by Yvette Depaepe 
Published the 16th of October 2026 

IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM THE 1X MANAGEMENT

Photography must remain rooted in photography

At 1x, photography is more than the creation of an attractive image. It is the result of observation, imagination, patience, technical skill and, above all, a genuine photographic process. Every photograph represents a moment captured by its author, even when extensive artistic editing is used to transform the original image.

For this reason, 1x maintains a definitive and irrevocable position regarding fully AI-generated images and images created using generative AI software. The use of AI-generated content is not permitted in any part of an image, regardless of how small or insignificant that element may appear.
In any case, it is strictly forbidden to use programs such as Midjourney, Stable Diffusion, Chat GPT, Google Gemini or similar generative platforms, in which the photographic content is created artificially rather than captured by the photographer and will not be accepted on 1x.

This policy is not intended to reject technological progress or the creative possibilities of digital photography. It exists to protect the identity of 1x as a photography platform and to preserve the integrity, authenticity and credibility of the work presented in our galleries.

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The distinction between photographic editing and generative AI

Digital photography has always evolved alongside technology. Modern editing software offers photographers remarkable opportunities to refine, enhance and reinterpret their own photographs. Such developments are not inherently incompatible with the principles of 1x.

Certain Photoshop features, for example, may be permitted when they are used to edit genuine photographs taken by the author. Replacing a sky with another sky photographed by the same author is one example. The essential requirement is that the resulting image remains based on authentic photographic material rather than on artificially generated content.

The distinction is fundamental: editing a photograph is not the same as generating its photographic content artificially.

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Compliance is not optional

Members are expected to cooperate honestly and transparently with any reasonable review. Attempts to circumvent the rules, misrepresent the origin of an image or disregard the platform's requirements may lead to consequences under 1x's moderation and account policies, up to and including account termination where warranted.

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Protecting the value of genuine photography

The rapid development of generative AI makes it increasingly easy to produce convincing images without ever taking a photograph. This raises important questions about authorship, authenticity and the meaning of photography itself.

At 1x, our answer remains clear. We value the photographer's vision, the decisions made behind the camera and the creative work involved in producing an authentic photograph. We welcome artistic interpretation and legitimate digital craftsmanship, but we will not blur the line between photographic creation and the artificial generation of images.

This is not a temporary restriction that members can expect to disappear through continued pressure or repeated disregard of the rules. It is a deliberate position intended to protect the character and standards of our community.

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Our position remains unchanged: 1x is a platform for photography, not for images generated by artificial intelligence. This distinction remains central to our identity, and our position on prohibited AI-generated imagery is definitive and irrevocable.

By upholding this principle together, we protect the trust of our members, the integrity of our curation and the value of genuine photographic art.