May 8, 2023·edited May 8, 2023Liked by Wesley Verhoeve
From my POV, I see AI becoming a sophisticated tool more like photoshop to edit images or create complex images. Not really photography for raw or original shots but more on image making or trying to create an image as if we're buying stock images.
At the same time I do see people getting specialised in creating art with AI. But again, this would not be photography per se but still an art form.
One thing I ask myself is about tangible end result of art. Could 'AI image making' (I don't really like calling it photography) make high quality prints or is it fit only for the screens of our laptops?
I think AI photography is a great tool to make moodboards and previews! It can help you visualize want you want to create and then you can go out and make it!
A tool or a threat. I think both and it is subjective anyways. I think the roll of AI will largely be dependent on the ultimate intention and motive of the user. If used for malicious intent then a threat, otherwise could be an amazing tool! As for AI generated art, well it could be viewed as a new genre of art that exist within its own domain.
Ai tools like Aftershoot are improving my quality of life quite a bit so I love ai as a tool but for AI generated photography I think it's a fun, silly trend that isn't anything I need to WORRY about. It will generate some amusing memes and social media content and advertisers are going to use it a bunch. If I were in product photography or other non-human areas of photography I would definitely be worried. As a portrait and wedding photographer I feel pretty secure.
AI in photography is not something I'm particularly worried about. While it will certainly cause plenty of problems when it comes to "true" or "real" images, in the documentary sense, that won't be impacting me much. Especially as an analog photographer, if anything, I think it gives us an upper hand. We got receipts for our images! No one can deny the reality of a film negative. All that being said, I'm sure AI photography will inevitably continue to advance and maybe become a useful tool, whether for pre-viz or some other unforeseen capability. I say ride the wave, don't worry about what you can't control, just focus on your own art.
It's a "million dollar question" as they say. AI is a new technology that is developing very fast, and the people's reaction is the same as it was in the past towards any big innovation: some say it's "evil", will leave people jobless etc.; others say it will improve our lives and create a better world. Honestly, I am both fascinated and a bit scared, because in my opinion it all depends on how people are going to use it. Concerning photography industry, what worries me is the use of AI generated images that look like real photographs to convey fake or manipulated information. But regarding fields like fashion, editorial, portraits etc. I think it can only be helpful, for example creating moodboards as someone said already. We'll see what will happen in the near future, I'm curious.
Viscerally, emotionally, I feel like AI is a threat, but logically I know that each successive change in the industry has offered an opportunity to grow.
I think remaining open and flexible is the only functionally productive approach, while also playing offense in terms of expanding our client services and tightening our contracts. That’s from a business perspective.
As for art, I think AI is just a distraction. The personal art I make is created for the purpose of creating. I don’t want it used as part of AI datasets, but if AI can make something similar, so be it. Everything’s been done before, after all.
I haven't started using AI yet, but am gearing myself up for it gradually while it's explored & debated in the collective, (& while I get back on my feet with practicalities after a challenging few years!)
I am a human creator. Writing, art, poetry, photography, food, sound etc. I LOVE the creative process being tactile, manual & sensual. (I carry a stack of notebooks & pens with me in all my travels despite travelling otherwise very 'light'.
I've had an ongoing mental debate about fully, or even more partially, embracing technology for a long time. Being highly sensitive, with a very quick mind, technology is an incredible for me. It is also my biggest downfall unless I have the right environments & mindset to cultivate appropriate discipline & tech boundaries, so as not to fry my mind or let myself get too carried away from the core/coeur of the matter.
AI art fascinates me. It's ridiculously beautiful. It's transporting & transformative in that it feels like a cocreation between human & technology - the mind, the heart, the soul & the ethereal zone which encompasses all.
I do not think it can, should or will take the place of human, manual, embodied art, music, photography etc, - unless we invite it & allow it to. It's up to us really.
Just some thoughts that flowed out now. Hope there's some sense in there somewhere along the river of thoughts l!
I can imagine it being a tool to convey concepts before studio shoots. But I can also imagine it becoming a threat as soon as people start seeing it as a reason to be even less willing to pay for art than they already are.
As far as actual photographing people in their natural environment or street photography for example I'm not too worried. I think it will take really long before AI can learn how to create spontaneous situations and curiosities like real humans can.
AI does scare me a bit. Although it may not be able to replace the humanity and artistic value that we bring to art, it may have the capability to disguise its self enough to water down the art form.
AI isn't going anywhere and with anything new and innovative it causes disruption and fear too. I believe we'll see more people using it but in the same way people photograph with their cameras now are not all pro photographers there will still be a place for the human element to shine through. Analog stood through the digital revolution (albeit some shaky moments) and I think the human and physical element of creating both for a client and yourself is being overlooked in these conversations. They are worth a whole lot more than what we give them credit for. Some of my best working relationships, friendships, memories etc have come when i've been in that state of co-creating with someone on location shooting, can AI do this? I'm not sure
I think it's a tool, mostly because I don't feel the fear that would characterize it as a threat. I'm also not overly excited about it; not the medium for me! At most, I'm mildly interested watching everyone else rant and rave about it.
I think AI is a great tool when used in the editing process. As long as it is used sparingly and respectfully. With regard to AI being used to create images, that's where things start to get shady and sometimes even scary.
AI is a wonderful jumping off point. It is a way to quickly visualise an image and it has great potential in editing capacities. However, it needs a curator. That curator might be the programmer, or it might be the person choosing the best shots. This is something we do already so it's not exactly new - take thirty shots and choose the best ones. But then you've already had authorship in taking the shots and in choosing which ones are the best. With AI image creation you have to have an input and you then have to guide the algorithm along to the destination you want. A lot of human involvement.
I see it as a great tool to speed up some of the "design" process but it will always need a guiding hand.
I really see AI helping us doing the work that would require much more afford otherwise but when it comes to creating "photographes" of and with people, AI has almost now power to replace a real photograph captured by a human with a real camera.
I would highly welcome some regulation which says that an AI generated "photograph" must be identified as such. And if so, all the emotions that the viewer feels when looking at the "photograph" would immediately disappear.
Wesley, I also do have a question to you: I see you using some kind of flash lights. Which type of lights are you using and can you recommend some? Thank you!
From my POV, I see AI becoming a sophisticated tool more like photoshop to edit images or create complex images. Not really photography for raw or original shots but more on image making or trying to create an image as if we're buying stock images.
At the same time I do see people getting specialised in creating art with AI. But again, this would not be photography per se but still an art form.
One thing I ask myself is about tangible end result of art. Could 'AI image making' (I don't really like calling it photography) make high quality prints or is it fit only for the screens of our laptops?
I think AI photography is a great tool to make moodboards and previews! It can help you visualize want you want to create and then you can go out and make it!
A tool or a threat. I think both and it is subjective anyways. I think the roll of AI will largely be dependent on the ultimate intention and motive of the user. If used for malicious intent then a threat, otherwise could be an amazing tool! As for AI generated art, well it could be viewed as a new genre of art that exist within its own domain.
Ai tools like Aftershoot are improving my quality of life quite a bit so I love ai as a tool but for AI generated photography I think it's a fun, silly trend that isn't anything I need to WORRY about. It will generate some amusing memes and social media content and advertisers are going to use it a bunch. If I were in product photography or other non-human areas of photography I would definitely be worried. As a portrait and wedding photographer I feel pretty secure.
AI in photography is not something I'm particularly worried about. While it will certainly cause plenty of problems when it comes to "true" or "real" images, in the documentary sense, that won't be impacting me much. Especially as an analog photographer, if anything, I think it gives us an upper hand. We got receipts for our images! No one can deny the reality of a film negative. All that being said, I'm sure AI photography will inevitably continue to advance and maybe become a useful tool, whether for pre-viz or some other unforeseen capability. I say ride the wave, don't worry about what you can't control, just focus on your own art.
It's a "million dollar question" as they say. AI is a new technology that is developing very fast, and the people's reaction is the same as it was in the past towards any big innovation: some say it's "evil", will leave people jobless etc.; others say it will improve our lives and create a better world. Honestly, I am both fascinated and a bit scared, because in my opinion it all depends on how people are going to use it. Concerning photography industry, what worries me is the use of AI generated images that look like real photographs to convey fake or manipulated information. But regarding fields like fashion, editorial, portraits etc. I think it can only be helpful, for example creating moodboards as someone said already. We'll see what will happen in the near future, I'm curious.
Viscerally, emotionally, I feel like AI is a threat, but logically I know that each successive change in the industry has offered an opportunity to grow.
I think remaining open and flexible is the only functionally productive approach, while also playing offense in terms of expanding our client services and tightening our contracts. That’s from a business perspective.
As for art, I think AI is just a distraction. The personal art I make is created for the purpose of creating. I don’t want it used as part of AI datasets, but if AI can make something similar, so be it. Everything’s been done before, after all.
Love this question & topic.
I haven't started using AI yet, but am gearing myself up for it gradually while it's explored & debated in the collective, (& while I get back on my feet with practicalities after a challenging few years!)
I am a human creator. Writing, art, poetry, photography, food, sound etc. I LOVE the creative process being tactile, manual & sensual. (I carry a stack of notebooks & pens with me in all my travels despite travelling otherwise very 'light'.
I've had an ongoing mental debate about fully, or even more partially, embracing technology for a long time. Being highly sensitive, with a very quick mind, technology is an incredible for me. It is also my biggest downfall unless I have the right environments & mindset to cultivate appropriate discipline & tech boundaries, so as not to fry my mind or let myself get too carried away from the core/coeur of the matter.
AI art fascinates me. It's ridiculously beautiful. It's transporting & transformative in that it feels like a cocreation between human & technology - the mind, the heart, the soul & the ethereal zone which encompasses all.
I do not think it can, should or will take the place of human, manual, embodied art, music, photography etc, - unless we invite it & allow it to. It's up to us really.
Just some thoughts that flowed out now. Hope there's some sense in there somewhere along the river of thoughts l!
Cathy
I can imagine it being a tool to convey concepts before studio shoots. But I can also imagine it becoming a threat as soon as people start seeing it as a reason to be even less willing to pay for art than they already are.
As far as actual photographing people in their natural environment or street photography for example I'm not too worried. I think it will take really long before AI can learn how to create spontaneous situations and curiosities like real humans can.
AI does scare me a bit. Although it may not be able to replace the humanity and artistic value that we bring to art, it may have the capability to disguise its self enough to water down the art form.
Thanks for the tips Wesley!
AI isn't going anywhere and with anything new and innovative it causes disruption and fear too. I believe we'll see more people using it but in the same way people photograph with their cameras now are not all pro photographers there will still be a place for the human element to shine through. Analog stood through the digital revolution (albeit some shaky moments) and I think the human and physical element of creating both for a client and yourself is being overlooked in these conversations. They are worth a whole lot more than what we give them credit for. Some of my best working relationships, friendships, memories etc have come when i've been in that state of co-creating with someone on location shooting, can AI do this? I'm not sure
I think it's a tool, mostly because I don't feel the fear that would characterize it as a threat. I'm also not overly excited about it; not the medium for me! At most, I'm mildly interested watching everyone else rant and rave about it.
I think AI is a great tool when used in the editing process. As long as it is used sparingly and respectfully. With regard to AI being used to create images, that's where things start to get shady and sometimes even scary.
AI is a wonderful jumping off point. It is a way to quickly visualise an image and it has great potential in editing capacities. However, it needs a curator. That curator might be the programmer, or it might be the person choosing the best shots. This is something we do already so it's not exactly new - take thirty shots and choose the best ones. But then you've already had authorship in taking the shots and in choosing which ones are the best. With AI image creation you have to have an input and you then have to guide the algorithm along to the destination you want. A lot of human involvement.
I see it as a great tool to speed up some of the "design" process but it will always need a guiding hand.
I really see AI helping us doing the work that would require much more afford otherwise but when it comes to creating "photographes" of and with people, AI has almost now power to replace a real photograph captured by a human with a real camera.
I would highly welcome some regulation which says that an AI generated "photograph" must be identified as such. And if so, all the emotions that the viewer feels when looking at the "photograph" would immediately disappear.
Wesley, I also do have a question to you: I see you using some kind of flash lights. Which type of lights are you using and can you recommend some? Thank you!
Hi Vesley, another great article! Do you shoot portraits with film?