Photographers & AI: Part 1

Photography as a career was something that cost a lot, from the cameras, lenses, and all the other gear, and then initially they needed to prepare the media just before they took the photo, using dangerous chemicals, as the photosensitive coating didn’t last long. Also, having a meter to know the exposure time didn’t exist. The photographer had to know from experience how many seconds it would take. Then, I had to quickly use other dangerous chemicals to set the image and to make it permanent.

Later, the technology for a much more stable photosensitive layer came out, and then they started coming out as per-manufactured, so no longer needed to treat the media directly, and later was on a plastic film in a canister, and there were businesses that would do the processing as well, making it easier for the masses. Cheaper cameras and lenses also came out, making it more accessible.

When SLR (Single Lens Reflex) cameras came out, it made it easier, as the lens was now the view someone saw for framing, and the mirror moved up out of the way to expose the shutter, which then opened to expose the film.

The SLR cameras started adding mechanical ‘smarts’ with a light meter, then control of the aperture, and then allowing for the camera to control the shutter speed using the light meter and knowing what the ISO or ASA rating of the film was for the set aperture. Later, as a computer was added into the camera, came controlling the aperture from the camera instead of the mechanical collar on the lens. The film was still an ongoing per-shot cost, even if it didn’t turn out, and had to wait hours or days before a photo could be seen.

With the advent of digital SLR cameras, the camera was no longer a ‘film holder’ and gave the ability to see the shot immediately, and without a per-shot cost, as if it didn’t turn out, it could be noticed immediately, deleted, and then re-shot. The camera’s computer got ‘smarter,’ and more automation was added, allowing automatic shooting, making the knowledge needed to get into taking shots much less.

Then came smartphones and the addition of a miniaturized camera sensor. This was the beginning of the end. People now had a way to quickly take photos themselves, and as they were small, the imperfections were not noticeable. People started to accept lower-quality shots as “good enough” and not see the value of hiring a photographer. Knowledge of framing, colour balance, lighting, depth of field, and more was all not worried about, or the digital device did it for them.

With many people having to reduce their expenses, one of the first to go was a budget for art, including photographs. Few people I know sit down for a portrait or buy artwork or photographs. Most companies don’t have photos taken of their teams by a professional photographer, which are then framed and hung up in the office, to show others. Most teams either have someone close who is willing to take photos and has a camera, or more recently, one of the coaches pulls out their phone and takes a shot using it, and then the photo is shared digitally only, with no thought about printing and framing it. If someone does it themselves, rarely do they care about quality.

Now, even the making of the photo at all is under attack with AI. Part 2 will be on how AI is taking over.