I have been hearing and seeing many opinions expressed about the impact of AI on photography and art in general. It seems there is a fear that the days of photographers and even painters and other artists are numbered. Undoubtedly the way that we work and how we do things is evolving at such a rapid pace it is difficult to keep up. However, I believe there is something beyond the object created whether an image, a painting, or sculpture that cannot be replicated artificially.
I admit that part of my love of nature and wildlife photography comes down to the challenge of capturing a subject. Photography is an outlet for my competitive nature that developed through years of playing sports. But it is more than the challenge. Photographs share an experience, an emotion from a moment in time. When I am sharing an image, I am sharing the awe, the wonder, the excitement of the moment with you. Think about some of the famous photographers such as Ansel Adams. His photographs are more than images printed on a piece of paper. They evoke a shared experience of the landscapes he explored.
Awe, wonder, joy, love, or despair is inexplicably infused into an artist’s work making it more than an image or an object to observe. It has an essence that when listened to speaks to the observer. One connects with the shared experience through the work of the artist. This cannot be replicated artificially. “Things” can be created artificially, but beautiful experiences cannot be. So here is to all the artist sharing their hearts and experiences with us evoking a sense of awe, wonder, joy, love, despair… What you share with the universe cannot be artificially replicated.