A few weeks ago, I saw a piece of broccoli when I was running through all the foods, which, strangely, reminded me of a Joshua tree. seriously. The moment of that random grocery store finished sparking a full photo shoot on the spot, and, even more importantly how I can use equipment like AI in my photography, without carrying them a deep reflection on how I can use AI.
I needed to recover my creativity
Now you are looking at the last image. It is stylized, real and almost cinematic. But the thing here is: it did not start in Photoshop or Midjourney or Chatgpt. It started in my head, with a small piece of broccoli and with a desire to play again.
Not long before this shoot, I went away from a poisonous job, where I was a creative director, running everything in a day. One day, in a meeting, I heard myself saying, “This place is a cemetery for creative ideas.” And I meant. That line came directly from my intestine – not once, but twice – for the shock of the CEO. After this, “I think my time is here,” and my soul knew that I had to go.
Beyond that experience, the truth is, I stopped making things for fun. Every shoot was for a customer. Each photo had a time limit. I love my customers, but I forgot what it was felt because I wanted to take a photo just because. This project with my Godson was the first time I had fun with photography when I had a long time when I had a long time when I had a long time.
Concept test
Before we hit the desert, I did a test run at home, illuminating the same broccoli that was copied with a small LED light. I asked myself: what will happen if I make it blue? What will happen if it is purple? Can I feel it like a mysterious landscape?
When AI entered the picture – not to create an image, but to support my creativity. As I would use Photoshop to clean a background or increase the sky, I used the AI tool to manufacture the top of the photo that I had already made and shot. The photo was mine. The vision was mine. This idea was born in my brain – natural intelligence.
AI helped me increase it, expanded the background, brought into the subtle real elements, and created an immersive final product that matched the story in my head. I used AI to play and connect my concept, not with a concept. there is a difference.
Use AI, but don’t let it use it
There is a lot of noise right now. Photographers stated that AI is “deception”, that it is the end of photography. It is fun that I heard the same thing when digital cameras changed the film.
Here is my tech: AI can be a powerful help. Not a director. Not a visionary. If the original idea is the soul – if it involves humanity – then using AI is no different from hiring a retorch or using a filter. This is just another device.
But if the idea starts with AI? Then things start feeling solid. Then the last image is beautiful but empty.
let’s talk about it
I made this picture- and this video- for myself. But I am sharing it because I think we need more open interaction about how AI fits into our creative life. It is not necessary to be black or white. You do not have to be against it or against it. All you have to do is lead it.
So I am asking you: Have you used AI in your work yet? Do you think there is a right way to integrate it and a wrong way? Does it increase your creativity or make you feel that you are cheating?
It should be a conversation, not a debate. Watch the video, and tell me what you think – do you support this stance or not. I will accept for the first time: I am still finding it. But I know that if you lead with your heart, your brain and your thoughts, you can follow AI. Like Photoshop. Like a camera.
Let’s keep making. Keep using Let’s do not let the equipment beat the artist.
