For the latest Magnum Photos Square Print sale, photographers from both the agency and the World Press Organization are showcasing images that specifically differentiate them as human photographers and not AI-generated imagery. Photographer Yael Martinez has some fascinating words to say about it.
For this Square Print Sale, Magnum Photos and the World Press Photo Organization are taking a stand with real photographers to celebrate the difference between human photography and AI-generated imagery. You can support this mission with a purchase of a print at the Magnum Photo Shop.
“I think AI is based on data and generated images that reference previously existing or famous photographs or recreating styles of artists and photographers, and the work I’m doing is a mixture of photography and other media,” says photographer Yael Martinez when asked about how his work differentiates him from AI. “In my case, I did not try using AI until now, so I do not know how it works, but it has not been required for my work so far.” His words seem to evade the question. But if you look at the image that he’s presenting as part of the sale, we can question whether or not an AI processing platform would make something like this.
Yael’s works have a very fine art approach to them, as they can be seen on the Magnum website. They’re not what we traditionally see made from an AI — though we wonder what sort of prompts one might even bother to tell an AI to make the imagery that he does.
Yael provides brief answers when asked about his thoughts on legislation with AI imagery. In his eyes, it’s a new tool — and we need to certify that the image is made by the tool. “There are many ways to create images, and it can be good to use as a tool, but I will continue using photography as a primary medium,” he tells us.
All images by Yael Martinez. Used with permission.