Good Photographers and AI…

Aren’t we all just a little afraid of this whole AI thing? It sure has wreaked havoc on the photography world. Me? I’m good with it. Maybe because I remember a day before Photoshop when THAT was going to ruin photography. It just didn’t happen that way. AI is just a tool. A lecturer at my college said in a presentation that “AI will never replace you. A person who KNOWS how to USE AI will.” So I embrace this new tool in my design AND photography classes. My students will leave knowing how to use it to their advantage. How much so will depend on them. As a photographer, the photo above is a great example of how I use AI currently. A student came to class fully dressed in a cosplay outfit. How could I NOT get photos of her? As willing as she was, the photos on the sunporch at school just didn’t do her outfit and character justice. After a little editing I decided to add an appropriate background. This took about 15 minutes and a few tries in Adobe Photoshop with the AI tools it now has. The result is worthy of HER effort and that is a little secret of mine. When the subject puts out an impressive effort, the photographer should at least match that. A chef prepares special dishes for photography, special effort to photograph them is in order. A person brings multiple outfits to change into, the photographer takes each change as a new photo opportunity with new lighting and poses as appropriate. Rise to the occasion, your subject did. And AI? I’m more afraid I won’t use it well, than that it exists.