Sacred Kingfisher

[wigz]

My only photo from a walk around Eagleby Wetlands this morning. Plenty of bird calls but only a few sightings and this was the only chance at a photo. A bit far away and not the best light but it was a fairly clear shot.

I used the new ACR blur tool on this as the bg was a bit busy. This is the default blur settings with no adjustments or masking - basically just a couple of clicks. I would probably have gone for more blur if using Photoshop. I'll have to play with it a bit more.

[Isac]

Lovely image Alan. Sharp, well framed and beautiful colours. The way A.I. image editing software is heading, there doesn't seem to be any sense of achievement or satisfaction anymore and it's eliminating the challenge and developed skills required to get the desired results, which in fact creates a "fake" image. Just me having a small rant. Sadly, I'm starting to lose interest in this vocation and I'll have to find other things to do to keep me mentally active and positive in my latter years

[wigz]

Thanks Isac. I think that, while you are basically correct, you are being overly pessimistic. It's just another step along the way from coating your own glass plates for large format and developing and printing to the convenience of roll film, SLRs, quick-return mirrors, automatic exposure, automatic focus, digital capture and processing.

While it becomes easier, the automation never replaces actual skill. As I noted above, I would have gone for a different result if I had blurred the focus in PS.

Don't abandon photography but leverage the available tools to get better results. You may use some of your skills less but you can develop new skills and adapt to the changes.

[Isac]

I personally think that the speed at which all this new A.I. stuff is being developed is a bit OTT. I can't see a need for it in my workflow but can see it's probably great for many others. I'll keep taking photos when I get the urge and do editing for clients if and when reqjuired but I'm seeing that becoming less and les as time rolls on. It's just a bit demoralising after spending many years developing my editing skills - and I must say, it was very rewarding and super challenging - then to see A.I. come along and replace that long learning curve with the click of a button, to me is quite depressing. I think I'm more of a realist than a pessimist but the proof will be in the pudding in the not too distant future. I'll just plod along and do my thing until it's no longer feasable or required and I will accept what ever comes but I won't be embracing changes if I'm not comfortable with it.

I've seen automation replace numerous skills over many years but in the graphics industry it is moving rapidly. There will be so many jobs lost to A.I. that it's going to be devastating.

[Ozzie_Traveller]

+1
Phil