AI or a Composite? An Award-Winning Owl ‘Photo’ Ruffled a Lot of Feathers - PetaPixel
An award-winning owl photograph submitted to the National Wildlife Federation's Garden for Wildlife Photo Contest was disqualified after accusations of AI generation or being a composite image surfaced.
- Incident date
- May 2026
- Target
- Kellie Carter
A photograph initially declared the winner of the National Wildlife Federation’s (NWF) Garden for Wildlife Photo Contest was later disqualified, sparking controversy within the photography community. The image, submitted by Kellie Carter, drew immediate skepticism after the NWF shared the winners on Instagram.
What happened
Many photographers accused Carter of using AI to create the image, citing implausible elements such as red auroras in Oklahoma, where the photo was allegedly taken. Experts argued that even with a geomagnetic storm that could have caused auroras, the required long exposure would make it impossible to capture a sharp image of an owl. The NWF stated the disqualification was due to the image being a composite, which is against contest rules, regardless of AI involvement. Critics pointed to anatomical inaccuracies in the owl's feet and inconsistencies with the photographer's claimed equipment, raising further doubts about the image's authenticity. Concerns were also raised regarding the environmental impact of AI-generated images and the ethics of their use in nature photography contests.