Technology

Is AI Ruining Photography? My Case for Manual Editing

Explore the debate: Is AI ruining photography? Discover why manual editing still matters in an era of automated tools and instant filters.

AI is now a common feature in photo editing apps, making tasks like removing backgrounds and improving lighting easier. I use it for simple edits, but I don’t fully trust it for most of my work. Photography is personal, and letting AI do too much can take away the unique touch that makes each photo special. This brings up the question: is AI ruining photography? When AI makes creative choices, photos can look unoriginal and boring. While these tools save time, they can also remove the creativity & uniqueness from photos.

Though it should be used wisely, AI might be useful. Photography should be an art form rather than merely a mechanized procedure and it should enhance rather than replace your creativity.

Is AI Ruining Photography? Why I Prefer Manual Editing

AI Can’t Match My Style

Over the years, I’ve developed my own unique way of editing photos through practice and experimenting with different techniques. I’ve spent a lot of time learning how to use editing software, and it’s helped me create a personal style that AI just can’t replicate. Tools like Auto Enhance can make quick fixes, but they often feel generic and don’t capture the creative touch I want.

Even with advanced AI editing software, I often don’t get the results I’m looking for. Instead of making things easier, it can feel limiting because it doesn’t allow the same level of control I get from manual editing. I find it much simpler and more effective to adjust my photos myself.

AI is good at fixing technical issues, like improving lighting or reducing noise, but it struggles to add the creativity that makes a photo truly unique. For me, photography is about adding a personal touch, and that’s something AI just can’t fully replace.

I’m Worried My Photos Will Look the Same as Everyone Else’s

In creative fields like photography & photo editing, doing the same thing as everyone else won’t lead to unique results. This is something I’ve come to realize over time. Although AI has been useful in teaching me the fundamentals, such as how various editing software sliders interact, I’m concerned that using it excessively would make my images appear generic.

Using one-click photo editors & AI tools might seem easy but they can limit your creativity. These tools are quick, but they don’t let you add personal touches that make a photo special. If you rely on them too much, your photos might start looking the same as everyone else’s, making it harder to stand out. Creativity is important in photography & taking same shortcuts as others can make your images feel less unique.

Data and Privacy Concerns

Today, protecting your privacy is more important than ever especially with the rise of artificial intelligence. Use of AI in photo editing raises important privacy and data issues. I find it unsettling to rely on AI to do the majority of my photo editing especially when I’m using an app or program that I can’t completely trust.

One of the main concerns I have about generative AI is how my images will be used. I don’t want my photos to be used for training AI models without my permission, and I also don’t want to expose myself to security risks when sharing my images with AI tools. The thought of my data being misused or my images being shared without my consent is unsettling.

To protect myself, I only use AI photo editing software that I trust, like Lightroom’s AI editing features. I know it’s safe and that my privacy is respected.

If you decide to use a free AI photo editing tool, it’s important to understand the risks involved and make sure you’re comfortable with them. Always take time to check app’s privacy policies and think carefully about what you’re sharing before you use it.

AI Struggles with White Balance

When I first started photography, I didn’t think much about white balance. But now I see how important it is to get it right. I always try to adjust it correctly in-camera like when I use my mirrorless camera and control the Kelvin temperature to make sure colors look natural.

I’ve tried using AI to fix the white balance but it often makes the photo too warm or too cool. Because of this, I prefer to adjust the white balance myself.

I can do this easily with my phone’s editing app and for better results, I use Lightroom to adjust the color. Learning color grading has helped me get the right look in my photos.

Overusing AI Makes Photo Editing Less Fun

I find it funny when people say they hate photo editing because I actually enjoy it a lot. There have been times when I’ve spent an entire day editing photos and didn’t even notice how much time passed. Editing is something I love, and I think it’s important to spend time doing things that make you happy. That’s why I’m careful about how much AI I use in my photo edits.

Even if it were possible to click a button and get the exact edits I wanted (which it isn’t), I would still want to make some changes myself. Efficiency is important, but it shouldn’t take away from the fun and personal touch that comes with editing.

To keep editing fun, I use AI for tasks I don’t like, like fixing blemishes. AI does a good job with that. However, because it feels more creative and intimate, I want to do things like change the lighting myself.

AI Struggles with Editing Colors

I enjoy editing the colors in my photos but I’ve noticed that AI doesn’t do a great job with this. When I use Auto Enhance, the pictures often end up too bright and saturated, or sometimes, the colors look flat and dull.

This happens not only in Lightroom but also in many other editing tools I use. I think the reason is that AI’s automatic adjustments are designed to get a picture closer to what’s technically correct, but they don’t do much more than that.

I might be being picky because I like having full control over my pictures, but I still prefer to adjust the colors myself. If AI ever gets better at handling colors in photos, I’d be happy to change my mind and give it another try.

AI Can Make My Photos Look Fake

One problem I have with using AI too much is that it can make my photos look fake, especially when I use it to adjust clarity, dehaze and texture. I’ve noticed that AI often overdoes it, especially with clarity, making the photo look unnatural.

I have my own way of editing photos, and I prefer high-contrast images. But when I use AI, it sometimes adds too much contrast, which isn’t what I want. This issue is especially noticeable on snowy days or when it’s overcast. The AI often makes these images look too sharp or unrealistic, and it doesn’t match the style I’m going for.

AI Can Make My Photos Look Too Perfect

When I edit my photos, I’m not trying to make them look perfect. My goal is to capture the emotions and atmosphere I felt when I took the photo. I want the photo to reflect that moment, not just look flawless.

But using AI too much has sometimes made my photos look too polished and I don’t like that. It can make the images feel less unique. Even when I try auto-enhancing, I still adjust some settings myself to keep it feeling personal.

AI has its benefits in photo editing, but as I’ve gained more experience, I don’t rely on it for most of my adjustments. It’s useful for fixing parts of a photo, but I don’t trust it with things like color adjustments. Also, there are data and privacy concerns with AI, so I’m very careful about which tools I choose to use.

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