Photographs Made By An Algorithm Or By A Human?

Photographs Made By An Algorithm Or By A Human?

This post was inspired by working with photographers during my Introduction To Photography Class

The algorithm your camera may use when composing your picture

Because today’s digital cameras have a computer operating system, this operating system allows for fully automatic camera use, fully manual camera use or somewhere in between.

More specifically, the elements of composition that are affected by these algorithms involve focusing, exposure and other functions of our camera.

Automatic modes vs. manual modes

Working our camera in an automatic mode

Whenever we’re working our camera in an automatic mode we’re allowing our camera to control that aspect of our composition. In other words, we’re allowing an algorithm to control that element of composition for us.

Working our camera in a manual mode

Whenever we’re working our camera in a manual mode we control that aspect of our composition. In other words, we’re in full control of that aspect of our composition instead of an algorithm in the camera.

It’s a matter of degree

Always, there’s some aspect of “manual” involvement in our photograph.

Because at the very least we’re ALWAYS involved in the aspect of our composition that deals with framing and content.

So, in the end, its always a matter of degree in terms of our involvement in our composition.

Therefore, the question is; how much of our mind do we use in creating our photograph?