Photographer Lisa Saad may be stripped of professional photography award

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Australian photographer Lisa Saad may be stripped of a major award following an investigation by the Australian Institute of Professional Photography (AIPP).

Lisa Saad's winning image from the 2018 Australian Professional Photography Awards.
Lisa Saad's winning image from the 2018 Australian Professional Photography Awards. The image displays a number of similarities to one taken by photographer Marcel van Balken.

Two weeks ago, allegations emerged on website Photo Stealers that Saad had used elements of a photo by Dutch photographer Marcel van Balken in her 2018 entry into the Australian Professional Photography Awards (APPA).

The image, submitted in the Commercial category, was part of a portfolio awarded the title of 2018 AIPP Australian Commercial Photographer of the Year.

Following an investigation, AIPP National President John Swainston released a statement today confirming that the image had been disqualified for breaches of a number of rules, including:

  • that all elements of an entry must be the work of the entrant;
  • that "the use of third-party imagery such as stock photography ... is prohibited";
  • that "Entries that have been plagiarised, either knowingly or subconsciously, will be disqualified";
  • that digital manipulation is allowed ... but not to create new elements; and
  • that, in the case of composites and digital manipulation, all entrants must be able to supply a copy or proof of each element used to create the final image (and that failure to provide such proof may result in disqualification).

In further developments, the Photo Stealers website revealed additional allegations that Saad had used stock images and illustrations in images that were recognised for a number of awards both here and abroad.

According to the AIPP statement, the investigation into these allegations is continuing.

It is unclear whether the AIPP will also strip Saad of the overall award as a result of the investigation, or if the AIPP plans to retrospectively award the title of 2018 AIPP Australian Commercial Photographer of the Year to another photographer if it does.

Several days later, other organisations joined the AIPP in issuing penalties on an Australian photographer, with both bizarrely refusing to name the photographer in question.

According to a statement by the WPPI (Wedding & Portrait Photography International) the Australian photographer is banned from entering any WPPI competition for 5 years and their past awards have been rescinded. Meanwhile, the UK-based Societies of Photographers also issued a statement to confirm an unnamed Australian photographer had all images entered in competitions disqualified, been stripped of a Fellowship distinction title and had their membership terminated.

According to Swainston, "Some people may also have lost out with otherwise winning images in various categories, in relation to the images now additionally being reviewed. All of this is being considered along with the ramifications for prizes."

Swainston says the AIPP has also communicated with other organisations around the world grappling with similar issues, and proposed the “formation of a joint taskforce to review rules and entry criteria for images involving digital illustration, to recommend a new worldwide standard from the overarching national professional bodies to prevent future occurrences of this nature”.

Swainston also stated that the Institute has communicated its findings to Saad.

“[The] impact on [Saad] is significant and is highly regrettable. The AIPP remains committed to her continued wellbeing, which remains a key concern, not-withstanding the adverse findings against her,” Swainston said. 

Update - 20/2 The story has been updated to reflect the statements from the WPPI and Societies of Photographers. The AIPP has not confirmed at this point whether Saad will be stripped of her Commercial Photographer of the Year title. 

You can see the full statement from the AIPP below:

From the Australian Institute of Professional Photography

The AIPP has released the findings of the AIPP Awards Committee and independent specialist advice into the alleged breaches of entry rules, including alleged plagiarism, by Lisa Saad into the AIPP 2018 APPA Awards. The complaint was raised by Dutch photographer Marcel van Balken.

The AIPP became aware of rumours just over two weeks ago and sighted public accusations on Monday 4th February. A media release was issued on February 5th to indicate the Institute’s intention to fully investigate the matter in the interests of due process and fairness to all. Members were also kept advised.

The Institute also instructed Legal Counsel with a view to advising on several aspects of the allegations. The Board also appointed independent experts to advise us on potential rules breaches and other matters. The Awards Committee sought RAW files from Lisa Saad, which were supplied. The Committee also made various enquiries about certain aspects and inconsistencies that were not self-evident from information provided.

As a result, regrettably, the image in question, submitted in the Commercial category of the AIPP Australian Professional Photography Awards in 2018, has now been disqualified, for breaches of rules of entry that have only now become apparent. Those rules include, amongst others:

  • that all elements of an entry must be the work of the entrant;
  • that "the use of third-party imagery such as stock photography ... is prohibited";
  • that "Entries that have been plagiarised, either knowingly or subconsciously, will be disqualified";
  • that digital manipulation is allowed ... but not to create new elements; and
  • that, in the case of composites and digital manipulation, all entrants must be able to supply a copy or proof of each element used to create the final image (and that failure to provide such proof may result in disqualification).

As many people will be aware further allegations have been made in the public arena in relation to earlier State and National entries dating back several years. Those allegations are now undergoing similar detailed study and analysis for compliance with rules of entry. The Awards Committee has further images being reassessed. Time is needed to complete that work.

The AIPP Board is very conscious that many photographers will have had Lisa as a Judge of their prints in the Awards. Some people may also have lost out with otherwise winning images in various categories, in relation to the images now additionally being reviewed. All of this is being considered along with the ramifications for prizes. As before, once the re-assessment has occurred the AIPP will detail specific actions resulting from that. The further investigation is well advanced and new RAW files have been requested.

The AIPP has also communicated with fellow organisations around the world also grappling with similar issues, including New Zealand. The ramifications are significant. One immediate action is that the AIPP will be proposing to these same bodies a joint taskforce to review rules and entry criteria for images involving digital illustration, to recommend a new worldwide standard from the overarching national professional bodies to prevent future occurrences of this nature. Australia’s participation in the World Photographic Cup (Being held in Norway in the Northern Spring) has enabled improved communication with the leadership of many of these organisations.

The Institute is committed to fairness and due process. It has been criticised for taking time to carry out the investigation. But with so much riding on a correct view, including the reputations of our Awards, the photographers, the AIPP itself and those directly affected by judging and results, had to be completely sure of the correct outcome for all parties.

The AIPP asks for continued patience to ensure once again that enough time is given to make the correct assessment on the added images being reassessed.

The Institute has communicated with Lisa Saad its decision on the disqualification of the 2018 image. Naturally the impact on her is significant and is highly regrettable. The AIPP remains committed to her continued wellbeing, which remains a key concern, not-withstanding the adverse findings against her.

The AIPP has run a national photographic award over four decades. Events such as this have occurred very rarely indeed. The Institute regrets that an image entered, in which all elements of originality could not ultimately be provided, made it through the stringent pre-assessment for compliance with entry rules. While category rules are already reviewed annually the AIPP will use coming weeks to strengthen processes to further reduce the risk of a recurrence in future awards.


John Swainston
National President

For the AIPP.

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