I’ve realized that whenever I post it’s almost always to complain… but I’m right, damn it. 😅

Last December, I wrote a post where I ranted about the overuse of dramatic filters, tight framing, and the ultra-shallow depth of field than leaves only one eye of a person’s face in focus. My issue back then was that the effect ended up overshadowing the story. And, unfortunately, it was a technique I saw everywhere from influencers to pseudo-experts on social media.

Well, now I realized there’s another problem with that aesthetic. AI learned to create photos by training on the very images we’ve long considered “professional”, smooth skin, studio lighting, dramatic colors, telephoto compression, and backgrounds dissolved into perfect bokeh. So now this aesthetic is the default look of a fabricated image.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I like bokeh. I also like good film simulations which is why I shoot with Fujis. The problem arises when these tools stop being choices and start becoming credentials kinda. Blurred background? Professional. Lifted shadows and greenish blacks? Cinematic. Grain? Analog. Vignette? Tormented artist. And the whole package? Probably AI.

Maybe the time has come to return to imperfect photos… and to prioritize the captured moment over the technique.