Fake AI Images Caused Photojournalist to Lose His Biggest Fans

Belgian photojournalist Carl De Keyzer faced widespread criticism following the release of his book Putin's Dream, which featured AI-generated images of Russia.

Unable to travel due to airspace restrictions following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Keyzer turned to generative AI to create a visual narrative.

The project, intended to offer a glimpse into Russia, was released in November.

However, the use of AI sparked accusations of spreading misinformation and producing fabricated visuals, tarnishing the reputation of the celebrated documentary photographer and igniting a contentious debate over authenticity in photojournalism.

The Journey of Putin's Dream

To create the Putin's Dream series, De Keyzer drew from his extensive archive of photographs taken during his numerous visits to Russia.

In the late 1980s, he visited the country 12 times, documenting fading customs in the final days of the USSR.

Later, in the 2000s, he captured images inside Siberian prison camps.

Using generative AI, De Keyzer uploaded these historical photos, modifying the AI-generated outputs to align with his artistic vision.

The series, created decades after his initial journeys, reflects on the atrocities of the Ukraine war—viewed as the product of one man''s imagination.

“De Keyzer says the AI-generated images in Putin's Dream are a meditation on the horrors of the war in Ukraine”

Unlike traditional photojournalism, these images feature no human subjects or moments frozen in time, but instead, a conceptual vision realised through AI.

He explained:

"I did try to get as close to 'real' images."

Adding:

"Of course, it remains artificial, but it was possible to get really close to almost realistic looking images and more importantly to introduce my way of composing, and commenting [using] irony, humour, doubt, wonder, surrealism … A lot of people say that they clearly see my style in these images, which was the idea."

De Keyzer, satisfied with the results, describes the new visuals as extensions of his earlier work, which often explored themes of power and propaganda.

“Putin's Dream was published in November and De Keyzer says the book has been selling well.”

He aimed to craft realistic yet surreal AI-generated imagery, blending his signature humor, irony, and a touch of surrealism to provoke thought and reflection.

Massive Backlash Surrounding Putin's Dream

Shortly after sharing details about Putin's Dream online, Keyzer found himself at the center of controversy, facing accusations of creating "fake" images and potentially spreading misinformation.

Despite being transparent about his use of AI, his Instagram post announcing the project drew sharp criticism.

He noted:

“There were a lot of negative comments on my Insta post, like 600 in two hours. I was not used to that. I always had great reactions to my posts … but this time the box exploded ... Some said that they were my biggest fans before but not anymore. AI still provokes automatic disgust, whatever the approach or progress made.”

While many condemned the photographs as inauthentic, others praised the innovative approach to storytelling through AI-generated visuals.

“De Keyzer says he wanted the AI-generated images to look like real images.”

Belgian digital culture academic Yves Malicy wrote in French (below is a translated version) on Facebook:

"Amazing work that shows once again how photography can be done differently, without travelling the world, but by navigating the other world, our double, this latent space of computer memories that contain the countless accumulated media strata."

The backlash extended to Magnum Photos, the renowned international photography collective of which De Keyzer is a member.

Under mounting pressure, Magnum issued a formal response on its website a week later, addressing the criticism and the broader conversation around AI in photography.

The statement reads:

"[Magnum] respects and values the creative freedom of our photographers," the statement said. But its archive "will remain dedicated exclusively to photographic images taken by humans and that reflect real events and stories, in keeping with Magnum's legacy and commitment to documentary tradition".

AI's a Tool with a Bright Future But Education and Awareness is Important

De Keyzer views the uproar over his use of generative AI as exaggerated.

While he acknowledges the importance of educating society about AI to prevent potential misuse, he remains open to incorporating it into his work in the future.

He stated:

"AI is just another tool with a great future, why should I have to repeat what I have always done."

De Keyzer concluded:

"I do like the fact that I can travel in my mind now. I'm getting older, and this could be a way of staying creative without the problems and cost you have with real travels. Of course, the real thing is still preferred. It is a fact that it is getting more and more difficult to travel, sell the images, have these published."