A note on AI Generated Images

Many of you will be aware of AI generated images, and the debate around whether or not they constitute ‘photography’.  These are complex and challenging issues, not least because many of us already use AI features in commercially available digital photography software. 

We look for guidance to bodies such as the RPS, PAGB, and in our case SPA.  

Your committee is keen to ensure that TPS remains in step with whatever emerges from these bodies, and has concluded that it would not be right for TPS to 'go it alone' by attempting our own definitions.

The latest guidelines from these bodies can be summarised as follows:

The principle is that photographs should be the original work of the creator(s), so entirely generative images, or images with material elements entirely generated by AI are not permitted in submissions for qualifications, exhibitions or competitions.

The use of algorithmic processing in-camera or in post-processing software is accepted, with the expectation that photographers are clear and open where such tools have been used.  

An informal way to think of this is that images submitted must be your own pixels!

Based on these guidelines, we ask our members to refrain from submitting AI-generated images in club competitions, although algorithmic processing of members’ own images is allowed, subject to any additional rules in our competitions such as those for Nature.  

It is possible to request original RAW files and EXIF data to investigate, however as a friendly club we operate on trust and depend on members' consciences in adhering to this request.  Thank you.