images in photography competitions.
Additionally, the German Photo Council has issued a position paper, stating that a photo can only be considered such if it has captured a real event with a camera. Images generated from Generative AI aren’t real as they never existed in real life. This is especially crucial in press photography, where image authenticity is crucial.
On another note, Adobe’s Lightroom has caught up with other brands by introducing AI denoising and recognition features in version 12.3, allowing for more exceptional retouching capabilities.
In lens news, Canon’s new RF 100-300mm F2.8 L IS USM takes high-end photography to a new level, costing over 12,000 euros. This new zoom lens packs light output and stabilization into just 2.6 kilograms and is technologically impressive. However, the cost may not be worth the investment.
Finally, for those looking for a cost-friendly option, a do-it-yourself paper camera called CROZ or Paper Shoot is now available in Germany, starting at 150 euros. This 18-megapixel camera has fixed focus, AA batteries, and retro charm.
