Let's call AI in photography what it really is. Special effects.
Whether unrealistic fantasized special effects across the entire composition, minimal special effects to fix or retouch minor issues, or somewhere in between, how much you do depends on if you can still ethically call it a photograph. AI is Industrial Light & Magic for still imagery.
And let's not kid anyone. Special effects have been applied to photography almost from inception, whether in a darkroom (enhancing contrast in a black-and-white to add drama), in camera (double exposures or cross-processed film for effect), or on set (mashed potatoes masked as ice cream, 50 stylist pins in an on-fig suit to clean up a look).
Regardless, when it comes to business, eCommerce, advertising, no one cares what we call it, nor should they. We're selling products, services, events. AI is a tool (or agent, depending) to help tell a story, produce consistency, reduce budgets, cut lead times, improve customer experience, and ultimately factor in capturing a larger segment of the market. As long as your product looks like your product in the most fantastic way, it's what advertising has always tried to do. Now we can just do it faster and cheaper. I know...cheaper...the ugly word in creative content production.
However, don't kid yourself. Not just anyone can bang out powerful visual content using AI. A masterful visualist (new word invented, maybe) with a deep background in the medium, a true understanding of the balance of color, gesture, elements - this is what helps your imagery soar into the stratosphere. Compare it to music programs, sampling, and sequencing the past 40 years. More and more tools became available to bust out beats and riffs, yet it's the knowledgable musicians and experienced producers arranging songs that resonate with the masses.
This is the difference between someone finger painting and a pro producing a masterpiece. This is the difference between a novice on set saying "just AI it" and an expert formulating a plan to implement AI into a concept, or as a strategy in their department to maximize potential. To streamline visual content taking it to the next level.
You want to go to the next level? These are the AI players you need.
All images © Sean Arbabi | seanarbabi.com (all rights reserved worldwide) #ai #artificialintelligence #photography #specialeffects #digitalproduction #visualcontent #creativecontent
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