We could even put the Golden Plover up on the moorland!

Feathered Pixels: Journey Into AI-Powered Wildlife Photography

Greetings, folks! The early bird may get the worm, but the early photographer gets the best shot of the bird getting the worm! Well, usually that’s the case, but today, it’s a bit different.

This is the image I have chose to edit through AI
This is the image I have chosen to edit through AI

Being a wildlife photographer in the beautiful expanse of Lancashire, UK, is usually all about patience, precision, and perfect timing. But we’re about to mix things up a little. For those of you who don’t know, I’ve been a shutterbug since my university days and my favourite subjects have been those fluttering little miracles of nature – birds!

First we'll start with the crop
First, we’ll start with the crop

Now, don’t get your feathers ruffled, traditional photography isn’t going anywhere, but we’re introducing a new arrival into our photography journey – Artificial Intelligence. Yep, you read it right. AI isn’t just for those sci-fi films anymore, it’s invaded our camera lenses too!

Adobe Photoshop, the old faithful of the photography world, has dipped its toes into the AI pond. I’ve decided to jump in as well, for a 30-minute whirlpool of image manipulation. It’s kind of like a bird bath, but for photos, if you catch my drift!

Now let's use AI to start cloning out distractions
Now let’s use AI to start cloning out distractions

Using one of my not-so-great bird images (yep, I take my fair few duds), I put AI to the test. And let me tell you, the results are mind-boggling! It’s like giving your old image a new set of feathers, complete with the gloss.

Now we'll let AI sort out the background
Now we’ll let AI sort out the background

But as we dive into this digital birdbath, let’s remember to tread carefully. Image manipulation is a powerful tool. It’s been around way before digital photography, like a bird perched quietly in the background. However, with great power comes great responsibility. Let’s make sure we aren’t creating cyborg sparrows or flamingos with giraffe necks. We need to respect the wildlife we photograph and maintain its authenticity. Let’s not transform into Dr. Frankenstein, eh?

There's a bit to much seaweed
There’s a bit too much seaweed

That being said, Adobe’s AI-powered image manipulation is a tool I’m welcoming into my workflow, mainly to cleverly clone out those pesky distractions. So let’s take flight into this new photographic adventure together!


The Ethics of Image Manipulation

One might argue that 30 minutes is hardly enough time to give anything a fair go, let alone something as complex as AI. And ordinarily, I’d agree with you. But sometimes in the wild, you only have a moment to snap that perfect picture, and in this world of split seconds, thirty minutes is an age!

Perhaps we could add a crab?
Perhaps we could add a crab?

As I opened Adobe Photoshop, I could feel the old chap quivering with excitement. And why not? This was uncharted territory for both of us. Loading up my not-so-great bird shot (we’ll call it the Ugly Duckling), I could almost feel the AI salivating at the chance to work its magic. And boy, did it do some wizardry!

We could even put the Golden Plover up on the moorland!
We could even put the Golden Plover up on the moorland!

In the span of my self-imposed deadline, Adobe’s AI turned my Ugly Duckling into a half-decent Swan. The photo was sharper, colours more vibrant, and distractions were brilliantly cloned out. It was like seeing my photograph take flight, as if by magic. Yet it wasn’t magic – it was AI. As I sat back and admired the transformation, I realized the extent of what AI brings to the table. In the right hands, it’s less of a crutch and more of an enabler, a force that could elevate our work.

But, while we revel in the potential of AI, we must talk about ethics. Remember, we are wildlife photographers. Our job is to capture the raw beauty of nature, not to transform it into something it’s not. While image manipulation has been around longer than many realise (dodging and burning in the darkroom, anyone?), we need to use this new tool with discretion. Let’s avoid turning our beautiful birds into exotic, non-existent species.

Incorporating AI into my workflow won’t mean overhauling my ethics. It will be there to remove a stray branch or an intrusive cable, not to add a rainbow to every sunset. Adobe’s new tool will help us tell our stories better, not fabricate them.


10 Interesting Facts:

  1. AI has been a significant subject of 2023, with its applications reaching new heights.
  2. Image manipulation was practiced long before the digital age, starting with film techniques like dodging and burning.
  3. Adobe Photoshop is one of the pioneering software programs to integrate AI in its system.
  4. AI can aid in amplifying the visual quality of an image, from enhancing colours to improving sharpness.
  5. The ethics of image manipulation in wildlife photography is an ongoing debate.
  6. AI can help clone out distractions in an image, making it cleaner and more focused.
  7. Not every image needs to be drastically altered; sometimes, subtle changes can have a significant impact.
  8. Embracing new technologies like AI doesn’t mean forsaking traditional photographic ethics.
  9. AI-powered image manipulation can be a powerful tool when used correctly and responsibly.
  10. The future of wildlife photography could see an increased blend of technology and traditional techniques.

Well, that’s all for now, folks! Thanks for fluttering by and taking a gander at my musings on AI in wildlife photography.

Remember to fly back soon for more feathered tales and tips from behind the lens.

Don’t forget to bookmark my site – you wouldn’t want to miss any of my future flights of fancy! Safe landings until next time!

Twiggy the Hedgehog