AI and Photography
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AI is changing photography
AI generated image of our cat Roxy displaying significant catitude. (Chat GPT generated image)
First off I will mention that I’ve received a number of notes requesting a post featuring my cat (although I wonder if the messages are generated by said cat - she is pretty smart and enjoying learning AI with Kory so I wouldn’t put it past her!) - so here it is.
I thought I’d start out not bold, but just honest and state the obvious fact - AI is changing photography. What do I mean by that? Well there is a whole spectrum of influence from camera and lens technology (tracking systems, autofocus and face recognition software) to editing and denoise/sharpening software - all the way to AI generated images that are passed off as actual photographs.
That’s a pretty broad spectrum of influence and I haven’t even gone into the fact that artists’ work is being used to educate AI programs to produce better images. It makes one wonder what can we believe anymore and how important is it to be able to trust and believe that an image was taken by a person rather than generated by AI? Does our credibility as a creative matter that much?
Historical perspective
I am part of a few photography groups and it is interesting to hear different peoples’ perspectives on the subject of AI and photography (I am sure that there are similar discussions occurring amongst musicians, artists and other creatives).
Some images are more easily identified as AI generated versus others. EXIF data image generated by Chat GPT
Some people are adamant that they do not and will not use AI to produce an image - they rely solely on their skill as a photographer to produce images.
I think that this is very admirable, however I’m not sure whether they are fully aware of how invasive AI is in today’s world of photography.
With advancements in camera technology we are carrying around a mini computer in our phones and in our Bridge, DSLR or Mirrorless cameras.
Everything from autofocus to face and animal recognition/tracking to the creation of jpeg images (which contain the camera’s version of an edited image) all have the hand of AI touching them.
In fact I believe that you’d have to go back to generating images with film cameras and developing them yourself with manual processes to get around any influence from AI.
Real image of Roxy on a mountaintop enjoying the outdoors - taken by me with a DSLR camera using autofocus and autoISO features. EXIF data f4.5, 1/250s, 200mm, ISO100)
I have recently read a book by Gallen Rowell who was a ground breaking Adventure/Nature Photographer in the 1980’s and 1990’s until his untimely death in 2002. In his book of essays, Inner Game of Outdoor Photography circa 1995 he lamented about photographers portraying images of captive animals and passing them off as images of truly wild animals without disclosure.
“While there have always been a few abuses, just as there are always a few counterfeit $100 bills around, our basic trust about what an image printed on paper represents is now open to question as never before.” (Inner Game of Outdoor Photography, Gallen Rowell)
As I read this essay I thought how prophetic this comment was considering this was a time prior to the digital photography boom (as he shot with film). I wondered what he would say of Photoshop and AI in photography these days.
Photo Editing Myths
Many photographers rail against editing software and claim that we should “get it right in camera”. While I agree that having the technical ability to capture the exposure and image that you want in camera, I also recognize that photographers have been editing images to produce effective images right back to the days of film. Then they were using physical masking and varying of exposure times to produce effective images (think of Ansel Adams - the master of effective dark room techniques), whereas today we use editing software to alter contrast, exposure and even colour saturation.
RAW image with no editing. EXIF data f2.8, 1/640s, 58mm, ISO200
The image straight out of camera is either a jpeg image which has the camera’s editing software applied or we’re shooting RAW (which produces a rather flat image, but with significantly more data than a jpeg image which enables more control in the editing process) and requires editing to bring out the image’s features that the photographer wishes to accentuate. I have spoken in other blog posts about my editing process which can dramatically impact the final version.
I’m happy to own my images and creative/editing process. I wonder about the purpose of trying to pass off artificially generated images as authentic images - who do we fool? Why lie or hide behind the failure to disclose? What benefit is there for your self worth? Where is the line?
Edited image using Lightroom (same EXIF data)
I generally have a light touch with editing and while I sometimes clone out dust spots or small distractions - I am not a big fan of heavy editing - probably more to do with my laziness and lack of skill - however I have done multiple exposure and collages which are artistic expressions requiring editing skills that cannot be produced in camera.
Most of my editing is around cropping the image, brightening up the whites and possibly warming up the colour balance (or cooling it down as appropriate)
I always disclose because for me it is about my personal integrity and I have no need to deceive knowingly. In fact the current world situation is to question everything we see and hear in the “media”.
There no longer seems to be any credible sources or very few - it’s a sad state.
Not all doom and gloom
Roxy rocking out. Chat GPT generated image.
While I have some concerns with the amount of material being passed off as original which is AI generated or modified, I think that my greatest concern is for the creatives who are not being credited with their work and in fact a lot of their work is being used to educate AI systems. It feels like we are not valuing the creative energy and imagination of our artists.
One thing that definitely resonates with me is that there is soul and spirit in every piece of art created by someone and I feel that there is a transmission of that energy between people.
AI generated work has some curiosity value - let’s face it I get a giggle from seeing my cat rocking out, however it does not equal or replace the connection and feeling that I get from viewing an image that I’ve created of an experience we shared.
In the same respect when I purchase artwork - I value the craftsmanship of the artist and the time and energy that they have put into creating the piece. It is much like my love of antiques - I love the thought of the stories the piece of furniture holds of all the people who have handled and used it. I feel like it has a soul compared to some mass produced piece of furniture that has come out of a box store (note: I have many items that are mass produced and they serve a purpose, but they aren’t as beloved as my antiques). I like to think that AI generated work lacks the soul and spirit of a piece created by someone. This is what keeps me from being disheartened by the whole AI situation.
Final thoughts
AI generated image of Roxy in a dune buggy. (Chat GPT generated image)
This post was intended to be a bit lighthearted and I purposely chose some fun AI images of Roxy in the hopes that it would give you a laugh or at least a smile at the silliness. Having said that I do feel strongly that it is important to value artists for their skills and their imagination and creativity. AI has a place and I make use of it in my editing and camera gear - not to mention Kory is using it as a sound production coach to help him set up his equipment - but when we rely on it too heavily or do not have the integrity to identify when we’re using it, I have concerns that we’re giving away something very precious because AI in no way replaces what any of us can create with our imagination.
I personally would hate for there to come a day when we have lost our skills to be creative because we’ve given over so much of ourselves to machine generated creativity.
How do you feel about AI? Does it concern you? Cause alarm or fear? Do you enjoy using it in ways that support you? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below or drop me a line directly by clicking on the Connect With Me button. Also if you’d like to see more of Roxy follow her on @roxythe_kitty on Instagram.
A real image of Roxy the adventure cat and yes she tolerates the hat quite well when it’s chilly outside. EXIF data f2.8, 1/320s, 50mm, ISO200.
I hope you’ll come back soon, share a cuppa, relax and enjoy more of my musings.
