You type word prompts into a field. A computer spits out an AI-generated image. Sorry, that’s not a photo, and you’re not a photographer.
Call it something else. It’s an image, a picture, AI-generated art or a computer doodle. It doesn’t matter. Just don’t call it a photo.
Why ain’t it a photo?
I’m glad you asked. We create photographs using a camera. The camera lets in light. The light falls on light-sensitive material such as a sensor or film. Then the image is magically rendered visible through chemicals or digital means.
Did you notice something? In the description of how to create a photograph, I used the word “light.” Twice.
Photograph
Above: Real photographs made with light. Just as Sir John Herschel intended. “Light painting” seems to take on extra importance here, doesn’t it?
This isn’t just semantics. It’s in the name. “Photo” means “light”. “Graph” means “something written.” It may be all Greek to you, but that’s why I’m here to break it down.
Sir John Herschel, photography pioneer, coined the term “photograph.” He won out over “photogene,” “heliograph,” “photogram,” “sunprint,” and “sun-picture.” Interesting how all those names have to do with light, isn’t it?
Not a photograph
What’s not a photograph? Simple. Something that doesn’t involve light.
Typing words into a field to instruct an artificial intelligence program running on computers doesn’t involve light at any time. If you instruct AI to create a picture of a spotlight, it doesn’t involve light. Even if you wear a headlamp while typing, it still doesn’t involve light. No photons were used in the making of that image.
If I’m not a photographer, then what am I?
Only you or perhaps your all-too-honest family members can answer that.
However, if you want a title, perhaps I can help. AI is the Wild West! You could have people address you by the following:
- AI Generator General
- Promptidigitator
- Word Wizard
- Prompt Queen
- Prompt King
- Prompt Wizard
- Word Herder
- Prompt Painter
- Captain of Keywording
- Word Wrangler
- Prompt Engineer
- Promptonaut
- PAInter
Is this AI-bashing?
I’m not here to bash AI. In fact, I prefer to be very respectful just in case it reaches sentience (just kidding…or am I?).
Technology hurtles forward, and there’s not much we can do about it except to keep ourselves informed. If necessary, be wary. Almost all of us use AI whether we like it or not. It’s on our phones. It’s everywhere on the internet. And, of course, it’s in much of the technology around us. It’s used in much of the software we use. It’s even there when we call a business.
What’s not cool is to pass off your AI-generated art as a photograph. You know, that thing that’s created with light? We know that deception is wrong, right?
While I do love my photography, I really do like the title Word Herder lol…can I use that as a writer too???
Haha! Why not?
Maybe just “artificialist”.
Yes, just something….something that indicates that it is a completely different process and art form.
I’m not quite that polite – I can’t call this dial-an-image service an “art form”.
If I order a pizza with my phone, using keywords “pepperoni”, “green peppers”, “extra cheese” – does that make make me a chef?
Well, you do make a good point there. I believe if there is an artist to be found, it is not in the key prompter, er, Prompt Queen, Word Herder, whatever. It would be in the computer programmers or the AI program. And that’s of course dubious at best.
But regardless, it’s completely different in process and execution (and right now, really crappy rendering of hands) and needs to be acknowledged as such.
I absolutely agree. I am on a lot of photographic groups in Facebook and I’m getting tired but some guy saying he used a ID create an image and then he worked on it in Photoshop. It’s not a photograph it’s graphic art.
Yeah. And even with graphic art, a human can make that, so I really do feel it should be recognized as a completely different art form. Graphic art is still created by humans, doesn’t involve key prompts, and requires skill.