Smartphones can take amazing images, check out the IPPAwards. However, at this point they do have their limits. If you are fulfilling your photographic needs with your iPhone, enjoy and don't look back.
Definitely CGI or AI
Mildly amusing
As a graduate student in art school (Rhode Island School of Design) We had a seminar on the "legal issues of art". The question of plagiarism was addressed and, at the time, a prominent lawyer from Boston who had a reputation for helping artists, told the group that in the eyes of the legal system only about 20% of any image, song, or other creative piece needs to be changed in order for the reproduction to NOT be considered plagiarism. That never seemed like a lot to me.
When I decided to digitize all my old film images I did some research and purchased an Epson V600, IMHO a great scanner. I scanned all my 35mm B&W negs with no problem at all. I scanned a lot of slides with very little problems, it has a back light feature that works great. The only issue I had was scanning my 2 1/4" square negs ( for a while I used a Mamyaflex), I had to scan these one at a time.
I also agree with SCOTUS, the Goldsmith photo was sold as a "single use", once Vanity published it, it has used up its single use and should have required an additional contract for any other use, by Vanity or anyone else.
As for photos of sculpture etc. in public places, its in a public place so no copyright infringement. Post processing to isolate the image is as Dirtfarmer points out might be a problem, depending on the final use.
I once saw a sign that read
BEER, for over a hundred years it's been helping ugly people have sex.
I read somewhere another reason "extraterrestrials" haven't made it to earth (if you don't believe they have) is that any "intelligent" creature that has advanced to the point where they possibly could travel that far has probably destroyed themselves or their own planet. Not a very uplifting thought, but it makes sense in a way.
Your original post didn't seem to be concerned with sharpening as much as it did about why the judges dumped your images. I enter Calls for entry (photo contests) all over the world and occasionally get selected, I also attend lectures and webinars when ever I can on photography on what makes a winning photo (my words). What I've come to understand is that judging photos, art, is VERY subjective. Dumping a photo because it had borders may be just a parameter the judge automatically disqualifies for. Very often, in the list of how a call for entry wants the images prepared, it states no frames or borders, just saying. What I have learned is that you should make your images to YOUR liking, you will never please everyone or every judge, don't take it personally. Besides, why do you make you images in the first place? To please some random person? I hope not.
The reason "extraterrestrials" visit our planet (IMHO they have visited our plant MANY times) and don't stay or make themselves known is that one look (scan) and it's - Nope, these intelligent life creatures are too dangerous. Like swimming in a pond full of alligators.
East Paulding middle school sigh is just sad, but I don't think I want any apple butter made by a "Ho"
Always loved Steven Wright, he wasn't afraid of heights, he was afraid of widths!
When he told a friend about the person who stole all his stuff and replaced them with exact duplicates, his friend replied "do I know you?"