The Fight Against Artificial Intelligence In Modern Day Photography

Model Chelsea Wong photographed with the Nikon Z8

““What I like about photographs is that they capture a moment that’s gone forever, impossible to reproduce.””

— Karl Lagerfeld

If you haven’t been asleep for that past three years then you have certainly noticed the overwhelming impact of A.I. technology in the photography industry. A.I. has infiltrated every major photo software and face generator application for the past 3 years. This technology is both amazing and terrifying at the same time.

I decided to write this article not necessarily to shun the technology and to keep us from embracing it but to heed caution. The pure definition of photography noun: photography

1. the art or practice of taking and processing photographs.

When Adobe Photoshop was released in 1990 no one really did not think it would change the face of photography forever. Film cameras was still king and the first digital camera was no where near ready to be accepted as an acceptable medium. Adobe matured, evolved and is clearly now the standard for photographers and designers all over the world.

So what’s my beef with A.I.? To be honest I am just afraid of getting lazy. I love what I do and I am well compensated for what I do. The challenge of creating a great photo is what makes it so satisfying. Finding the perfect location, subject, producing the lighting and at last capturing the image.

Actor/Model Xander Gomez

Now with these powerful text to image prompt generators you can basically create a similar portrait without lifting a camera. Yes progress is progress but at what cost? In my opinion there is nothing more satisfying in creating a photo with traditional tools.

““You don’t take a photograph, you make it.””

— Ansel Adams

There are benefits with A.I. as far as reducing redundant processes, bulk retouching and formatting, etc. These tools help us become more efficient with our time. I don’t agree that we should use A.I. to replace traditional photography, otherwise it is no longer photography.

So how do we proceed? I say with extreme caution. Let’s not let technology render us “the human ingredient” useless. Lets create with our eyes and hands images that have breath of humankind and not an algorithm.

I maybe in the minority when it comes to this and that’s okay. For over 40 years I have had a camera in my hands and I plan to leave this earth with a camera in my hands.

Enclosing, do let the creative industrial aspect of photography die. There are still trillions of photos yet to be taken using our eyes, using our hands, using a camera.