Problems of modern photography. How to fix the photo problems

Problems of modern photography. How to fix the photo problems Navigating the Digital Era: Practical Solutions for Resolving Challenges in Modern Photography

Today's photography is no longer just an amateur or professional hobby, it is a whole world. A world that includes conflicts between cameras and smartphones,

as well as the inevitable influence of neural networks on art. We face many types of problems in taking pictures and we use different types of photo editing software to solve them later.

Choice between cameras and smartphones among beginning photographers?

This is one of the problems with modern photography. Very often we see people forgetting regular cameras in favor of smartphones. I don’t argue that smartphones are convenient and easily accessible, but they cannot replace a real camera with optics, which make it possible to get a picture with a lot of detail.

One of the biggest challenges in photography today is the choice between using traditional cameras and modern camera phones like the Google Pixel. On the one hand, cameras have higher resolution, wider dynamic range, a less noisy sensor and greater ability to manually control shooting parameters. But on the other hand, smartphones also have their advantages.

What do you think about neural networks and their impact on the art of photography?

Neurons? It's just some challenge that photographers have to overcome. If anything, I’m not calling for throwing a computer out the window, covering the

floor with straw, developing photographs for 10 hours in a closet with a red light, and hitting the brainy creators of AI over the head with a stick. Neural networks are often used for photo retouching or full artificial frame generation, but I believe that it is important to be able to distinguish artificial effects from the real creativity of the photographer. In general, the field is developing, the world is changing, you need to look at all this and learn to coexist.

As you know, in recent years one of the most significant changes in the history of photography has occurred. A few years ago, smartphones began to receive more and more advanced cameras, and now they are almost as good as professional cameras.

This fact cannot but raise the question: where is this art direction as a whole heading?

The situation has certainly created conflict as photographers now have to consider the possibility that the photo could be taken by a smartphone. At first glance, it may seem that this fact degrades the quality of photographs, but in fact it rather expands the possibilities of the authors, since their creative circle is greatly expanded for viewers who can look at the work not only on high-quality monitors, but also on smartphone screens. This feature is useful for everyone, including even those who don't even have a camera but want to capture life's unforgettable moments. We're experiencing a boom in photographic technology,

from phone cameras to dedicated cameras and creative editing tools. But there are also problems associated with this development.

One such issue is the impact of AI on the art of photography. The large corporation Samsung, for example, is investing a lot of money in AI research to improve the quality of photos. In 2019, Samsung released a unique camera in the Galaxy S10 and Galaxy S10+ phones, which was equipped with a neural network that allows it to improve photographs of the moon. But not everything is as simple as it might seem.

An example of how neural networks can sometimes process images incorrectly is when a user took a photo with a flashlight in a dark room using maximum zoom. Samsung's camera AI algorithms identified this highlight as the Moon, and began processing the image according to this error. As a result, realistic craters of the moon appeared in the flashlight shot.

Fixing this bug in the program was impossible, and such cases raise the question - how much can we trust technology if we cannot control its actions?

Another example of the problem with modern photography is the unification of style. Thanks to software filters and camera settings, most pictures have a similar processing style, which sometimes makes them monotonous and uninteresting. It is clear that each person has his own individuality, and his view

of the world may differ from others. But when millions of people use the same software, photos can lose their uniqueness.

There's also the other challenge of getting used to the visuals and readily available technology.

People are increasingly forgetting about traditional photography methods such as the film camera or the darkroom process. Thus, the potential artistic possibilities in the art of photography may be doomed to extinction, while new technologies often allow only superficial, “insincere” images to be captured.

There are questions about the art of photography itself, about its meaning and functions in modern culture. It is worth recognizing that photography is not only a recording of moments in life, but also a form of art that sometimes brings new values ​into our lives, saturates it with new meaning and emotions. With the advent of neural networks and algorithmic methods of photography, there is a danger to the original creative process. For many people, the art of photography is something personal that reaches the viewer on a deeper level than just the technical ability to take a high-quality photo.

Therefore, it is necessary to take into account that the development of technology and technology should not become an obstacle to the development of art.

We need to continue to look for new forms and means of expression that will expand the boundaries of photography and interaction with the viewer. Most likely, this evolution will bring new discoveries and opportunities to the world of photography, and, above all, preserve the creative process that is important to photographers, viewers and much of the culture as a whole.

In addition, there is another point related to the use of smartphones for photography - these are amateur photographers who take pictures not for the sake of art, but with the aim of publishing them on social networks and getting a reaction from subscribers. This is absolutely normal, but often leads to the creation of a large number of "dead" photographs that are unoriginal, repetitive and often have nothing to do with art.

Despite all these problems, photography remains a popular art. Modern technology and social media make it easier and faster to share photos than ever before, but traditional cameras continue to be in demand in the creative community.

How to fix the photo problems in photoshop

Fixing photo problems in Photoshop involves using various tools and techniques to enhance and correct different aspects of an image. Here's a general guide on how to address common photo issues using Photoshop: ​

Color Correction: ● Use the "Levels" or "Curves" adjustment layers to adjust overall brightness and contrast. ● Correct color balance using the "Color Balance" adjustment layer. ● Remove color casts using the "Hue/Saturation" adjustment layer.

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Exposure Adjustment: ● Utilize the "Exposure" adjustment layer to fine-tune exposure settings. ● Use the "Shadows/Highlights" adjustment for recovering details in dark or overexposed areas.

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Crop and Straighten: ● Use the Crop tool to remove unwanted elements and improve composition. ● Straighten and align the image using the "Rotate Canvas" tool.

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Spot Healing and Cloning: ● Fix blemishes, dust spots, and small imperfections with the "Spot Healing Brush" or "Healing Brush" tool. ● Clone stamp tool can be used for more complex retouching.

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Sharpening: ● Apply the "Unsharp Mask" filter to enhance image sharpness. ● Use the "Smart Sharpen" filter for more advanced sharpening with control over different aspects.

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Noise Reduction: ● Use the "Reduce Noise" filter to minimize digital noise, especially in low-light conditions. ● Adjust the settings to balance between noise reduction and retaining image details.

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Lens Correction: ● Correct lens distortion and chromatic aberrations using the "Lens Correction" filter.

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Selective Adjustments: ● Apply adjustments selectively using layer masks to target specific areas. ● Use tools like the "Dodge" and "Burn" tools to enhance or darken specific regions.

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Retouching Portraits:

● Use the "Skin Retouching" techniques carefully to smooth skin tones. ● Enhance eyes and teeth using the "Dodge" and "Burn" tools. ​

Save Versions: ● Save different versions of your work as you progress, allowing you to backtrack if needed.

Always work on a duplicate layer to preserve the original image, and consider using non-destructive adjustment layers whenever possible. Photoshop offers a wide range of tools, so experiment with different techniques to find the best approach for your specific photo problems.