THE SYNTHETIC EYE

Seeing is not necessarily believing.

A photograph has long been seen as a curated slice of reality, a moment frozen in time. But this reality is blurring, notes Ritchin, dean emeritus of the International Center of Photography School in New York. In this smart and searching book, he explores the interaction between digital photography and artificial intelligence systems, which he sees as both positive and terrifying. Manipulated photos are nothing new, as when elements of different images are cut and pasted together. But these clumsy efforts have been superseded by AI systems that blend images. These fabrications have become so sophisticated that it is almost impossible to tell them from unmodified originals. Even more worrisome is when an AI system is tasked to create a completely new image—many, of course, are now circulating on social media—and Ritchin discusses his own experiments in the area. Some of the resulting images in the book are surreal, some are surprising, and others are touching. One of the strangest, a response to a request for “a photograph of an unhappy algorithm,” is a picture of a ghostly, distorted face. Others are technically realistic, even if the subject is impossible. Ritchin accepts that being skeptical of all images is an obvious response to this creative fakery, but he also sees the potential for photography to reclaim and expand its role as an artform. Reasonably enough, he believes that any image that uses AI technology should include an explanation about its nature, although finding the right formula for effective disclaimers is tricky.

A thought-provoking study explores new forms of image making.