Tag: essay

26 • 03 • 16 Benedek Szabó

The Revolution of Artificial Intelligence in Photography—Friend or Foe?

In discussions about artificial image-generating processes, a common question arises: Can images created by AI be considered or approached as photographs? A defining characteristic of these generated images is their attempt to mimic the visual qualities of photography. The compositions seen in artificial images—including their color schemes, visual aesthetics, and overall execution—often resemble the visual language typically associated with photographs. However, viewers must be aware of several important differences. One key distinction is that artificial images do not capture the appearance of the external world; instead, they generate visual scenes through algorithms.

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26 • 03 • 08 Gáspár Kéri

The Disappearance of Family Photo Albums—What Does Family Memory Mean in the Digital Age?

For many decades, family photo albums have been one of the most important visual media for both personal and collective memory. Typically kept in a place of honor on bookshelves, displayed in cabinets, or stored in dresser drawers, these albums functioned as pictorial chronicles of family history and played a key role in shaping family identity. Today, however, they are gradually disappearing: family photographs have become immaterial through digital devices and platforms, resulting in a new relationship with memory, privacy, and the public sphere.

26 • 03 • 02 Szabó Liliom

Screen Captives: How Smartphones Are Transforming Our Relationship to Photography

We are at a concert. Thousands of people surge through the rows. We can barely see the stage as the crowd in front of us automatically raises its arms in unison, trying to capture every second of the performance in photos and videos—so they can later prove they were there. As artists and photography enthusiasts, we can clearly sense that smartphones have fundamentally changed our relationship with photography and images. While the negative aspects are almost self-evident, one question remains: Does this era also hold something positive?

26 • 02 • 25 Gáspár Kéri

The “Everyone Is a Photographer” Phenomenon—Has the Boundary Between Amateur and Professional Become Blurred?

The question of defining the boundary between amateurs and professionals has been long present in the history of photography. The digital turn that emerged around the turn of the millennium fundamentally transformed this system of relations. Both the practice of image-making and the circulation of images became democratized, while the role of the photographer itself was reconfigured. At the same time, this transformation concerns not only technological change but also the redefinition of social representation, visual authority, and the cultural canon. It is therefore no coincidence that in an era in which virtually everyone produces images, it becomes necessary to repeatedly reconsider what the photographic profession actually means and where the boundary between amateurs and professionals should be drawn.