To AI or Not to AI

Photography Discussion Editing
1

I was going to post this as a reply to another thread, but I did not want to share this critique of the current state of ‘photography’ in a specific conversation that celebrates a fine artist.
So I decided to keep it isolated here.

I have always thought that this creator was (and still is) one of the best still photographers to bring life to our stationary companions. For years I have marveled at their masterful use of light and shadow, and the exquisite detail they capture in each shot!

Recently, AI created ‘videos’ of the beauties they photograph talking to me is what I’ve seen on their ‘socials’. I’m sure those videos get more views and expands the reach of the doll manufacturer and the creator’s fine works, however, I can’t help but feel we keep losing ‘pure’ artist to this exciting and fun technical development.

Their fine still works previously had ‘spoken’ for themselves. It really was a collection where dolls came to life. Now, with these videos popping up everywhere, it has a vastly different meaning for me.

Now, I can’t help but be suspicious of the authenticity of future creations by one of my most cherished role models. Are they using AI to create the original still photography, or create additional poses, or to perfect composition? I’ll never know now.

For me, I tried FaceApp ONCE and it gave me the creeps.

I will play with contrast, brightness, saturation, vignette, clarity, and many other tweaks in post. I may even use my favourite app to adjust small makeup details like lip colour or eye shadow tint. But beyond that, I want my photography to be as authentic as possible. Even if that means my girl’s eyes are crossed or looking all askew, or her wig is so far back on her head that the photos are unusable.

Maybe it is just me, but I’m not going to create a picture or a video that is not representative of the girls I share my life with. My girls are not replacing real life women, so I don’t expect them to interact like a human.

But as I have learned through many conversations with the fine people on this board, we are all different and have unique needs, desires, perspectives, and motivations. And that is a good thing.

Thanks for the space to rant a little.

8 Likes
2

For me it’s a definite “NOT” :winking_face_with_tongue: :grin:

9 Likes
3

Personally, I hate seeing AI in doll forums. I’m on doll forums to see real dolls, I don’t want to see fakery. If I want to see AI generated art (I’m not anti AI, I think there is a place for it) there’s loads of other websites I can go to.

Also, I think if we are presenting a doll on a doll forum, we have to be responsible not to misrepresent dolls for newbies looking to buy a doll.

I don’t mind subtle AI smiles on dolls but never use it myself. But a doll with a big fake smile plastered on her face, I do also find creepy.

Sometimes I think people use AI on their doll photos because they are not happy with the look of their dolls in reality. I love my dolls just the way they are, no AI needed :clinking_beer_mugs:.

7 Likes
4

I’ve tried some as I saw people here using it but no, ai is not for me.

6 Likes
5

There’s a reason I now refer to MICROS~1 as Microslop :grin:

Seriously, background removal when making composites and similar work is for me reasonable as you’re just using the AI like any other tool; but adding or modifying things, ick, just NO, not for normal doll pics.

There is scope for AI in creativity, especially if making a composite background (as long as the doll is real), but even then it’s not my thing and I’d prefer AI to be a separate subforum.

6 Likes
6

I won’t even get started, nobody hates ai more than I do.

Some of us work very hard to get it right before we even press the shutter and you get it right you don’t need ai

For any photographers that strive to make beautiful photos it’s like cheating in solitaire

6 Likes
7

I think AI has value for things like creating custom skin tone or makeup concepts prior to ordering etc. If someone wants to use AI in their photos for fun, sure. I do not agree with manufacturers using AI enhanced photos for promo, that is deceptive imo.

6 Likes
8

I use GIMP to remove backgrounds when needed. For me that’s faster than trying to explain to some artificial idiot what I want and what I don’t want.

5 Likes
9

“I do not agree with manufacturers using AI enhanced photos for promo, that is deceptive imo.”

Well, that’s SY Doll screwed then :winking_face_with_tongue:

7 Likes
10

Personally I try to get it right when taking the photo. This is a lot of effort and I feel it is very rewarding. Using AI feels a little like cheating or a different kind of art. With my dolls I love them for what they are and I love to show them as they are.
However using Lightroom and removing stray hair or other minor edits is using AI. This is okay for me. But where is the red line crossed when it is too much? Definitely when manufacturers use AI to enhance their product photos.

9 Likes
11

So many great responses.

I’m happy to see such passion for authentic photography and capturing our girls (and boys) in their natural beauty.

:smiling_face_with_three_hearts:

3 Likes
12

For me its all about the camera but thats probably cos i hate computers. I guess im still an old school 70s kid. I used to love making models then kitbashing 1/6 figures. Built a couple of custom bikes and now i love making 3d printed costumes and accessories for my smart dolls, yea they were designed by someones computer but definitely not mine lol. But then i spend hours painting them and modifying them so ive always loved doin stuff with my hands and its the same with photography. It will only die to AI if we let it. There’s some really cool pics that were AI generated but being able to sit back and say “i did that!” Is so much more satisfying to me. Times are changing but im happy living in the past lol

2 Likes
13

I love what AI can do to a doll or picture of a doll, I am all for anything that makes our dolls appear more alive, kudos to AI, it can only get better. Imagine your doll alive with you wearing 3D glasses or an implant in your brain making her respond to your every action. Creepy for some, nirvana for me!

4 Likes
14

i aggree that AI posts by manufacturers can be seen as misleading and i think every piece of media made with AI must be publically acknowledged as such. that being said i dont have a problem using it privately to see how a new outfit might look on my doll or animating her to look at viewer get a lil closer and do a teasy seductive dance or bounce lewdly. of course i have to add to the prompt that it is a doll and not to change the expression that much or at all otherwise theyll treat it like a real person and mess up its soul but when a rolled eyes aheago gen comes out clean with a grabby titty bounce and gyrating hip straddle riding motion then dat shits pretty cash money, ill tell u hwat.

i used to use openaiart but thats done with now. tried grok but thats almost done with, nearly ded. now im barely using tensorart, its got LTX2 with some decent porn loras, can even talk now if u want it too. luckily everything is free for me but the things you can gen on a personal rig these days, ooooweeeee….. thatll make u nut to da ceiling and fry ur dopamine receptors.

ai gets a lot of hate but one day we might be able to put on vr headset that animates your dolls face in real time while ur fukn it for dat lil boost of added immersion and i think thats pretty cool

3 Likes
15

Art is subjective.

What one person likes, another may not. We all have different skill levels or even reasons for being here on any doll forum. I feel that as long as it remains about the dolls, then still photo’s can exist with Ai.

I’m in absolute aw of the professional photography I’ve seen of peoples dolls and it is certainly a craft to be proud of. I’m no photographer by any means and I use my cell phone to take pictures, my skills are in story telling and that is something I like to do with my dolls. In the past, I’ve had to take multiple pics and put together a comic board style pic thread with dialogue typed into it. Now, with Ai, I can turn a pic into a video and have my doll tell the story, which I think is incredible! I admit, I am fully embracing the new technology and I’m a newbie with it who is learning. I personally, will not use any video that changes my dolls physical appearance, I want her to look just as she does in a raw, unedited photo, to the best of Ai’s ability, which does take patience. I can’t speak for everyone, including the manufacturers, but I don’t believe in misrepresentation of my doll. I’ve collaborated with Grok Ai through it’s chat, to create my dolls character, Grok even named her, and what I like most about Grok, is that it keeps the character true to my doll, instead of me telling Ai what to have my doll say in a video, Grok tells me what she would say based on her character and context, that way my doll responds in her character, and not as me talking for her. It takes the story to an unknown place, it’s like free styling, which I enjoy doing with my doll. It’s not for everyone, but those who do enjoy it, appreciate it. I do, and will always appreciate the still photography side of the doll hobby/life, but I just wanted to state why I’m here and support the properly represented Ai stuff and how it can exist in harmony on a doll forum with everyone else’s contributions. :smiling_face:

2 Likes