Photography in the AI Era: Turning Disruption into Creative Opportunity". An open letter to photographers.
In this post, I want to talk about the role of photographers. I see our role as artists is becoming crucial.
Hello blog readers, great to connect with you again. In this post, I want to talk about the role of photographers. I see our role as artists is becoming crucial. With mainstream communication now upheld by large media outlets. And photographers reduced to content creators, can we still have a voice?
With the uprooting of AI, it will be essential for photographers to change their tone of voice. Moving away from content to pure creation, using photography as a way to communicate. Creating art is a way to liberate us from the tyranny of content creation.
For me, art is not about pretty stuff; yes, it can be ugly and raise questions. Although contemporary art can be quite opaque. I do wonder, though, if some of modern art is not a by-product of making money? And part of the capitalist society we live in. That's a question I will leave for another day.
I see art as a way to communicate, a way of expression. Yes, it's different from words because it's more difficult to read and can feel quite elitist. But as I mentioned before, art doesn't have to be confusing. It can be a great way to reach more people when you have a message and clarity in what you're trying to say with it.
I was not always a fine art photographer with a message. When I started photography, it was more a way to document than to say something about my photography. I loved photographing pretty places and faces. It was a way to develop my skills rather than to think outside the box.
It's only when I got frustrated about photographing the same thing over and over. I realised there must be more to photography than this. Photography is ambivalent. For many, it's clicking a button. Can it ever be considered art? I recently listened to a podcast on the Foto app about AI. Daniel Milnor talked about how photography could survive another major blow.
One of the only ways for photography to survive is to create art with a message. Use your personal story to share your message with millions. It's something AI isn't yet ready for. Will it ever? That's an invitation for photographers to be more active, not passive. Their voice should count.
The Legacy of Artist-Activists
Artists have led social movements throughout history. They used their creativity to challenge norms and fight for justice. One of my favourite artists, Frida Kahlo, revolutionised how women were portrayed in art through her self-portraits. She refused to conform to beauty standards. Instead, she painted her reality – her pain, her politics, and her identity as a Mexican woman. Her bold honesty still inspires artists and activists today.
Dorothea Lange is another artist I love. Her Great Depression work, especially "Migrant Mother," showed the poverty in American homes. We can question if these images influenced public policy and social programs? But I'm pretty sure they did.
Barbara Kruger's bold graphic works, combining images and text, challenge consumer culture and feminist issues. Her work "Your Body Is a Battleground" became a rallying image for women's rights movements.
The Power of Visual Storytelling
As Daniel Milnor mentions. What photographers will be selling in the future is the storytelling. What they offer is a unique perspective of the world. Something that AI can reproduce with ease will not hold ground. A photographer with a unique vision and a story that creates empathy will attract brands. They seek something that no one can reproduce. Through a camera, photographers will not document. They will create images that tell of emotions, struggles, and triumphs. It's also so much more empowering to be able to have a say in your favourite way of expression.
Beyond Documentation: Creating Dialogue
Photographers now have this opportunity to create a shift in the medium. Make photography a tool of expression rather than a way to document, click a button. Our mission is to elevate photography to where it should be. Photography is art; all the rest is only content creation. The process of photographing will be straightforward to replace. Let's use photography to create a dialogue; use our cameras to exchange, communicate, and ask. Let's be ambitious about the change photography can bring to society. We can be the eyes and the voice for an everlasting discussion.
Art as Activism
When we talk about activism, we often think of protests, petitions, and policy changes. Art has a unique power to reach people on an emotional level. It opens hearts to new perspectives. As a photographer, set a goal. Create projects that raise awareness. Think outside the box, move away from the content creation stance. As Daniel Milnor says, social media is formatting photographers into content creators, with not an ounce of putting creativity first left in us. And I was guilty of this as well; for years I have created portraits that I thought would have an impact on social media. Because x, y, z have great success with it. But I was completely under influence. As I mention in one of my blog posts, it's not easy to put creativity first; we have to learn to use our voice again.
Finding strength in vulnerability
What do you have to say, be brave and show what you're made of. Use photography as you would be writing words. Words with power, show your strength and vulnerability. There's only one like you and I'm sure people want to hear more about what you have inside.
Moving Forward
Imagine you're not a content creator anymore. You're an artist, a photographer; this time you have full control of the creative process. You have a say in the world you're living in. Make each of your images join a larger conversation; what will it be? Art can create spaces for silenced voices. It can build understanding and inspire action for change.
How do you see the relationship between AI and photography evolving? What role do you think human creativity will play in this digital renaissance?
Share your thoughts in the comments