Many critical photographers have gotten their pitchforks out concerning AI due to the huge arguments about how AI models are trained; at worst, it’s copyright theft on a mass scale and at greatest… properly let’s save that dialogue for an additional day.
Having learn among the dialogue on how photographers would be losing out thanks to AI image generation, it received me serious about how photographers might flip the tables and profit from AI, with out picture creation or modifying being a part of the equation.
Desirous to get the absolute best data, I sat down and talked with an professional, Claude.ai.
‘Apart from picture era, manipulation and modifying, what are among the ways in which AI can profit photographers?’
I already knew the type of solutions I might count on and so wasn’t shocked when ‘Write mannequin releases and different paperwork’ and ‘Write social media captions for pictures’ had been amongst the replies. Nevertheless, one suggestion caught my consideration sufficient to research it additional.
‘Create detailed location scouting stories combining climate, lighting, and timing knowledge’
This was one thing so apparent, however that I had by no means thought-about. I had seen quite a few articles about how people were asking AI to suggest their next holiday location based mostly on their calls for, and even to then make an itinerary for them, but it surely had by no means occurred to me that the identical may very well be performed for pictures.
DIshing out recommendation
Intrigued I requested,
‘What issues would you make when you had been a photographer wanting to go to a location to take pictures at the absolute best time? I need you to consider the wants of a panorama or journey photographer?’ (The irony isn’t misplaced on me that AI might have phrased that query loads higher).
The listing of issues that I received again was complete; it had seemingly considered all the pieces. I’ll spare you the written response and put it as a picture, in any other case I’ll go means over the phrase rely for this text. Nevertheless, it lined all the pieces you count on reminiscent of solar place, dawn and sundown occasions, typical climate and so forth, however impressively included native climate phenomena, migration patterns of wildlife, flowering/ foliage season for vegetation, tide schedules, vacationer peak seasons, non secular and cultural ceremonies, highway circumstances, avalanche dangers… the listing went on and on.
So I believed I’d check its information by asking what the most effective time of 12 months is to go to someplace on most photographer’s bucket listing of locations – Jökulsarlon in Iceland. Having visited there myself, I’ve some information of the placement and was to see it’s response.
‘Late August, particularly round 4:30-5:30am’
That wasn’t the top, after all Claude.ai defined its findings with 26 completely different causes. Leaving apart the climate issues, among the many most fascinating causes had been that vacationer crowds could be decrease, roads could be totally accessible, there could be the potential for dawn and aurora inside the similar capturing session, birds and seals could be lively within the space, and August has good ice circulation from the glacier.
Nevertheless, I wasn’t happy. I needed an precise date and time for the 12 months 2025.
‘I calculate that August twenty third, 2025 at 4:45 AM because the optimum time, and right here’s why:’
Once more, there was an enormous listing of explanations, together with all these talked about above. It even talked about that the low tide within the morning was higher to {photograph} the ice formations on the close by Diamond Seaside. It additionally talked about that the ‘Pre-weekend timing means fewer early-morning photographers’, however this wasn’t fairly proper.
AI isn’t infallible. As a language mannequin it’s mainly phrases and making a calculation as to what phrase comes subsequent. It transpires that while the data was all usually right, and logically sound, among the specifcs had been off. First off, August twenty third subsequent 12 months is a Saturday, so it may well’t be ‘pre-weekend’. It additionally mentioned that dawn could be at 5:39 AM, which is shut, however is definitely 5:21 AM. Additionally, it prompt that the moon section could be within the first quarter, however that day subsequent 12 months is definitely a brand new moon, so while technically it’s within the first quarter, it is going to be barely seen, which is able to truly make it nice for astrophotography. The common temperature it prompt as 9°C (48°F) was correct, as was the suggestion the possibility of rain could be lower than in September. The suggestion that the tide could be low was additionally cheap, given the precise low level will probably be 7:57.
All the extra logical stuff was properly thought out; it could nonetheless be in the summertime journey season really easy to get to Iceland and get round, nonetheless, the season could be dying down, and the lagoon loads quieter at the moment of the morning earlier than the tour buses begin to arrive at round 8am. This additionally means the automotive park will quiet. It additionally mentioned that it could permit photographers to seize the primary mild on the icebergs and seize a number of compositions as the sunshine modifications throughout dawn.
Claude AI vs ChatGPT
For steadiness, I additionally did the identical experiment with ChatGPT. It gave me a distinct date,
‘A fantastic date and time to go to Jökulsárlón in 2025 could be Thursday, March 27, 2025.’
It gave me much less reasoning to do with logistics and concentrated purely on pictures and a schedule it suggests ‘…favorable circumstances with a balanced partial moon, optimum aurora visibility, and manageable climate for winter pictures.’
Again over at Claude AI, I corrected it on its errors and it revised the prompt date to 4:00 AM on Thursday twenty first 2025. I then requested it for an itinerary, which you’ll be able to see on the finish of this text.
Though the data I used to be given wasn’t excellent, it was shut sufficient, and extra importantly, so was the rationale behind its ‘considering’. We would not be fairly there but by way of with the ability to rely 100% on AI, however as AI good points extra entry to API’s and related web sites, we’re in all probability lower than a 12 months away from with the ability to merely ask the most effective time to take pictures and have accurate live data being pulled in. Particularly as you may prepare AI to know your preferences for climate, lighting and places.
I’ve already begun utilizing AI to assist me plan the most effective time of 12 months to take sure images right here within the UK, and while I’ve come throughout a couple of inaccuracies, it has additionally opened my eyes to issues that I have never even thought-about when visiting a location.
Planning a pictures journey won’t ever be the identical once more.
The Itinerary:
Here is an in depth itinerary for photographing Jökulsárlón on Thursday, August twenty first, 2025:
4:00 AM – Departure
Depart from close by lodging (suggest staying in Höfn or nearer)
Climate and aurora verify earlier than departure
Gear verify together with further batteries (morning temps round 8°C/46°F)
4:30 AM – Arrival & Preliminary Setup
Park in fundamental lot whereas darkish
Fast scout of lagoon circumstances and ice positions
Setup major digicam for darkish sky/aurora if circumstances allow
Examine tide occasions for Diamond Seaside entry
4:30-4:45 AM – Darkish Sky Pictures
Give attention to any aurora or star reflections in lagoon
Use greater ISOs whereas darkish (doubtless 3200-6400)
Think about mild portray some foreground icebergs
4:45-5:00 AM – Pre-Daybreak Blue Hour
Shift to lagoon compositions
Start longer exposures of water motion
Search for ice formations catching first mild
Think about panoramic sequences
5:00-5:21 AM – Civil Twilight
Transfer to pre-scouted major composition
Seize ice colours rising
Look ahead to wildlife (seals, birds)
Think about grad ND filters as mild will increase
5:21-5:45 AM – Dawn
Seize direct mild on ice
Transfer to secondary compositions
Give attention to backlighting by ice
Look ahead to mild beams by ice buildings
5:45-6:15 AM – Early Morning Mild
Fast transfer to Diamond Seaside
Seize ice on black sand with early mild
Work with wave actions round ice
Think about each broad and telephoto compositions
6:15-7:00 AM – Golden Hour
Return to lagoon for various mild angle
Seize reflections in calmer water
Element pictures of ice textures in good mild
Closing wider compositions with established mild
7:00 AM – Wrap Up
Closing pictures earlier than vacationer arrival
Think about staying for various mild if circumstances distinctive
Head to breakfast whereas reviewing pictures
Key gear issues for this timeline:
Broad angle (16-35mm equal) for darkish sky
Mid-range zoom (24-70mm) for fundamental compositions
Telephoto (70-200mm) for ice particulars
Sturdy tripod for lengthy exposures
ND and polarizing filters
Waterproof boots for seaside work
Headlamp with purple mild possibility
Climate safety for gear
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