Lens-Artists Challenge #302 – AI and Photography

lens-artists, Photography

John is our hero this week for leading us tp a controversial and rapidly-evolving development in photography. He is challenging us to experiment with AI. For those of you who use any of the Adobe programs, I’m sure you’ve been stunned with the speed of development of AI tools.

Artificial intelligence is already everywhere, not least in photography, where it turns the creation of images on its head. In many photo contests, judges have awarded pictures created with artificial intelligence-based image generators, thinking they are genuine. It’s scary and fascinating at the same time.

original photo that I have obviously edited as it was shot RAW

I am not in my comfort zone in this challenge, as a serious hobbyist photographer I like to take my own photos and edit them myself to my style.

I used my photo as a starting point, I changed the sky to two different sunsets. One is more believable..

Regarding the edit process, I am comfortable removing distractions and, on occasion, replacing the sky. It is a very delicate process, the art of replacing the sky in a photograph requires a keen eye for detail and a deep understanding of light, perspective, and atmosphere. Ensuring that the new sky seamlessly integrates with the rest of the scene, taking into account the direction of the sun, the play of shadows, and the reflections, It’s a meticulous process that, when executed skillfully, can elevate the entire mood and narrative of the photograph, transporting the viewer to a captivating and immersive visual experience. It can easily go wrong.

An other sample of sky edits…original and edited version, can you tell which is which?

The approach I usually take is to carefully frame the shot at the location to naturally exclude most distractions. However, this is not always feasible. In some cases, I am comfortable with the idea of removing objects like garbage cans and electric cables, or even editing out certain branches from the periphery of the image.

For this challenge I was going to try Photoshop to create something, but as my heart was not into it, I got nowhere, but I did get really frustrated. Then I found t Craiyon free site to create these two photo. Prompts: green field set against dark clouds and Lighthouse during a storm.

These two (below) were my first attempts to create anything on word prompts- done with free version on copilot – these came out as illustrations. Not to my taste. Hence my frustration after seeing others create lovely images.

I don’t condemn anyone using AI, but it not for me at least now at least in photography. I strongly believe that something is lost, the soul , the personal touch. I might take it up when my own inspiration is lost, but most likely not. Art is about individual creativity to me.

As an Contemporary digital artist, which I like to label myself (not to be too modest) I can use editing tools to create art, but I do not want a AI to create art on a prompt. These are from my own images. Art is about individual creativity to me.

Thank you, Sofia, for last weeks floral enchantments, the floral inspiration we got was amazing.

The challenge host next week will be Donna, be sure to visit her inspirational site and see what she is up to! If you’d like to participate in the challenge responses each week but aren’t sure how to get started, check here.

40 thoughts on “Lens-Artists Challenge #302 – AI and Photography”

  1. Ritva, your photographic skills are apparent in every one of your posts. AI can be a useful tool for helping us share our creative vision, but when it comes to creation by prompt, your comment about the lack of soul rings true.

    I’d suggest the image on the left is the modified sky. I’m not sure why I say that, but the quality of your work makes it hard to guess.

  2. Absolutely stunning, Ritva. To repeat what John says you are skillful in all the right places. Your images and/or edits are fantastic. And I too find it difficult to decipher what is real and what is AI. My guess is the left is the sky edit, but not really sure. Yes photography is meant to show what our own personal impressions are. Ai kind of messes that up for us. A great post.

  4. I’ve always admired and responded to your work. I can’t imagine having that emotional connection to anything confected by AI.

  5. Fascinating post, Ritva. I liked how you label some images as “Art by Ritva.” That’s an excellent choice. The AI lighthouse is beautiful. I really liked your section in the end with various artistic renderings, especially that boat. What a beauty!

  6. Love your digital art, Ritva – always. And I agree with what you are saying about AI: It’s both scary and fascinating. I can see a future for this kind of “art” too, in some forum – but it is nothing I find a soul in. It does not speak to me. Your art does. About your skies, I would guess the left one is replaced. I like both, but somehow…maybe it is the birds…

  8. Fascinating what you can achieve with AI.

    That lighthouse in the storm is stunning. In general, I prefer to see nature in a mostly natural state in my photos. I do tweak or crop my images, but part of that is my poor eyesight and lack of using my camera settings. e.g. I nearly always leave the white balance on AUTO.

    I do admire people with good computer (or AI) skills though.

    Computer technology to me is a mystery. I prefer using my hands and eyes to create something, whether it be pottery many years ago, to sketching and watercolour painting. I do none of these now as my eyesight is too poor and my lower back pain too great to bend over a pottery wheel.

    1. Sorry for you lost eyesight, it is sure limiting – with pottery you can feel with hands. I have also played with clay, mostly I have done sculpture. I am with you on the topic of composing your image at site. I have learned editing with time and try and error. But if you have the composition well – automatic settings work beautifully too.

  9. Your experience with CoPilot echoes mine, the results are more like illustrations than photos. The Craiyon ones are better I feel. As to your skies, I believe the one on the right is the original.

    I love your own digital art, especially the one bottom right. And you’ve expressed my own opinion on this topic very clearly: ‘I can use editing tools to create art, but I do not want a AI to create art on a prompt’.

  10. Pingback: Lens-Artists Photo Challenge: AI and Me | The Day After

  13. I think most all of us agree with you Ritva – perhaps using AI to create an image will be popular among those who are NOT photographers, and I’m OK with that it’s just not for me. I’m hoping before too long there will be a new category of AI art which has nothing to do with photography at all.

  14. I love that lighthouse, that is great. I find it all a bit confusing too. I really want to learn more though then I can decide if I like it or not.

  15. I feel all your words, Ritva. AI is not for photographers, we do our images with our camera, we can work on them afterwards but that is it. There’s no soul because it’s not us.

  17. Love your shots, beautiful as always. And I like your artistic modifications too 🙂.

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