Computational photography has been around for a while now. It’s the reason why smartphones can take shots that a traditional camera can’t in one click of the shutter button.
But Google has taken the concept of ‘photograph’ to a whole new level with its latest smartphone. It’s not a bad thing as I say to Tim Gilbert on Sky News Weekend Edition, it just challenges the meaning of the word photograph and photography in general.
Photographers have been tweaking images since the profession began. But it was always shot, by shot. Now, with super-charged computational images we may never know what the original still was in the series of captures. Does it matter? Yes and no.
In the age of AI and augmented imagery, we do need to know what the original single still image is in some circumstances. It’s something for the record. A fact. If an image has been altered, which is fine, we should know about it.
Again. I do not have a problem with any of the features like ADD ME in Google’s new Pixel lineup. In fact, I will use it and like BEST TAKE – a lot. ADD ME is the latest piece of wizardry from the Pixel team and it’s very clever. It takes care of a problem as old as photography itself. How to get the photographer in the same handheld shot? Recently I was part of a photo that added someone to the group photo who was late. My friend took it with a DSLR then had to use Photoshop, time and energy to complete the composition. This is no longer necessary, if you are happy with a smartphone photo.
It’s done by using a Pixel 9 to take an image of a group, then swapping in the photographer while another person takes a second shot, guided by the phone. The Pixel will merge both photos to produce an image as if the original photographer was there all along. I love this and will be using it often.
Pixel 9 also has Magic Editor which can automatically reframe your photo, suggest the best crop and even expand your image to get more of the scene. You can also use the new the reimagine feature to give your photos a whole new look. Just tap the part that you want to change in the photo and type what you want to see. Greener grass or purple sky.
The photographic tools are amazing in the Pixel 9 Series and you’ll see more this week once our embargo is lifted.
I ask again. What is a photo?
