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Fakeography

Discussion in 'Photography' started by Johnb, Aug 21, 2026 at 2:30 PM.

  1. Johnb

    Johnb Nat Pres stalwart

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    I was recently offered a time limited version of Adobe Firefly, as far as I can see its AI special effects software with actions prompted simply by typing in what you want. The first image here is my original, the second was achieved simply by typing in 'make into night'. All very impressive but 100% fake. It will add shadows and vibrance to make a dull day picture look as if it was taken in sunshine. Personally I'm not into what I call fakeography but there will be those who are. It really isn't the way photography should be going in my opinion as future generations won't be able to look at any picture with confidence that its a genuine record.
    Needless to say I will not be subscribing to Firefly

    1539 35028 Chilworth 08-02-20.jpg 5cad3f2e-6115-4961-a021-ecf45a66f9ae.jpg
     
    Johnb, Aug 21, 2026 at 2:30 PM
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  2. Breva

    Breva Part of the furniture

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    Colourisation, with AI, of a 1950s photograph of a train about to pass through Broadway from the North.
    What did AI get wrong?
    542ff89f-0726-4f93-a8f4-88db6a5da9ea.png
     
    Breva, Aug 21, 2026 at 2:41 PM
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  3. Gladiator 5076

    Gladiator 5076 Resident of Nat Pres

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    Although I like your original, the fake is stunning to me, although perhaps more like an excellent painting than a photograph.
     
    Gladiator 5076, Aug 21, 2026 at 4:30 PM
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  4. Johnb

    Johnb Nat Pres stalwart

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    It is but it means anyone can now sit at home and convert a picture Ito what they like and pass it off as genuine
     
    Johnb, Aug 21, 2026 at 4:36 PM
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  5. Gladiator 5076

    Gladiator 5076 Resident of Nat Pres

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    Which I guess is what I do for everyone of those images of mine I turn into monochrome if the mood takes me. This just takes it way further, and the genie is out of the bottle now.
     
    Gladiator 5076, Aug 21, 2026 at 4:41 PM
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  6. LMS2968

    LMS2968 Part of the furniture

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    Possibly, but at what point does the image cease to be your work? Can you really sit back and think, "I did a good job there,", or must it become "The computer did a good job there." I got some satisfaction from my photos, even some of the ones which went a bit awry, and I admit that was most of them. Would I get that from a AI generated but optically perfect piece of fiction?
     
    LMS2968, Aug 21, 2026 at 5:35 PM
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  7. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    The night shot is pretty clever but why the position of the motion needed to be changed is a curious one. And then there is the extra between frames lighting...or is it a fire?
     
    Big Al, Aug 21, 2026 at 5:50 PM
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