Old school here. I do not shoot with a pinhole camera nor use glass plates for negatives. But

[MichaelSoE]

I have never been a big fan of all the new tech that has come my way in my life time.

I practiced my craft. Studied to improve. Bought new gear but did not utilize many of the innovations that are now common place.

Some examples: I went digital in the 90's as I was an early adopter of the WWW and had a web site for which I needed to do photos.
But I didn't go totally digital until they finally made a printer that could create an archival print that would produce an 11"x14" print as good as one from a 645 negative.

I still shoot 1 frame at a time, eschewing motor drive as I felt it was cheating. It took skill for someone to be a sport photographer. To capture the peak of action rather than shoot a bazillion frames and then cull them for the shot.

Auto exposure? Never used it. I still have my trusty light meter though I do reference the histogram on my camera just to be sure I'm not blocking my shadows or highlights.

Photoshop? I use it all the time but only to replicate what I would do in the darkroom. Sure I have played with the many filters but I personally would be embarrassed if all I did was click a mouse button and then declare myself an artist/craftsman.

The point being, I am now pissed about AI photography. Actually AI anything that is going to stifle creativity.
From the Encyclopedia Britannica
Creativity: the ability to make or otherwise bring into existence something new, whether a new solution to a problem, a new method or device, or a new artistic object or form. A number of personality characteristics have been shown to be associated with creative productivity. One of these is autonomy: creative individuals tend to be independent and nonconformist in their thoughts and actions.

I am sure people will still be creative. But I fear AI will reduce the number of talented people who would consider pursuing a career in which creativity is a driving motivation.

The only thing I hope AI puts a real hurt to is stock photo agencies. I considered them a bane to working photographers many years ago when stock photography took off like gangbusters in the 80's. I can't help but wonder how AI is going to affect their pocketbooks.

Rant off.

Before I hit the post button I remember discussions I had with an artist who did paintings from my photos. I lamented that he was only limited by his imagination. If he wanted a deer drinking from the brook in his landscape painting he only had to paint it in whereas if I wanted a deer in my photograph, I 'd have to wait until one showed up.

I guess I can stick that deer into my photo now


My photo


Painting of my photo with mangos added