19 June 2023
Exploring Uncharted Realities with Tom Blachford
Striding into a revolutionary convergence of technology and artistry, renowned architectural photographer Tom Blachford, based in Naarm (Melbourne), is transforming his creative practice by incorporating Artificial Intelligence (AI) into his work.
Tom opens up about his venture into the realm of AI imagery, expressing a mix of enthusiasm and apprehension over this emerging facet of image making. His reflections shed light on the shifting paradigms of traditional photography and raise important ethical questions surrounding AI usage. In the midst of these sweeping changes, Tom's insights offer a fascinating preview of the future of this rapidly evolving sector.
Embodying his adventurous spirit and eagerness to harness technology, Tom says, "Photography has always maintained a deep-rooted connection with technology and advancement... I felt a compelling need to broaden my practice beyond the confines of conventional photography to document existing environments."
In Tom's view, the introduction of AI image-making symbolises "a quantum, exponential leap," eradicating long-standing obstacles such as budget, time, and technical expertise. "The focus now shifts towards ideas and aesthetics and the proficiency with which you can convey them using this novel tool." His method of employing this new form of creation, commonly labelled as 'post-photography' or 'synthography,' signals his aspiration to delve into creative concepts that would typically be intricate and expensive to implement through traditional means.
"It's a quantum, exponential leap unlike anything we have ever experienced. The bounds of reality, budget, time, skill are all removed. It's now just about ideas and aesthetics and how well you can communicate them using this new tool."
One of the striking aspects of Tom Blachford's work is his ability to merge distinctly different themes into cohesive and visually stunning narratives.
A testament to this ability is his recent series, "Enjoy the Wine, Everything is Fine," which presents a poignant juxtaposition of ordinary human activities amid apocalyptic backdrops. Tom uses AI imagery to place scenes of people dining and sipping wine in a European summer against the terrifying spectacle of nuclear explosions. The series challenges viewers to confront the fragility of human existence while maintaining a haunting, yet beautiful aesthetic.
In another series, "Slender O-Kenoshi," Tom's creative application of AI offers an unexpected perspective on Darth Vader, revealing a unique glimpse into a character known for his fearsome and domineering persona. The work does not shy away from illustrating the infamous ruler's brutal nature but, in a testament to Tom's creativity, it also reveals a softer side, thereby challenging our preconceptions.
Tom's AI work takes a different turn in the series "Jetsetting Through The Uncanny Valley". Here, he uses Mid Journey to create vintage lifestyle images that echo the extravagance of the rich and famous during that period. However, the apparent glamour of the series is marred by an undercurrent of eeriness as closer inspection of the images reveals mangled faces, extra limbs, and awkward interactions.
The images embody the concept of the uncanny valley, as first proposed by Masahiro Mori in 1970. This theory describes the unsettling feelings experienced when viewing humanoid or artificial human-like figures. As Tom himself puts it, he intentionally selects the most warped and uncomfortable images to see how far into the uncanny valley he can venture.
"Companies who used to spend $300k+ to cast some strangers to look like friends drinking beer on a remote beach at the perfect golden hour will be seriously questioning the need to take those risks for that price. This is tragic for the huge teams that used to pull this together but can you blame them?"
Looking to the future, Tom believes that AI will revolutionise photography, pointing to Adobe's recent release of generative fill in their beta version as an example, noting that this technology has already sparked debates about the potential demise of traditional photography and retouching.
Tom elaborates, "Companies who used to spend $300k+ to cast strangers to look like friends drinking beer on a remote beach at the perfect golden hour will be seriously questioning the need to take those risks for that price. This is tragic for the huge teams that used to pull this together, but can you blame them?"
However, Blachford is also aware that this innovation presents challenges. He acknowledges that the rise of AI could impact his architectural photography practice and foresees a possible shift towards AI-generated renders as they become more cost-effective. While he is concerned about resolution limitations in AI-generated imagery, he optimistically adds, "This resolution issue should be solved in time... I wouldn't be surprised if we have 100-megapixel files within 5 years."
Framing the future landscape of his industry, Tom says, "It's going to be a wild ride for us all. I think the gatekeepers of my industry are the magazine editors and awards judges. If they're happy to publish AI content and allow it to win awards, the moat around us will dry up very quickly."
Despite these challenges, Tom remains an advocate for AI, emphasising the potential it holds for creativity. His work serves as a testament to its potential for creating unique content. However, he notes that current AI tools lack a refinement process and require a large output of images to achieve perfection. He shares, "It's a numbers game of spitting out a huge amount of images, and if it isn't perfect, throw it out and start again."
For aspiring photographers looking to dabble in AI imagery, Tom recommends Mid Journey as a starting tool. He advises them to keep prompts simple, read the documentation thoroughly, and follow their instincts. Tom shares, "Also rely on your instinct, keep refining your tastes and enjoy the ability to create impossible things."
Tom Blachford's journey into the realm of AI imagery signifies a transformative moment in photography, challenging our understanding of the line between reality and the imagined.
As he continues to weave intricate narratives through his unique images, he equally emphasises the importance of ethical considerations in the swiftly progressing field of AI. For Tom, the essence of his work lies not only in embracing new technologies but also in ensuring their conscientious usage, reflecting the belief that advancements should complement, not compromise, the human experience.
He shares, "I am 100% in agreement with the calls to halt the further development of all AI models until an oversight body can be established and the ethical issues that are arising can be understood and managed properly. There is a very good chance that if we botch the rollout of this amazing technology, it could spell the end of us all. In the meantime, I'm going to keep making cool pictures."
