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Two professional photographers having independently selected the exact same frame from two different bursts they captured with their cameras is an interesting i

Two professional photographers having independently selected the exact same frame from two different bursts they captured with their cameras is an interesting instance, illustrating the pro-AI argument in photography and possibly adjacent creative domains. Grossly simplified, two humans went through dozens or hundreds of shots with identical internal “algorithm” and did the same work twice. This shows that the algorithm can be “abstracted away”, and the work can be done for them by the machine. I can roughly see the counter-argument to be made, considering true creative self-expression and art losing value as its hardest aspect becomes optional (“natural selection” of produced work via artist’s taste)—but it’s hard to argue, in the light of this example, that professionals would find such a tool indispensable.

gjulianm 9y ago
Sorry but I do not agree at all. First, the fact that they chose the same photo might not necessarily mean that photo is the "optimal choice" according to some algorithm: it can perfectly be a coincidence. I find it even more improbable that a tool that selects "the best photo of a bunch" is useful for a significant portion of the photographers (as in "it gives results according to their tastes") unless it takes into account only basic measures and they can use it in specific instances (e.g. find the photo with the best light exposure).
- thaumasiotes 9y ago
  > First, the fact that they chose the same photo might not necessarily mean that photo is the "optimal choice" according to some algorithm: it can perfectly be a coincidence. Well, obviously it does mean that; the photo was the optimal choice according to the two algorithms used by those photographers to choose their picture. Does that mean it would also be selected by another equally good or superior algorithm? No. But it does necessarily mean that the photo is the optimal choice according to two algorithms.
  - ada1981 9y ago
    The algorithm could simply be "randomly select an image from all the burst frames."
    - thaumasiotes 9y ago
      True, but the image in question would trivially be optimal according to that algorithm, as it considers all images equal. If all images are equal, there is no image better than this image.
y7 9y ago
That there is one instance of two photographers choosing the same "best photo" does not show anything general. And even if there were some universal consensus for "best photos", whether machines can do it is an entirely different question.
exodust 9y ago
A simple explanation for the image selection match might be that the wave is at its highest point in the chosen image. At this lighthouse location, photographers are looking for that shot.. they wait for the wave, then shoot. There might only be a handful of images in the burst that qualify - perhaps less than 10, so the coincidence is not that amazing. It's cool, but not "scary freaky" coincidental. Now if they were using a single shot camera, that would be more amazing.
gkya 9y ago
These aren't the exact same frame at all. They are photoes of the same thing, that's certainly true, but the photoes are quite different. Risman's photo is way more dramatic and moving with all that contrast, bright, defined colours, and dark shadows. Gendron's instead looks quite composed, with pastel colours and less distinguishing details, and has more of a quiet grandeur to it. They'd hardly pick the same photo from their bursts if it was not for the big wave that struck the lighthouse. Artistic expression includes the selection of the scene, but also more. It's in the way the cameras were set up, the photoes were post-processed, the way accents were decided, and how the photoes are perceived now that we are seeing them.

gjulianm 9y ago

Sorry but I do not agree at all. First, the fact that they chose the same photo might not necessarily mean that photo is the "optimal choice" according to some algorithm: it can perfectly be a coincidence. I find it even more improbable that a tool that selects "the best photo of a bunch" is useful for a significant portion of the photographers (as in "it gives results according to their tastes") unless it takes into account only basic measures and they can use it in specific instances (e.g. find the photo with the best light exposure).

thaumasiotes 9y ago
> First, the fact that they chose the same photo might not necessarily mean that photo is the "optimal choice" according to some algorithm: it can perfectly be a coincidence. Well, obviously it does mean that; the photo was the optimal choice according to the two algorithms used by those photographers to choose their picture. Does that mean it would also be selected by another equally good or superior algorithm? No. But it does necessarily mean that the photo is the optimal choice according to two algorithms.
- ada1981 9y ago
  The algorithm could simply be "randomly select an image from all the burst frames."
  - thaumasiotes 9y ago
    True, but the image in question would trivially be optimal according to that algorithm, as it considers all images equal. If all images are equal, there is no image better than this image.

y7 9y ago

That there is one instance of two photographers choosing the same "best photo" does not show anything general. And even if there were some universal consensus for "best photos", whether machines can do it is an entirely different question.

exodust 9y ago

A simple explanation for the image selection match might be that the wave is at its highest point in the chosen image. At this lighthouse location, photographers are looking for that shot.. they wait for the wave, then shoot. There might only be a handful of images in the burst that qualify - perhaps less than 10, so the coincidence is not that amazing. It's cool, but not "scary freaky" coincidental. Now if they were using a single shot camera, that would be more amazing.

gkya 9y ago

These aren't the exact same frame at all. They are photoes of the same thing, that's certainly true, but the photoes are quite different. Risman's photo is way more dramatic and moving with all that contrast, bright, defined colours, and dark shadows. Gendron's instead looks quite composed, with pastel colours and less distinguishing details, and has more of a quiet grandeur to it. They'd hardly pick the same photo from their bursts if it was not for the big wave that struck the lighthouse. Artistic expression includes the selection of the scene, but also more. It's in the way the cameras were set up, the photoes were post-processed, the way accents were decided, and how the photoes are perceived now that we are seeing them.