Artificial Intelligence (AI) art has been increasingly pervasive in our everyday lives over the course of the past year, having an impact on the ways in which we work, communicate, and create. As a photographer by trade, I frequently encounter and am privy to the concerns of my fellow photographers regarding artificial intelligence. It is crucial to acknowledge that the growth of AI art presents a new potential to create new audiences, new commerce, and new channels of expression. Even if some photographers and other creatives may feel uneasy about the rise of AI art, it is important to recognize that this possibility exists.
Why is it that people have been so eager to focus on the negative in the previous ten years that they don’t even have time to look for the positive?
I’ve been experimenting with AI Art for well over half a year at this point. It’s not only entertaining but also illuminating and useful to me in my profession.
The fact that AI now enables artists to explore creative areas that were not available to them in the past is one of the most significant benefits of AI art. The use of tools and approaches based on AI can help photographers come up with concepts that are novel, intriguing, and original.
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These factors can play a role in the production of original and forward-thinking pieces of art. It can help them stand out from their contemporaries and provide them with an edge over the competition in a market that is becoming increasingly congested. In addition, classic photographic methods can be improved with the help of instruments driven by artificial intelligence. Photographers can use these to generate photographs with higher precision, detail, and depth than they have ever been able to do previously.
I witnessed yet another controversy within the photography world when Adobe announced its foray into the artificial intelligence (AI) art arena with the release of Firefly (see Terry White’s demo of the new tool, which is currently in BETA). Complaints have been received from individuals who have no idea what Firefly is. The only thing that could cross their minds was that it was “coming for their art.”
Because I am an old man, I have obviously experienced this many times before. When we first started utilizing color film instead of black and white film, there was some cause for anxiety in the field of photography. Then, anxiety reared its head once more when we started using digital cameras rather than film cameras. Once more when we started using digital darkrooms instead of wet darkrooms. Then there was the time when we switched to utilizing mirrorless cameras rather than DSLRs, etc.
When there is a shift in the status quo, a significant portion of the creative community tends to concentrate solely on the unfavorable aspects of the situation, which, to be honest, makes my head spin a little bit. They are concerned about getting cut out of the middle. They are so susceptible to change that they imagine themselves to be entirely malleable. You are definitely fungible if your actions are motivated by fear; here’s a hint: if you act out of fear, you will.
Why not go in the opposite direction and search for fresh opportunities? One of the benefits of AI art that you might not have thought about is the following. It gives photographers the ability to reach new customers and customers in new markets. Photographers now have the ability to communicate with individuals all over the world and reach an audience that otherwise might not have seen their work due to the proliferation of social media platforms and other digital marketing methods. This can assist in the development of brand recognition, the generation of demand for their job, and the increase of revenue.
It is not necessary for you to become preoccupied with the question of whether or not to continue to refer to it as photography. Call it by any name you like; it doesn’t matter. In most cases, I refer to it as “AI Photo Art.” I am basically blending conventional approaches to digital photography with AI Art, and I am having a great time doing it. Because of my work with AI Photo Art, I have already been commissioned twice, therefore I can confidently attest to the fact that people enjoy it.
The applications of AI are practically endless. It is possible for it to help photographers scale their production capacity, allowing them to produce photographs of good quality at a much faster speed than would be possible with traditional methods. This may prove to be very helpful for business photographers who are required to generate a high number of photographs in a short period of time. They are able to produce photographs of high quality at scale thanks to the use of tools that are powered by AI, which helps to optimize their process and increases their profitability.
Additionally, AI art presents photographers with a fresh opportunity to collaborate with other creative individuals, such as artists who work in printmaking, designers, and even other photographers. Tools that are driven by AI can help automate many of the components of the creative process that are more laborious and take up more time. This frees up artists to concentrate on the aspects of their work that are more vital, such as coming up with new concepts and ideas. This has the potential to lead to working relationships that are more collaborative and productive, which can be to the benefit of all parties concerned.
The impact of various color themes on a project can be evaluated with the use of AI art, which can be used to evaluate new compositions or even new concepts for artwork.
Last but not least, the use of AI art can assist photographers in remaining competitive in a market that is always evolving. The creative landscape is undergoing a rapid transformation as a result of the proliferation of tools and strategies powered by artificial intelligence. Those who are unable to adjust to new circumstances will soon fall behind. If you’re digging in your heels saying, “I’ll never…” You’ll just have to wait here at the train station till the train leaves without you.
How do I know? Simply because I have witnessed it countless times before. In accordance with what was stated earlier in this essay. In the past, I have witnessed photographers and other visual artists resisting the adoption of new technology. Almost without exception, those individuals disappeared from public view, went out of business, or simply stopped trying.
A good number of my close friends serve in the Marine Corps. The phrase “Improvise, adapt, and overcome…” serves as their company motto. That way of thinking is instructive for artists, and they ought to make use of it. I absolutely have. How do you think it’s possible for a washed-up, crippled-up, overweight, and ugly old man like myself to have managed to stay at least SOMEWHAT relevant in this arena for a period of 50 years? I am one to jump on board with any emerging technologies or fashions. I educate myself as much as I can on them. I don’t hold back and end up becoming an advocate for them. It not only keeps me young but also keeps me employed. If you can only have an open mind, put aside your preconceived notions, and give this emerging technology a shot, I think you’ll find the same to be true for you as well.
Photographers can stay ahead of the curve, continue to produce unique and fascinating work and grow their businesses in new and exciting ways if they embrace the art of artificial intelligence (AI). It is not intended as a threat. It’s a window of opportunity here!
I have been utilizing a wide variety of the most well-known AI art technologies. However, the Adobe Firefly product is the one I have been looking forward to the most. My money is on Adobe being the company that, if anyone is going to get it right and make it user-friendly enough for everyone, Adobe is going to be the business that does that.
I intend to write on this subject matter more frequently, and I may even instruct a course on AI art geared toward photographers. It’s all three of those things for me: enjoyable, fascinating, and exciting.
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