AI 'Street Photography' Isn't Photography: The Loss of Authentic Experience
2024-12-21
This article argues that AI-generated 'street photography' is not true photography. While AI can create images resembling street photos, it lacks the essential elements of real photography: the capturing of actual light and moments, the engagement with strangers, and the inherent risks and rewards of real-world interaction. The author contrasts AI-generated images with their own experience in Brooklyn's Chinatown, highlighting the value of human connection, cultural exchange, and the discomfort and courage required for genuine street photography. The article ultimately warns against the collapse of meaning when simulated experiences replace authentic engagement with reality.