Artificial intelligence (A.I.) is all the rage nowadays.  Many people and businesses are finding ways to incorporate it into their lives and processes.  We already have A.I. writing programming code and journalism articles (with varying levels of success).  What more will A.I. invade?  How about photography critiquing?  That’s a new one which I discovered recently.  So, here’s what happens when A.I. critiques one of my photos.

The Announcement

Recently, I found an email in my inbox from Viewbug telling me about an “opportunity,” if you will.  It was the chance to receive feedback on one of my photos.  Here’s the text of the email.  It’s a bit vague, as you can see.  But there are hints of this being an A.I. critique if you read closely.

Hello cramerimaging,

We are thrilled to introduce our latest innovation in the tools available for the community, designed exclusively for passionate photographers like you.

Get immediate insights into your photos: Capture the moment and get instant feedback on the composition, lighting, and more. 👀

Our intuitive design ensures a seamless experience, whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned pro.  This tool will be a game-changer in your photography journey, empowering you to grow and capture the perfect shot every time.

You’ve unlocked a one-time chance to try out this Premium release for free!

I also found an invitation in my notifications.  Here’s that text.

You’ve unlocked a one-time chance to experience our NEW “Photo Feedback” Premium release for FREE!  Gain instant insights into your photos, including composition, framing, settings, and lighting.  Don’t miss out – give it a try now!

Intrigued, I took this chance.  After all, what did I have to lose?  A bit of dignity, perhaps?  The next challenge was to decide what photo I wanted feedback on.  I elected to go with something I knew was good.  “Cannonville Rainbow” is a popular seller for me.  I hear lots of praise frequently from the lips of costumers.  It also received several awards on Viewbug.  So, I know it’s good.  It would do well for such a test.

The Relevant Metadata and Situational Details

As it becomes relevant in the feedback, here’s some of the metadata which I stripped out of my upload to Viewbug.  I shot this photo at 1/15 sec at f/5.6 with ISO 100.  It was handheld and taken at sunset (golden hour) in the summer.  I keep a polarizing filter on all of my common use lenses, including the lens I used here.  Also, here’s a graphic overlay of the rule of thirds over the top of Cannonville Rainbow.  This information should answer a few questions which the feedback below might raise.

The A.I. Critique

I clicked on the link and went to a page where I could select my photo.  Next, I made my selection and clicked the continue button.  Then I was greeted by a countdown screen with a swirling loading symbol.  My feedback arrived in less than 12 seconds.  That surprised me.  I wasn’t expecting such a prompt reply (though perhaps I should have from the “immediate insight” and “instant feedback” lines in the email).  From this and the wall of text which followed, it became apparent that my feedback came from A.I.  Reading through the feedback convinced me that this was indeed the case.  Here’s what it said.

📸 To enhance this photo, consider adjusting the composition to follow the rule of thirds more closely, perhaps by positioning the horizon along one of the horizontal third lines, rather than in the middle of the frame.  This could give a more balanced prominence to either the dramatic sky or the textured landscape, depending on which element you find more captivating.  Additionally, experimenting with different exposures or using graduated filters could help to manage the wide dynamic range and draw more attention to the vibrant colors in the sky or the intricate details in the landscape.

🚀 What settings would be on camera
Given the low light conditions apparent in the sky, a tripod would be essential to avoid camera shake.  Settings might include a low ISO (around 100) to ensure minimal noise, and a small aperture (f/8 to f/16) to maximize depth of field and keep the entire scene in sharp focus.  A longer exposure might be necessary to correctly expose for the foreground, but be careful to not overexpose the sky; bracketing exposures could be useful in this scenario to later blend in post-processing.

😎 Ideas on how to take it differently
Taking this photo at a different time of day could yield significantly different light and a variety of moods.  Capturing the golden hour just after sunrise or before sunset might add warm tones and longer, more dramatic shadows.  Including a point of interest, such as a leading line or a notable geological feature, could give a stronger focal point to the composition.  Also, using a polarizing filter could enhance the colors in the sky and control reflections, possibly giving the clouds more definition and contrast against the colored light.

My Thoughts

Wow!  Just wow!  That’s all I could think of for a minute or so.  I read and reread this feedback looking for useful points.  I won’t break things down point by point, but I didn’t find anything useful in this feedback.  What I did read is advice which works well for beginner and amateur photographers.  There are many such photographers on Viewbug who pay for the premium and pro levels of membership.  However, there are plenty of other photographers who are professional caliber (either actual pros or just highly skilled and experienced photographers) who also pay for premium and pro levels of membership on Viewbug.  This feedback is about as useless to them as it is to me.

I must say that if these obviously A.I. critiques are a premium or pro feature, then it’s not worth the money to me to upgrade my membership just for this (there are other membership benefits locked behind this same paywall).  Artificial intelligence (A.I.) might be in vogue right now, but it obviously has a long way to go when it comes to photography critiques.  A “game changer in my photography journey” it is not, at least as yet.

Conclusion

So, I find I have no use for A.I. photography critiques in their current incarnation.  Perhaps things will change as others continue to train A.I.  Perhaps it will fall out of fashion and become abandoned.  Who can say as yet?  Still, this A.I. critique at least gave me an interesting anecdote to write about.  Now I turn things over to you, reader.  What do you think of this A.I. photo critique?  Do you think A.I. photography critiques will improve with time?  Is this current incarnation worth your money?  Please leave your thoughts in the comments section below.