Over the past few months, I’ve been diving into the world of AI-generated visual art. As someone deeply rooted in photography, it's been a fascinating self-learning journey one filled with curiosity, creativity, and a fair bit of reflection.
Let’s get one thing clear: AI art is not photography. Just like photography wasn’t painting when it first emerged. Back then, traditional artists pushed back, questioning its legitimacy. And they weren’t wrong, photography was a new medium, not a replacement for what came before. The same holds true today with AI. It’s not replacing photography; it’s adding to the evolving landscape of visual expression.
At their core, painting, photography, and now AI-generated imagery all share a common thread: they are forms of visual art. They are tools for storytelling, for expressing emotions, for capturing imagination. The brush, the camera, and the algorithm, they’re all just different ways of bringing an idea to life.
I understand why many photographers are hesitant, even resistant, to embrace AI. It can feel threatening. It challenges long-held beliefs about craft, creativity, and authenticity. And that's okay. No one needs to change their mind or compromise their artistic integrity. Art is and always should be a personal journey. If AI doesn’t resonate with you, that’s perfectly valid.
But here’s the reality: AI is here to stay.
It’s not a trend. It’s a tool. Just like digital cameras once were. Just like Photoshop. Every generation of creatives faces a moment where the tools change, and we have to decide how or if we want to engage with them.
For me, experimenting with AI isn’t about abandoning photography. It’s about exploring new creative territory. It’s about asking, “What if?” and letting the answers surprise me.
And honestly? It’s been fun.
We don’t have to draw lines between “real” and “not real.” Instead, we can ask better questions: What am I trying to say with these images? Do they move people? Do they tell a story? If they do, maybe that’s enough.
Whether you embrace AI or avoid it, your voice as an artist matter. But dismissing AI entirely might mean missing out on new ways to expand that voice.
So, while I’ll always love the craft of photography, being behind the lens, chasing the light, capturing a real moment, I’m also open to what’s next.
Because in the end, it’s all about creating something that speaks to someone. And that, to me, is the true heart of visual art.
