AI and Photographers: Boycott or Embrace?

Thanks to the huge data source (Big Data), AI can create photos that are realistic to the point of perfection from zero: no need for the photographer to press the camera, no need for a camera, no need for a real scene, no need to wait for the moment, no need to align the composition and of course no need for emotions - indispensable elements for a photographer. With the deep penetration of AI into photography, many people are clearly concerned that the position of the photographer in the photography profession will be replaced by AI?!

Photographer Duong Quang Tin - Chairman of Lam Dong Photography Association I, said that it is difficult to deny the role of AI in photography. During the photo-taking process, AI provides maximum support for subject recognition, as well as color optimization, and automatically focuses on the subject even when the subject is moving at high speed. In post-production photo editing, AI helps identify photo layers, adjust light and dark, and smooth the subject's skin. AI even creates photos as desired by the user after just a few clicks... However, AI is causing controversy surrounding the integrity of intellectual property. Therefore, in some photography competitions, the Organizing Committee has labeled photos with AI intervention to ensure artistic integrity and the legitimacy of the sole copyright owner. “We all know that AI is a product created by humans. AI is increasingly perfected thanks to the machine learning feature from the contributions of a huge user community. So the so-called “AI photo works” are actually AI “created” based on millions of photos available in Big Data. Therefore, AI does not have copyright over the works it creates. AI is not the only subject that owns copyright,” photographer Duong Quang Tin emphasized.

Photographer Nguyen Thanh Liem - Chairman of the Vietnam Photography Association in Lam Dong, added: “AI’s ability to create super-fast photos from scratch is changing the way we look at photography - a field that was previously considered to be human. Advertising companies are the ones that benefit the most from this feature of AI: saving costs on hiring photographers to take photos, or buying photos from available libraries, in addition to saving time while still ensuring maximum work efficiency. AI is also a powerful tool for photographers in finding ideas.”

Of course, photographer Nguyen Thanh Liem does not consider AI as a universal key to open all doors of photography. “Photography is still a human story. It is very difficult for AI to have real human experiences in moments that cannot be programmed,” photographer Nguyen Thanh Liem confided. Photographer Tran Thiet Dung - Lam Dong Photography Association II, asserted: “I do not boycott, nor do I promote AI, and I am not afraid that AI will replace my role in photography. Because if anyone has a deep understanding of photography, they will see that the core of photography is the truth - a truth that cannot be duplicated by machine learning features.”

According to photographer Duong Quang Tin, in the future, AI will continue to develop, becoming a powerful virtual assistant for the art of photography, helping photographers be more creative in choosing the golden moment to take photos. Photographers should take advantage of AI features to develop photography.

Source: http://baolamdong.vn/van-hoa-nghe-thuat/202503/ai-va-nghe-si-nhiep-anh-tay-chay-hay-tan-dung-e815f3f/