Throughout its history, photography has continually transformed—moving from film-based techniques to digital methods and, more recently, AI-generated imagery. In this article, we explore three viewpoints on what photography is and how it continues to evolve.
From Light-Sensitive Film to Digital Sensors
Photography—coined nearly two centuries ago—literally means capturing light on a light-sensitive medium. Originally, this involved a chemical process on film. Although film photography is experiencing a revival, modern photography is largely digital.
In simple technical terms, photography is the act of recording images by directing light (or other electromagnetic radiation) onto a sensor or film. A straightforward definition might be: “Photography is the process of capturing light to record images.”
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Photography is more than simply reproducing physical reality through light. From a media-theory perspective, it can document our world or create imaginative, artistic visions. It’s also a communication tool for expressing emotion and telling stories—always blending technique, art, and communication. A single picture conveys more than a thousand words, sparking debates and shaping perspectives. Whether analogue, digital, or AI-driven, each photographic approach offers a unique message in today’s image-saturated society.
Diverse Visual Worlds
A purportedly “untouched” photo can convey authenticity. Photographers like Ansel Adams or Henri Cartier-Bresson aimed to present images straight from the camera, believing in a pure form of the medium. Their works were intended to reflect exactly what the lens and film saw at a specific moment, purporting to show reality with minimal alteration.
Yet reality doesn’t always match a photographer’s ideals. Here, digital photography’s editing tools have been revolutionary. Not only can photographers shoot more swiftly and precisely, but they can also correct colours, highlight details, or even alter entire scenes via software. This flexibility allows photographers to perfect the initial scene or even craft something brand new. Artists such as David LaChapelle and Andreas Gursky use digital techniques to elevate their work beyond simple improvement, bringing their creative visions to life.
AI’s Influence
Over the past two years, artificial intelligence has also transformed photography in many ways. Tools like Midjourney or DALL-E don’t merely edit photos—they can generate entirely new imagery. These AI-created visuals may not exist in reality but draw upon vast datasets of real-world images. At times, they’re virtually indistinguishable from genuine photos, opening a new realm of artistic possibility and creativity. Yet this raises ethical questions: Where is the essence of a photo if it’s not from the physical world?
What Exactly Is Photography?
Definition and Interpretation
When we ponder “What makes a photo a photo?” the lines can get philosophical. Is it technical perfection, artistic statement, or the authenticity of the moment? Photography’s definition has broadened and diversified. It is no longer just “capturing light” but involves interpretation and manipulation of what’s captured.
In short, photography is a medium that documents reality, reinterprets it, or invents new worlds. The chosen method shapes each image’s meaning and power. In our visually saturated culture, photography remains a forceful language—whether pure, edited, or algorithmically generated—each image narrating its own story.
Below, three photographers offer their perspectives on “What is photography?”
The Magic of the Moment
Landscape Photographer: Mark Robertz
Mark Robertz focuses on landscapes in all their natural and cultivated forms, perceiving them both as artworks of nature and reflections of human culture. To him, the landscape can serve as a “resonance chamber of the soul,” mirroring one’s inner condition.
Robertz believes photography transcends capturing moments; it’s a means of communication and an art form, enabling others to share in experiences and moods. He calls it a mindful process that demands calm, focus, and passion.
Is “Straight out of the Camera” More Authentic?
Unedited photos aren’t automatically more valuable, Robertz says; it depends on the context. Fine-art photographers have different standards from press photographers. In photojournalism, an unaltered, additive-free image is paramount. Authenticity remains vital for credible reporting. Elsewhere, he questions whether an untouched image is necessarily more authentic. Camera technology can’t fully replicate the photographer’s perception, so truly capturing “the moment” often calls for considered adjustments to convey intended feelings.
The Photographer’s Role
For Robertz, photography starts with visualisation: “I only pick up the camera when I have a clear picture in mind.” The photographer chooses composition, exposure, and more. While editing can modify or enhance reality, it’s the creative spark in the photographer’s mind that matters most.
He believes “experiencing” the shoot is fundamental: standing in the cold or slogging through wet sand. The active engagement with a landscape shapes the final image and the photographer, each outing contributing to one’s growth and understanding.
Digital Editing and Its Pitfalls
Robertz recognises that heavy editing can be problematic if it undermines a photo’s credibility:
“If I know a location well and see images that promise a feeling or a landscape that isn’t really there, it feels inauthentic.”
He’s convinced AI will further complicate ideas of reality, cautioning that “in the worst case, we lose our connection to the real world.” Ultimately, he sees photography as a blend of on-location experience, creativity, and technique:
“By heading outdoors, we collect not only pictures but experiences and knowledge.”
The Art of Enhancement
Professional Photographer: Ronny Behnert
Ronny Behnert has spent more than 17 years specialising in travel, architecture, and landscape photography. In 2010, he founded his project Håggard Photography to explore the limits of the medium. While he does photograph real places—from Mont-Saint-Michel to Lisbon’s Ponte 25 de Abril—Behnert’s pictures are meticulously staged, presenting a timeless interpretation of reality.
Constant Progress
Behnert notes how film’s evolution into digital made photography more accessible to all. The instant review and editing offered by digital technology drastically changed creative workflows:
Crafting the Authentic Look
The lines between optimisation and manipulation can blur. Yet Behnert distinguishes authenticity by whether a final image evokes the essential atmosphere he experienced. If edits insert entire elements that didn’t exist, that’s crossing into questionable territory. For him, authenticity reflects sincerity of mood, lighting, and detail, not necessarily the absence of post-processing.
Consequently, he aims for a balanced approach: capture carefully, edit thoughtfully, and preserve the core emotion. Digital editing is “a modern necessity, but mainly to accentuate reality and achieve the image’s full potential.”
The AI Factor
Designer, Photographer, and AI Artist: Roope Rainisto
Finnish creative Roope Rainisto has extensive background designing smartphones for Nokia. He now explores AI’s creative possibilities, working with cutting-edge tools introduced around 2021. Rainisto believes AI is reshaping how we produce images and, indeed, how we understand photography.
Boundless Creativity
AI image generators can spawn new and unexpected visuals quickly. Rainisto notes their speed and flexibility, allowing artists to create concepts in minutes that would take days to shoot in person. Yet the photographer’s imagination remains key:
Challenges and Ethics
AI also raises concerns—mass image fakery, authenticity, and copyright. Rainisto’s “Atlantic City” series demonstrates how AI can seamlessly mimic documentary-style photography, to the point of being almost indistinguishable from real photos without extra context. He predicts people may eventually become more discerning, but it requires honesty about the technology’s capabilities.
Rainisto thinks AI will complement rather than replace conventional photography, possibly heightening interest in authentic on-location experiences. Meanwhile, AI stands as an innovative creative tool that can expand our definition of photographic art. The future will hinge on how we merge technology with artistic integrity.
Photography Between Tradition and Innovation
Each photographic method—analogue, digital, or AI-driven—has distinct advantages and limitations. Which path a photographer chooses ultimately depends on their personal vision and requirements.
Technology has travelled a long road, from film-based photography to digital sensors and now to AI-generated art. Landscape photographer Mark Robertz underscores authenticity and real engagement with nature, seeing the camera purely as an extension of the photographer’s creativity. Meanwhile, Ronny Behnert emphasises the benefits of digital tools to refine images while retaining their core essence. Lastly, Roope Rainisto explores how AI extends photography’s boundaries, delivering astonishing creative scope but also posing moral and philosophical challenges.
Ultimately, each image—pure, retouched, or generated—relates a narrative. The task for photographers is to harness whichever tools and methods best align with their own imaginative goals. As photography’s future unfolds, the balance between technological advancement and genuine creative honesty will remain at its heart.