Looking Perfect, Losing Purpose
How AI and Text-To-Image Based Technology is Changing Photography for Better and Worse
By: Zephyr Simus
Multiple major paradigm shifts have occurred within the visual arts and the media used to convey such, evidenced by the shift from engravings to paintings in the 15th century; paintings to photography in the 19th century; and now photography to Artificial Intelligence (AI) generated art in the 21st century. Each of these evolutions built upon the creative embellishments of those that preceded them, slowly adding to — and developing upon — advancements of the others. But, with the perfection that AI and text-to-image technology bring, certain aspects of what makes art special are also being lost along the way.
In the view of many, photography is considered paramount to painting and other forms of media due to its ease of use and its ability to instantly capture a moment in time in a fraction of a second with pure precision. Recent developments of Sora and other AI and text-to-image-based technologies are building upon these attributes: I have seen impressive developments in how AI can create perfect worlds, photographs, and scenarios, all from a text description. This advent of AI and text-to-image technology has ushered in a new era of photographic perfection, transforming the landscape of visual arts with tools and images that — similar to cameras — can be conjured in a fraction of a second. However, it is important to keep in focus that — while sometimes less appreciated — one aspect where cameras and human photography surpass AI and text-to-image-based technology is the candidness and intimacy that human photography captures.
Being a photographer, I have realized that the best pictures are not the ones that look the prettiest or most impressive; the best photos are the ones that capture reality as it is — displaying both the beauty of our world and its imperfections. By capturing the little things that are often overlooked (e.g. the raw emotion of people in the background; the uneven traffic of cars moving along the setting; etc.), photographs possess emotion, feeling, and a story. Photographs are not just beautiful images on paper or an electronic display, but they are actual moments in time — a way for others to connect with a memory. Photos are a window into past adventures, providing a lens into human beings’ connections with things — even if some might consider little things. While this means that photographs might not always be “picture perfect”, this attribute gives photos their originality and the ability to be perceived differently by every person who views them. This not only leads to further inspiration and creativity, but also acts as a means of capturing, and preserving, history. However, if all forms of preserved media were flawless pictures and paintings of a perfect world, it would dilute the importance of historical events and present an inaccurate portrayal of our world. Imperfections are a necessary part of our society and, while they may be scoffed at and underappreciated, these flaws and faults are us, and they encourage us to appreciate the better aspects of life even more.
While I admit there are times when I desire an easier way to edit photos; would like to spend less time selecting the best picture from a group; or am reluctant to go back out to the same place another day to capture the image I was looking for, I believe that these are all necessary progressions to improve my abilities both as a photographer and person today. Without these stops and starts or extra steps, I would not appreciate the essential lessons that come with being a photographer today. That said, I do believe that there are benefits that the implementation of AI in photography can generate. For example, use of AI in visual arts — specifically photography — allows artists to have tools that can enhance creativity, reduce the time needed for complex compositions, and open up new avenues for artistic expression. It also democratizes creativity, making it more accessible to those without traditional artistic training and broadening the scope of who can participate in the creation of visual art.
Despite these positive attributes, it is important to reflect back on the original purpose of the camera — to freeze a moment and capture all aspects of the world, both its beauty and imperfections — and remind ourselves that we don’t want to lose purpose by looking perfect. As photographers and consumers of visual arts, we must stay wary of the integration of AI and text-to-image-based technology and generators and try to answer the question: in the quest for visual perfection, are we losing the unique stories, imperfections, and original moments of life that give photography its soul and purpose?
Zephyr Simus is a first-year student at Yale University with interests in Global Affairs; East Asian Studies; Film and Media Studies; and foreign languages (Chinese, Japanese, and Korean). Through his coursework and personal research, Zephyr is exploring the impact that technology and AI has upon music, art, and visual media (such as film, photography, and animation), seeking to understand if data is truly the 21st Century’s new “pigment” or “melody”. He also enjoys examining how popular music genres are tied to racial, regional, and national identities, and exported globally via migration and — as is the case with K-pop — via nation-states.
