AI and the Future of Photography
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- Опубликовано: 29 июн 2023
- Some examples of how AI could factor into traditional photography including Photoshop's AI technology.
Listen to the whole video as I reconcile what really matters.
WATCH TIL THE END!
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I don't compete on social media, I just having fun taking pictures and learning every time I go out.
Thoughtful video Scott. I think there is a treasure hunt aspect to wildlife photography that many of us experience. Two days ago I spent four hours getting bald eagle shots of them fishing, not a ton of action but I knew their habits and anticipated where and when I might get the shot….it was a great day. Yesterday I go to the same spot, same time, four hours later I had not taken a shot, nothing happened. However I didn’t feel upset, I had spent a wonderful few hours sitting by a beautiful lagoon, lost in my thoughts away from every day stresses, observing nature around me. Those are moments that we as wildlife photographers treasure, and AI and those who would create images totally with it will never feel.
Enjoying the process. Critical.
The treasure hunt aspect is undeniable, i can feel the adrenaline rush whenever i'm out capturing wildlife photos.
I feel ya, Scott. It's funny, sometimes I have trouble remembering a person's name after 30 seconds. But I can look back through all my years of photos and remember exactly the circumstances around every one of them. Many of them make me smile, some might have me shaking my head, a few might even make my eyes a little watery. I can't imagine an external drive full of AI-generated birds bringing me those same emotions. Anyway this was a great video, Stan. Well thought out.
Stan….hehe
As an amateur wildlife photographer, honesty is the best policy. I couldnt hang photos on my wall without the honest wildlife experience. From one old school guy to another. Great tube Scott thanks for sharing!
Absolutely agree with your "it's about the experience" thoughts. I don't love the direction photography is heading for many reasons, even though I am fully aware of the benefits it has provided me and others. However, with the advances in cameras and editing software, it will be so hard to separate yourself from others, so it really is about the experience. I dont want to turn back the clock too far, but am concerned about the future of photography. The unbelief and adrenaline rush of finding a Fork-tailed Flycather this past fall and spending some time alone with it, can't be replaced by AI. I definitely dont have the answer to this topic, but it is a tough subject to balance mentally, so I am glad you made a video on it!!
moments more than results (or maybe both)
The joy felt in capturing the moment is more important than any like or comment on social media.
Hi Scott, thank you for yet another thought provoking video. I seem to remember an old saying, "that which cost nothing has no value". The "cost" being time, effort, skill and dedication, rather than financial. The effort that we put into wildlife photography adds to the enjoyment we experience, whether we get a good result, or even a mediocre one. Without that "cost", I feel that the joy is diminished. Those who sit in a basement manufacturing images without effort, they cannot appreciate this.
Love that quote
In addition to being a reasonably talented amateur photographer, I also earn my living managing the gallery of a successful fine art photographer. So I come at this from two different angles. For myself and my own work, I 100% agree with you. The experience was why I started, and that hasn’t diminished a bit. I’d love to get more attention, likes, awards, etc., but that’s not why I do it. Professionally I’m worried because big changes like this create more risk, but for now I don’t think it will spell doom for my gallery. Selling fine art isn’t just about the image, it’s about the story, the process, and the emotional connection the image inspires. Sure, a talented fraudster could just make all of that up, but aside from outright lying about the origin of an image the only way to get that level of authenticity is to do it the old school way.
A while different aspect when viewed through the lens of a business.
I'm glad Scot that you enjoy gardening. I think for nature and wildlife photographers, nurturing a garden becomes an instinctive extension.
The ability to generate photorealistic images that are totally un-real, is terrifying! Those examples you shared are just insane. The temptation to use AI will compel many, many photographers to sell out original skill and creativity for the sake of social media gratification/validation.
Agree
I 100% agree with you and so many others here. The experience of being out in nature and experiencing or interacting with wildlife (in a good way of course!) is such an important part of wildlife photography. If we didn't love that part of the craft, we wouldn't do it. Why get up an hour before sunrise to put up with the bugs, the heat, the cold, getting wet, getting uncomfortable and all the rest if we didn't love it! For me, it really is therapeutic, and it is NOT an experience that can be replaced by sitting at home and letting AI do the work. It is not about the destination, it is about the journey. To me, creating AI wildlife images and claiming them as your own is kinda like 3D printing a fish, sticking it on plaque and hanging on the wall, then reveling in the comments from all of your friends about the awesome fish you caught. NOPE. Not the same thing!
Yes, there’s one guy I’ve been following on IG who does amazing, jaw-dropping portrait/street photography, and I always thought that they were actual photos as they looked so real and authentic, but when I learned that they were AI, I felt deflated. It just isn’t the same.
Totally agree!
People love being lied to, don't they ?!
Totally agree with you…the joy is in the process…nothing can replace that
Resonated with me, big time! I'm just finishing processing photos from a month-long birding trip in Panama. six months ago. Almost every shot takes me back to the very moment, and the thrill of seeing the beauty of creation.
Scott, I TOTALLY AGREE with your comments on how Ai will replace “The Art of Photography” and our photo club is dealing with this question for our competitions. Yes the rush, joy of being in nature is a pleasure!! Great Wood Duck photo!!!
Good stuff Mike
Thank your for your honesty.
I completely agree with your final words. Even if we aim and care about perfect results (if perfection can really exists), the best things are LIVING wildlife experiences on the field and to try to merge with nature : nobody around, just you, the birds, the trees, the sound of the wind, the smell of rain, grass, flowers... That's all that really matters. That's what give me peace and joy. Images are just here to remind and prove to yourself that you'd really lived those magical moments.
I took thousands of pictures and the better ones are not the technically perfect ones, but those whom heartouching me because they remind me how enjoyable the moment was.
And if someone can get this feeling throught one of my pictures that's an accomplished mission, nevermind the "likes" and "thums-up" in this fake computer world of social networks and AI softwares...
Take care and keep up !
Scott, enjoyed your video. I believe that software/AI will never replace the memories of making a photograph.
Hi Scott, I completely agree that the experience in the field is by far the most fulfilling part of the process. To spend time in nature and share space with wild creatures is a wonderful privilege. To sit in the shade a tree waiting for badgers to venture out of their sett, and then have one wander within 10 metres of you; to lie in the leaf litter at the edge of a glade an hour after sunrise and watch wild deer coming closer and closer; to be sitting in the woods and have a buzzard fly passed, so low that you see it from above, to sit on the beach, close to the water's edge and have curious young seals swim in close and occasionally get washed onto the sand, just metres away; to watch a male Grebe bringing fish to the chicks riding on the back of his mate; the joy of new foliage on the trees after winter, the flowers marking the passing days, the high grasses of summer, glistening with dew in the first hours of the day. I could go on, but I think it's enough - the experience is real and valuable to us and really that is why, we are inspired to make our photographs, in the first place.
A.I. can do incredible things and will undoubtedly bring many benefits and many negative changes too. Given the speed at which it is being released to the world, no doubt we won't forsee, or be ready for many of those changes. I'm sure that you're right that social media will be flooded with images which aren't photographs. I suspect too, that we will see competitions double down on editing restrictions. The word "photograph" means drawing with light. A.I.'s image generation is something else.
Take heart Scott. You are correct, that those people who will craft prompts for A.I. to generate images will be missing out, on the experience of nature and of the process.
very best wishes, Clive
Thanks Clive !
@@WildlifeInspired You're very welcome Scott. I think it's quite likely that the skills around editing will become increasingly unnecessary. So I do think that there is part of the current process which will diminish. The skills learned over time in the field however, are about personal connection with the world we choose to photograph and until we live in a world were we are physically augmented with technology and A.I., those skills will not be replacable. Even in that world, arguably, you would have capability in excess of learned skill, but not have the connection, born of time spent in nature. I still write stuff on paper, so I won't be signing up for that world :)
This is the most insightful commentary on AI in photography that I have found. thank you sincerely. My biggest regret is that the AI generating companies appear to be able to steal your duck and warbler photos and give them to random basement dwellers without attribution or (heaven forbid) payment. So while I am enjoying playing with generative fill I am disturbed and saddened by where it is heading.
This is a pretty overwhelming capability. And the "borrowing" from public domain is scary.
You nailed this one…I agree 100% with you…the experiences we create will be what separates us from AI
I also agree with what you are saying. Aside from removing small obstructions, the only use I would agree on in AI is expanding the frame to correct composition.
Hey Scott, another great video. After taking early retirement I have taken up wildlife photography seriously and fully understand your concerns and fear; they are mine too. But like you say the guy who puts out AI-generated photos will never know the joy of reading pug marks or following a bird call. Or the pride in showing an authentic (in-field) photograph to friends and family and seeing and hearing their appreciation. Love your videos and your thoughts. Good luck
I agree with you completely!
I would add there is a vast difference between removing a piece of trash from the scene and adding a critter that wasn’t there. Ultimately it is a personal choice. For me, I prefer to be out there experiencing the moment. When I’m finishing the image, it is more about the moment I experienced.
Connecting to nature…. What a great reason to be a nature photographer. You cannot get that with AI.
Amen
Scott, I totally agree with you, a good photograph is less than half the reason I go out with my camera, I don't mind saying in the last black Friday sales I bought the whole package from Topaz but that is to help me with things like noise, and making images bigger, not to make the photograph for me. Take friend.
As usual you dropped another brilliant thought provoking video Scott. I totally agree that it is the experience that I value. The final image is just the product of the experience for me. They go together. I do photography for fun not as a business and I feel bad for those that produce images for a living because I think that AI will hurt them the most. I believe that fake or over processed images sell better than natural ones. If I were selling images I think I would embrace AI to a much deeper level. But as mentioned, all I care about is the experience and the image is just its product.
I agree with your assessment, but there's a big difference in enjoying one's experience as a hobby versus relying on it as one's livelihood.
Great video, Scott! So true, AI can be a time saving tool but it cannot generate satisfaction and joy, a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction when you finally get the photo you've been planning or hoping for. The rush of seeing the wildlife then nailing the photo. AI cannot produce that and I don't think it ever will.
Hey Scott, another great thought provoking video. Being with wildlife is my happy place and photography helps me remember the experiences that I have had, my images aren’t the quality of many on Instagram, but I know that the portrait of a coastal brown bear I posted, that I took that image, that I was there, living the dream. That’s what photography is to me and always will be. Photoshop is a great way to be the artist and to create on the canvas of your image. AI can be a fun tool also. But I feel you must be honest and tell when you have used these tools. I attended a lecture given by a very talented wildlife photographer and he told a story of when he used photoshop to create an image of a polar bear and a penguin on apiece of floating ice, to show a client. He told them it was a composite and this could never happen in real life. They loved it and didn’t care that it was fake. So I guess it all depends on who’s the audience is.
And no offense to humans but most audiences ain't that smart.
I just generated from a blank screen an image of a wood duck on a pond with a full reflection in early morning light from a low perspective. It took me four tries and about 3 minutes but I am still sitting in front of my computer and heard nothing except the sound of the computer fans. I don't care what other people think of my images. When I go out shooting it is for me. Yes I appreciate when someone tells me that is a good photo but I am still doing it for myself.
So many things to respond to in this video… I was a pro photographer in the 80’s, I also worked with Polaroid to develop a contrast masking process using their P/N55 film. Now there’s a slider for that in Lightroom. Part of my appreciation for photography comes from understanding the process that came before. While I often argue the merits of HDR as a means of the camera catching up with the human eye, there’s still a strong streak of journalistic integrity in me.
What has me worried is the narcotic effect and the human nature to always want more and better. It’s been shown that people believe what they are told over and over, so what is real gets replaced with what is a little more impressive, which then gets replaced with something fantastic… Pretty soon you’re little bird is breathing fire. I don’t see that as progress because the world around us is still the world around us. If that’s so disappointing that you have to replace it, your world sucks.
Hi Scott. You've posed some very good questions. I'm gonna watch this again and put some thought into it before I reply. Talk at ya later.
I just started wildlife photography a couple months ago, so it’s not related to my career or anything. I upload my good pics on IG but I’m not trying to get more followers or compete.
I think two things I really like about wildlife photography are the photos themselves and my “animal encounters.” I like the in-the-field process of getting into a good position and mentally composing and being able to get a nice shot prior to any editing. Then when I do the editing and have a photo I really like and think looks really cool, I feel like it’s an accomplishment that I myself did.
And there’s being around wild animals, especially more rare species. A couple weeks ago a peregrine falcon landed about 10 feet in front of me and I got some amazing shots. Just a week ago I came across a coyote in a local park. Last night I only had about 20 minutes of good light and there was a snowy egret at the edge of the lake, so I spent most of the time observing it and getting some great shots. On my way back I came across a colorful mourning dove that landed on a railing a few feet from me. When I come across a new animal or an animal I really like, it’s a special moment for me.
Those new encounters are special enjoy
Thanks for the video, very thought provoking. The concept of the dumbing down of civilisation always reminds me of the film wall-e
I think as always, it is going to come down to the photographer’s integrity and reputation. I also think it would be helpful if disclosure laws required that photos created by AI have an electronic watermark that couldn’t be removed that would identify that an image was created and not captured.
I have same thought as an invisible fingerprint
While I like the sentiment, removing such watermarks would unfortunately be easy. Even real visible watermarks on images can be cut out using features like generative fill. Invisible metadata flagging an image as an AI could be removed by taking a screenshot of the AI image. The only way this idea could work would be to digitally sign raw image in camera at the hardware level.
It is videos like this which set you apart from most other photographers, because you add deeper ideas, ethical considerations, and emotion to the the skills and talents of wildlife photography. Photography has progressed a long way from when I got my first SLR, a Nikkormat FTN, for high school graduation. Digital photography was a revolution as post-processing was done on a computer instead of a dark room, then came DSLRs and now mirrorless. But those technical advances improved what photographers could do with their skill and talent. AI is not photography, and as you so eloquently stated, it does not come with the emotion and memories of capturing a shot in the field which is probably what draws me to it as much as the technical aspects. It would be nice if all photos came with a disclaimer or explanation of what steps were taken, but I don't know how it can be enforced other than by peer pressure.
I am torn about using it, its super fast and helpful for small distraction removal, I draw a hard line at adding anything.
💯!!! Great video Scott. The rush of social media likes or the total lack of a real life experience by using all AI can NOT compete with the rush you get by being outside and having a true wildlife experience. Being in the moment for real life experiences are what life is all about. It’s what makes us human. AI is a tool. It’s up to the user to use it responsibly and ethically.
No doubt!
Another thoughtful and thought provoking video Scott. I think everyone who watches your videos will be on your page. I personally love the craft from start to finish, including conceptualising and realising the look/style of the final image. This often takes hours of trial and error, overcoming problems and tweaking details. Gotta say, it kinda sucks that people can create even better looking images without even leaving their couch. For me, it’s the honesty bit that matters. I have no problem with people making Ai images but passing them off as photographs, well, it’s sad and depressing. Time will tell if the enjoyment of the process is enough to continue. Maybe the time will come to learn new skills and perhaps take up painting. 🤷🏽🤷🏽🤷🏽
You can learn to paint by numbers 😂
Is right! For me the worst thing is the confusion and doubt it will cause but it’s bound to hurt the camera industry as well. Totally agree.
Agree. Wildlife photography is about the valuable moments outdoors, in nature hearing the songs of birds, smelling the fresh air. Yeah, all we can capture with our camera is the visual image of the critters, but we never forget the experience, the scent, the landscape, the songs of birds. Artificial Intelligence (AI) cannot yet (emphasis on "yet") provide that emotion. Oh, and by the way, come on photographers, we all benefit from the exercise and walking and breathing fresh air outdoors
yes!
Great video! You can’t replace the experience and the memories.
So true!
I think you finally got to the point at the end. Who do you do it for? For me I do it for myself. The thrill of the chase. The thrill of getting it for me. The fun of getting it right in the camera.
You should be thrilled with your moments! Thought provoking as usual
Thanks so much
When I was shooting events and weddings and AI was available it’s very possible I would easily embrace the technology. That being said I will be one of the last of the holdouts using AI in my nature and wildlife photography. As you said it’s more than making a picture it’s the experience and the memories of the moment the shutter engages. Now when looking at others work I find myself questioning whether it’s reality or AI with the exception of your drake in Flickr Explore today 😊
I made explore??? lol I have to go check now
One of your best videos. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. At the end your conclusions apply to many aspects of life. Probably to all aspects. Thanks again.
Good morning sir...another great video and agree 100%. You mention about complete Ai images. February of this year, Jos Avery, finally came out and admitted his entire Instagram feed was Ai. In a few prior gained over 30,000 followers and mislead people. Unless I know the photographer and their work, I no longer trust any image.
Thanks for sharing
This video touched me. Thank you so much.
Lucky for me, validation from others will never given me nearly as much joy or satisfaction as the experiences and memories associated with the photos I take. AI will have its place, and in some cases it will get forced down our throats, but that will never stop me from going out shooting!
You have a wonderful attitude concerning AI.I also use PS for all my wildlife photos but not sure about AI!🤔
One of your greatest videos ever. I concur with all you said.
Glad you enjoyed it
Scott, this was excellent and I especially loved the ending.
Your choice of using a Kentucky and Mourning Warblers was an excellent choice. Not only are they a difficult species to come by, but extremely difficult to see when you hear one (especially the MOWA). By the way…awesome photos! Cannot tell you how many times I have been within a few feet of a migrant Mourning Warbler, never see it. As you know, experienced birders would almost laugh at the though of a Mourning Warbler, seeing its breath in the winter. Yes, realistic. Non-birders of course will not think anything odd of it and probably would not care anyway. I think nature photographers have a responsibility for representing nature as it is. You, of course always do that.
I really loved your ending as you basically said without using the overused term…its all about the journey, not the destination. I think we all start out in nature, whether photography or birding that the destination is all that counts. Those of us who make photography or enjoying nature has become a way of life is because of enjoying the destination. Doesn’t apply to all of us, but I think the majority.
I do think that when I take the camera for a walk, it isn’t necessary to come away with photos. If I do, good. If not, I will still have enjoyed just being outdoors. I definitely think this attitude has improved my photographed. I fully agree that someone will likely produce great images with the computer, not having gone into the field. They will likely get many likes but likely never know or understand what they missed.
Always looking forward to your excellent, thought provoking videos.
Thanks for the complete view and your sincere comments.
Thanks for another great, thoughtful video. I have much concern over the future of photography and abuse with AI. I know there has been talk of something put into the metadata that would show if an image has AI applied, just not sure where that is at this time. I do know there is software that can run to detect manipulated images. I would hope social media, contests, and publications would come out with a position on AI images even though I know there will be cheaters. I too have memories and that is a large part of why I pursue wildlife photos. I need to be in control from field to finish with my images.
Great video Scott! I find generative AI technology fascinating but quite scary. I'm actually less concerned about my bird photography hobby becoming less prestigious as I am about things like fake photojournalism or falsified forensic photos and videos using whatever improved AI tech is out a few years down the road.
I'd love to see some kind of in-camera cryptographic tech be implemented to prove that a raw photo was made by counting photons in real life without any editing but I doubt that kind of tech will keep up with the advances in AI.
That aspect of AI is terrifying (deep fakes, false realities, decpetion) as truth becomes harder to discern
I agree that (as an amateur) doing work for yourself rather than an audience should be the thing. Two points though. FIrst I just recently saw a few beautiful wildlife images and my reaction was: Wait, can I believe this? Second, as a biologist it worries me. There are efforts underway to 'mine' published images that show aspects of animal's behavior (feeding, breeding, etc.) to add to our knowledge of rare species. As an oldtime biologist, I am in awe of the vacationer's photos of rare snakes feeding that add to our knowledge of their biology. AI will close off this source if no way can be found to verify the reality of the photos.
Interesting perspective.
Well said I think you nailed it
I do agree with you Scott, I find it already tough to compete (I live in France where I've been 'in the field' since 1976!) with other photographers who do safaris, buy workshops where everything is ready; the nice branches, the pool, the blinds next to the nest or to the spot where the bears will come (eat the salmon which would have been brought by the guide), so let alone compete with those who already use AI. I agree that feelings, emotions, smells and so forth are what pushes many old school (?) wildlife photographers to get up early and come back with nothing in a card but memories of a sandbank with fleeting Plovers coming and going, with Cormorants flying overhead... In the 1990 I did win quite a few contests i France, I know I won't ever win anything anymore but again, who cares? I am sometimes -like you- overwhelmed by bouts of depression but, most of the time -thankfully- full of excitement about my next outing (I live along the River Loire, France). Take care, I love your approach.
Appreciate the thoughtful words
Hi Scott, I have been giving a deep thought ti AI in editing since your last video on staged wildlife photography. And you almost spoke what I, and may be many might have been thinking.
The AI for any application need a huge data, and who else is going to provide that? It's we all. But to my dismay it will stay and grow as the "calculator" did😅
First of all I really appreciate your videos because they are so thought providing. Also thanks for speaking live at the LVPC. I almost never use PS but more of a Lightroom user so I don’t have most of the skills PP that many do. Now to answer your questions. I would never “add” to a photo but would take out or fix a spot, blemish or something that detracts from the image so the new AI is very helpful. The technology only scares me because the general public believes that so many of these beautiful photos were taken “as is”. In many cases it will dumb down the art form. Will it stop what I’m doing? No, because the excitement of taking that photo of that bird or other wildlife will not disappoint. A quick example. I had a dream of taking a photo of an elk bugling seeing his breath on a cold morning. I finally was able to get that in Grand Teton NP with a beautiful sunrise. The photo didn’t come out as good as I dreamed but I will always remember that moment in time!
Moments can't be replaced
Nice discussion Scott and food for thought. AI is unlikely to ever replace the actual thrill of the capture. Manipulation of the final image has happened since film days, digital makes it easier. Heard less often these days, but remember the expression "has this photo been Photoshopped"? Usually it had because shooting in raw necessitates some form of image correction/manipulation. Many photographers also use digital tools to remove/add objects to a greater or lesser extent. For me it is the latter, eg piece of rubbish not a permanent part of the image, and for others it can be major changes eg sky swap. The question I ask is what is it you are trying to show with your work?
Please take a moment to watch this video discussing the limitations of AI in replicating or comprehending the inherent instincts of humans. Although the video does not specifically center around photography, it delves into the concept that AI, despite its assistance, relies on human decision-making for final choices.
As exemplified in your given scenario, the AI may provide three options for branches, but it is the human who ultimately decides which branch to select and contemplates the type of raspberry bush to include in the picture. This underscores the role of human intuition and creativity in shaping the outcome. While AI can be a valuable tool, it necessitates human involvement to make definitive decisions and bring a unique perspective to the process.
Awesome video! Agree 100%
Thanks for watching!
Thank You
The proces is much more important then the end-product although a good end-product is satisfying. About AI: chesscomputers are for more then 20 years better then humans, but millions of people are enjoying a game of chess even knowing that they can't beat the computer. For me the proces is leading; as a wildlife and landscape phtographer I sometimes forget to take pictures because I'm enjoying the moment. AI is indeed timesaving but don't create good feelings.
Amazing and scary results from AI, but it will never replace the experience and process I enjoy.
Glad you enjoy it!
Picture Matthew Brady in his horse drawn covered wagon, coating wet plates with the emulsion that he had just mixed himself. In a dream that night, he sees a man driving a station wagon and shooting photos on 8x10 film in Yosemite! No this couldn’t be… Way to easy!
So if you want to do the best you have to be on the leading edge of technology and take advantage of every tool available. Or risk being trampled in your covered wagons and station wagons. Sorry bout that Ansel.
Over the last year, at 60 years old I have discovered my need for serious photography. The investment for me on such a short time is significant.
As a techy I have also played with the emerging AI tools. I find them convenient and convincing image making tools, but separate to my photography.
While I hope and certainly need to figure out how to get a financial return on my equipment and time, I recognise that AI is a headwind that nobody can fight. So maybe the ROI will have to incorporate AI as surely as if it were just another lens in the bag, another tool. The ROI will have to be earned nonetheless.
Your comments on 'skills dumbing down ' Indeed that is inevitable, not just with photography but also with writing, filming, law, academic research, architecture and just about everything you can think of. That's inevitable. Something the powerful and super rich insist must happen so they can make more money.
We down here will have to learn how we fit into the new world and figure out how to make a living. But. If you like going out and capturing photos, nothing AI can do will outperform the process or provide the satisfaction. Regardless of the money or applause or recognition.
If you argue that this is dumbing down the process, I’d like to see you retouch a 4x5” large format negative by hand with paint brushes to remove some distracting rock from a landscape photo.
Tools are tools. You got the same results faster and with more accessible tools. Valuing “Expertise” and “skill” on their own, separate from the artistic result, isn’t necessary. Let’s welcome in all the new people these tools will empower and enable.
I must have misunderstood because your comment about the incredible skill required to retouch a photo by hand seems to indicate that AI does NOT dumb down the skill. Maybe it was a typo.
I’ve been hearing that providing photographic experiences is going to be the definitive aspect of photography that AI won’t be able to do
Great stuff, as usual, Scott. I can see continuing to do wildlife photography for the experience, but if so, then I think I would need to divorce myself from AI tools, and any post-processing that changes the image in ways that AI does - branch removal, etc. This will eventually mean crippling my equipment (when it starts doing AI internally) and my post-processing software, so I only produce 'real in camera' images to share. Could work, guess time will tell. Us photographers are feeling the pain some artists have been going through since AI emerged, for sure!
Very informative birdman 😂😊
Thanks 😅
With AI generate, it is no longer photography, it is some form of art. Removing distracting branches and such is OK, with me. I share my images with my family and close friends. I don't care to compete. I look at other photographers images to inspire myself and maybe to make a similar looking image. I do photography for myself. I also make my own prints of my favorite images from 8x10 to 16x20. I do the best with the limited gear I have and the limitation of where I can get to.
I'm waiting for the next newest digital camera with an Ansel Adams button on the back. Every shot I make will be a masterpiece. I'll set the camera down on the desktop with my computer and it will automatically download wirelessly and process, sort and file all of these masterpieces. The next camera upgrade past that will have an antigravity levitation feature so I won't even have to go out with the camera. Just open the front door and let it go. It will come back later with a full memory card of masterpiece images and do everything mentioned above and I won't even have to look at them.
My computer gave me a message this week that I had app upgrades available. One of the was the new Beta iteration of PhotoShop. I did not download it. I don't know where AI is going with photography but I know I'm going to have to give it some heavy thought. One thing I do know, you can't put the genie back in the bottle. It's out there now and it diminishes every photograph that will be created pst this point. As for myself, the journey has always been more important than the destination. If I ended up with a beautiful image that made my heart skip a beat when I looked at it the image was just a beautiful reminder of the wonderful experience I had in capturing it. Maybe it is over for me now. If the joy has been taken from it I'm finished. Oh well, 62 years of photographic fun is a pretty good run.
Really good run
As I understand it, these programs don't really generate any of the imagery on their own... they refer to a database of existing images. If actual photography stopped, AI would keep rehashing parts of the same set of images, like a stagnant gene pool. Also, I imagine tools to detect and even deconstruct AI "creations" are probably not far behind.
As you said, AI will not replicate the experience (at least not yet, give it a few years for AI VR to take hold). I much prefer being out and taking, or attempting to, the photos than I do sitting at the computer trying to edit them. If AI can help be on the processing end, then I welcome it, however... Yeah, that's a loaded word if there ever was one. AI introduces a huge ethics dilemma, or it can. There are enough bad actors out there that will try to pass of fake images as genuine, but I doubt these people were producing photographs anyway. People, in general, are fascinated by amazing imagery, and will therefore be fascinated by what AI can produce, but in the end I believe they will gravitate more towards the amazing images that are real. This will actually put greater demand on photographers to continue getting out and producing.
I worry it may make us even lazier. Time will tell but the experience of the field will be treasured by those who treasure it.
i'm even more old school than you, so for me I doubt I'll use it for much. I might for IG posts, as I can't be arsed to care about them, but for me I do a lot of contests and it's not allowed, so using it? Not going to be my go to. However the part about is it making us obsolete? I think in some respects the need for photoshop skills are certainly devalued, but maybe, and this is me wishing....people might want to fill the gap of having PS skills and substitute them with actually trying to create an excellent image. People tend to just say I'll fix it in post, what if they actually make a great image and not need all the work...wow what a dream I'm having heh
Hi Scott ... Has an old timer ( took my first bird photo in 1962 ) I appreciate where your thoughts are going with AI.
For me the ' cat was out of the bag ' when digital arrived . The skill of having to get it right ( because of the cost of film and development ) has long gone.
Digital brought in 'spray and pray' and a dry dark room ( Photoshop ) with no smelly chemicals .
Would I go back ? Answer ... No ! but the "rush'' of those film days has gone... one or two good well pose shots on a roll of 36 was a great outing !
Where it will end ? Probably by send drones out to locations while we all stay nice and cosy at home waiting for its return with several 1000s shots of the targeted subject.
Would I be thrilled ... would I have any sense of achievement ... no.
On that I agree with you completely ...
Best regards ... Martin
Speaking of stay at home. Took a few hundred images at my desk 2 weeks ago using auto capture on the Nikon z9. Efficient. No thrill.
Subtracting is not equal to adding !! I can tolerate the "remove" tool to get rid of unwanted distraction, but i won't ever tolerate adding a cold morning breath of a bird ..no way !!.
I dislike the term AI. It is a program following a set of instructions. Maybe I should consider that it makes the photo artificial instead of a real depiction if the scene photographed. I enjoy your thought provoking and informative videos. Thanks
Fair enough!
The reason why I love photography, is the opportunity is to sit quietly. Wait for birds and wildlife and let peace and contentment come and over whelm me
AI is definitely going to change everything for photographers. We're no longer in control of the genre - whether we're award winning professionals or amateurs who play around with cameras. In the future, a photograph's worth - any photograph - is going to be diminished because, as you say, anybody could create something as good or better without leaving their house. That's really depressing, but AI is like a train hurtling to God knows where and we can't stop it so I guess we have to live with it. For my own work, I edit photos quite heavily to improve tone, colour, composition and all the basics. I'll also remove distractions if I feel it's needed - but I never add an element to a photograph that wasn't there when the picture was taken. I can happily print those photos, hang them on my wall and feel a sense of achievement and pleasure every time I look at them and remember the moment I took the photo and the challenges I overcame to get it. That could never happen if I created an artificial scene using software, printed it and called it a "photo". And that's the big difference - editing a real photo to improve it is essentially the same work that has been done in the darkroom since almost the dawn of photography. Making a scene that never existed using AI is a con and I can't imagine how anyone could get any pleasure out of that because they'll always know it's a con.
We seem to have similar mindsets
F3C just said the Ai not alouid. Ido agree with you. Mike ft my fl
People don’t go fishing because it’s a cheap way to eat. They go for the experience. It’s the same for me and wildlife photography.
Scott,
You asked if your photoshop skills will be made irrelevant by AI. I think yes, to a point. Let me explain by relating a brief story. Back in the 1980's I met a product photographer that worked for an advertising agency. He used large and medium format film cameras. He retouched images all the time using either an air brush or a fine paint brush. He spent years developing the skill to do that kind of work. Then photoshop hit the market and the years of airbrush expertise became useless. But he still had a job. Because he knew the ideas concepts and theory behind editing. With that kind of knowledge and experience he could use any tool and be successful. I think that is the boat you're in Scott. Your experience from years of editing wildlife photos to emphasize the story you want to tell is way more valuable than knowing which tool to select and how to use it.
Is this going to dumb down the art form or replace it? I think it will lead to an uptick in mediocrity among the casual photography crowd. taking
. Using it to create new leaves or flowers or a second bird seems a bit much, for me at least.
Good story !
Wow I just love those mind bending videos that makes is think and reflect! I really feel for photographers and graphic designers which are likely to be impacted by AI (some might benefit but surely some won’t!…) I remember reading a quote from a camera brand ambassador who got a question about AI. His reply was just phenomenal: If some people like to do photography in their basement that is all fine but I much prefer to go out an keep shooting outside! (Not the exact words just what I remember) This is what I like about photography and why I barely post anything! I am sure that on social medias, honesty is a concept or a fable… Keep doing those awesome topics videos!
In time AI will be more widely used in wildlife images. First it will take over much of the commercial and people field. Senior portraits, wedding, headshots will be cell phone selfies processed with AI. Once the software get more refined it will be more widely used in all areas. TRUE Photographers are going to have to adjust their business models to afford to stay in the field. They're going to have to figure out who their real customers are and give them a more personal service. It will be as much about the customer relationship as the quality of the image. Old style studios will fade away and it will be more about the location, experience, and memories than the final images.
The business of photography will be fading. I think the future will be much more selling "experiences".
Does AI have instinct, creativity and the gift of "Love of Beauty" as humans have? Photography isn't based on cameras, lens...etc. We as humans have instinct, which we can't pinpoint at this time in age. Answer from Chat GPT: As an AI language model, I don't possess personal experiences, emotions, instincts, or a sense of aesthetics like humans do. While AI can simulate certain aspects of creativity and generate outputs that may be perceived as creative or beautiful, it does not possess a genuine "Love of Beauty" in the same way humans do.
I do un-follow anyone who fakes their frames .
Skill obsolescence and market dislocation arising from discontinuous change (improvement) in technology are not new concepts. Blurring the boundary between photography and digital art is not new. Having the first person experience rather than a seemingly true-to-life vicarious avatar version is not new. Not sure what the take away is here
Always one negative comment but I guess with 99% positive feedback on this I shouldn't worry about the typical one outliers. Thanks for watching.
Not negative. Just encouragement to be consequential. Thanks for commenting
You have to believe that people enjoy fake images more than original works !! .
possible
Photography for me is a frozen moment eternalized. There's no computer "making" images for me. That has no value for my ethics. It's like cheating my self if I "fix" the photo in photoshop. In fact the least time I spend downloading the better. I don't like to seat down in front on the computer to do that. Like you said and it's the same for me. The best about photography is to be out there in the wild and living that experience among the birds and animals. Those moments stay with us. The photo? It's just an excuse to go and be out there 😊
If everyone has it, it lessens the art form. Photography is not fun anymore and for being an expensive hobby it does not add up.
Roughly one year ago I became disheartened over AI. I spent over a decade learning motion graphics, Illustrator, and Photoshop only to realize that these hard-earned skills developed during sleepless nights and much tenacity was soon becoming obsolete. That time is now.
Other skills I developed: filmmaking, audio editing, color theory, script writing, voiceovers, design, et al -all these things are going to become territories of AI.
This current AI trend has occurred before. Until the early 1990s art directors designed layouts and effects for 35mm film slides used in business presentations. This skill became obsolete. The advent of PowerPoint created an environment where anyone could produce quality business presentations.
Soon architects and engineers will no longer be needed. Need a custom home designed? AI will do it for you and it will give you endless options from which to choose. It will also map the plumbing, electrical, give you color options, and create a material list to send to suppliers.
Songwriters and musicians will also no longer be needed. Just as synthesizers made studio musicians obsolete (Google "Wrecking Crew), AI will create music. Hollywood will have epic scores made to order within minutes - without any humans involved.
Speaking of Hollywood, the writers might as well remain of strike forever. AI can replace them.
Considering the aforementioned scenarios, I believe the reason woodworking YT videos are so popular is because people are longing for what is real. There is much pleasure in owning hand-built things.
Interesting point about "hand-crafted" work. Will there be a day when AI can create a schematic (unique) and feed it to a machine to cut and assemble?
@@WildlifeInspired The answer to your question is "YES!" However, wealthy people will pay a premium for hand-carved furniture, chairs, etc and boast to their friends at dinner parties that their custom $18,000 table was handmade by the renown Amish artesian named Otto von Steiner.
As you mentioned in your video, it's fun going out in the garden and getting your hands dirty. DIY YT videos prove that people like tinkering, and a highly skilled tinkerer can market him/herself as an artesian. "Hand-crafted" is a key descriptor to place on labels. Japanese and Germans have taken note that Americans will buy their products on Amazon because of the reputation for their quality workmanship. Just last week I purchased some knife sharpening equipment from a Japanese company believing their product was superior and sure enough it was.
Speaking of knife sharpening: I've found it relaxing sitting for hours getting a razor edge on my kitchen knives. I'm doing it the old-school and have great results. Friends have asked why I don't use various other automated methods. They fail to realize the value learning a new skill. I also like to pressure-cook various things from my garden. Learning traditional skills is a lot of fun. I try to learn a new one every year. My goal for Y2024 is to become a beekeeper.
Humans are social and creative creatures by design. I'm sure AI and robots can cook for us, but there is something missing with this kind of fake technology-driven food preparation. If you go to a restaurant, you want to meet the chef, staff and experience the people behind the scenes. When the chef comes to your table and he describes the preparation, it makes the dinner all that more exciting and worthwhile. I recently staged a wine festival at the historic Wrigley Mansion in Phoenix. Part of the show was having various vinters describe how their wine is handcrafted. The chef came out and did a live cooking show. Surely, AI and robots are capable of doing the same thing, maybe even better; however, this is not my idea of a romantic evening or a jolly time with friends.
We can have books read to us by AI. AI is even able to write a book for me. But I own a huge library of real books. I cherish each one. Someday owning a bound paper book will be a luxury. I own many rare first editions including Moby Dick, Tarzan and others ... and these editions are worth thousands of dollars. I once went to a book sale and Darwin's Origin of Species sold for $63,000. Part of the fun is having a book written by someone who spent years writing it. No one is going to pay a premium for a book written by AI.
AI should be put to use doing dangerous or menial jobs such as high-rise window washing, gate security, or agriculture harvesting.