The rise of AI in image creation has sparked a debate about "fakeness" and the erosion of truth. But before we dive into that rabbit hole, let's take a step back and consider a fundamental truth: every image, regardless of its origin, is a conception, a dance between reality and perception. Let me explain.
Framing the fragment:
Imagine every photograph as a haiku, a meticulously chosen glimpse into the vastness of reality. The photographer, like a sculptor, selects a fragment, an angle, a composition. Each choice shapes our interpretation, molding the captured moment into a new reality, forever separate from the whole. The camera cannot capture everything, nor can it convey the cacophony of sounds, smells, and emotions that filled the space. It presents a curated slice, a story told through the lens of the photographer's vision.
In other words, each thing we decide to share - whether an image, a video, a written or orally delivered story - it is only scraping a small portion of the ‘shared reality’ that exist in that moment and slice in time and space. It also is brought to light with the interpretation and bias of the viewer, the storyteller, the photographer. It is but - a fragment.
An influenced subject:
But the story doesn't end there. The subject, even in a candid shot, plays a role. A smile flashed, a pose struck, even subtle shifts in posture and expression – all add layers of intention, consciousness, or unconscious influence. The photo becomes a collaboration: photographer, subject, and circumstance weaving a narrative that goes beyond "what was happening" and delves into the realm of how we chose to perceive it.
Any individual moment, can be viewed and perceived in countless ways. An innocuous moment in time, can bear weight of frustration to a person caught in traffic with a crying infant in the car. Beside that car of frustration, can be a couple of best friends out for a drive to nowhere in particular, savoring the time chatting. Up ahead of the group can be a medic working on a near lifeless body in a crumpled vehicle whose life-saving efforts are causing the slow down. Not to forget the man feeling his life fleeting in this moment of desperation. Each of their experiences are vastly different. Are they wrong? No, they are but a portion of the whole - yet reflective of their place in the story being told.
AI - a new brushstroke, not a rewrite:
Now, enter AI. This revolutionary tool doesn't erase the inherent subjectivity of images. Instead, it becomes a new brushstroke on the canvas. It allows us to explore possibilities beyond the limitations of traditional photography or digital painting, pushing the boundaries of composition, color, and even reality itself. But the core principle remains: AI-generated images are still conceptions, informed by the choices of the artist, the algorithms, and the data used to train them.
Each time I come to Midjourney, Musavir, Leonardo, Stable Diffusion, or any of the other AI platforms - to create a visual representation - I bring me to the story. My experience, my knowledge, my vocabulary, my way of writing and conveying ideas… all of this comes to play a part of the story I tell with the tool I use. That same prompt used to conjure an image, distills differently with minutest word change or with the platform chosen to explore image and concept creation. AI is just a tool, a digital paintbrush with it own nuanced capability of assembling my thoughts and expressions into a visual representation.
The stories we choose to tell:
So, as we embrace this new era of image creation, let's remember this dance between reality and perception. Every image, AI-powered or not, whispers tales of the choices we make. It's not about "fakeness" versus "truth," but about understanding the stories we choose to tell and the interpretations we invite. Whether it's a photographer capturing a fleeting moment or an AI artist crafting a fantastical dreamscape, each image is a testament to our human desire to express, explore, and shape the world we see.
The question remains:
What stories will we choose to tell tomorrow? Will we use AI to amplify empathy, understanding, and creativity? Or will we get lost in a world of fabricated realities, forgetting the beauty and complexity of the true world around us? The choice, as always, lies in our hands.
Brian W. Sykes
An Old Jewish Proverb
Once upon a time… TRUTH, naked and cold, had been turned away from every door in the village. Her nakedness frightened the people. Taking pity on her, PARABLE gathered her up and took her home. She dressed TRUTH in STORY, warmed her and sent her out again.
Clothed in STORY, TRUTH knocked again at the villagers’ doors and now was welcomed into the peoples’ houses. They invited her to eat at their table and warm herself by their fire.
Brian Sykes
Prompts for the images shared…
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