AI Within Threads - AI Section

@larsman

I take (took) a lot of photos of musicians for many years, concerts, and open mics of local nj musicians.

I never used AI, just because it wasn’t good then and I’m not interested, no ideas of right or wrong.

I used the mic stand to prefocus, then my ’bob and weave’ method, if the singer moves his head back from the mic, I move my prefocused camera forward the samee distance, when a fun or characteristic smirk occurs, bang, finish the shot.

I was using Sony’s red beam of death which helped the camera focus in low light when photographing Cassandra Wilson at the Blue Note. I thought it was infrared and she couldn’t see it. After a while, she looks at me, and says "are you allowed to do that?" I reply, "yes, no flash allowed". 

Oh my, I learned to pre-focus on the bottom of something the same distance I wanted, piano leg, stand-up bass. It helped when shooting the drummer behind others as well. 

For definite results, I used Manual Focus combined with AEL which I got good at changing shot to shot if needed.

I've used 'spot' touchup to get rid of litter, gum on sidewalks, ..., some tools you use ( for many years) in PP is a form of AI isn't it?

@elliottbnewcombjr 

Thanks for explaining what your notation means!  I did not know ...

As a more self-explanatory approach, when I post content containing AI results, I preface with something like "ChatGPT says:" and use the quotation capability.

(For those who don't know, you highlight the content and select the " control in the toolbar)

If the subject is likely to be contentious, I also quote the exact question posed.  This means anyone can replicate the process - although Large Language Models can learn as they go and vary their answers as a result.

AI can give huge productivity increases and improve readability.  Provided you identify which AI you have used, what content was AI's work, and what question was asked, I think it can legitimately be used at any point in any discussion.

No need for any form of quarantine!

@elliottbnewcombjr - indeed; who are some of the bigger artists you've photographed besides Cassandra Wilson? When I was taking concert photos in the 70's, it was mechanical all the way - manual shutter speed, aperture, and focus. And it was all film, of course, so I didn't have hundreds of pictures from a gig; sure was fun though, and I'm really glad I've got them now. These days I'm working with some record labels and artists's management on getting photos in various 50th type anniversary sets that are coming out these days. 

@larsman 

I’m an amateur enthusiast, I never photographed for money. A lot of local nj musician friends at open mics, and a lot of concerts (I’m 77) like at Stanhope House, the Beacon, Blue Note, Carnegie Hall, Town Hall, NJPAC, Iridium, Birdland, Village Vanguard, Webster Hall, , Count Basie Theater, BB Kings. Legends, Bitter End, Red Lion, Arlene’s Grocery, Bowery Ballroom, Radio City, Ashford and Simpson’s, Cafe Carlisle (sneak a few), St. Annes, Tramps (gone). Robin’s Nest (gone), TJ’s Hideaway (gone), Bobby and Mary’s (gone), Orphan Annies (gone), Blue Smoke (gone), 

Local musicians need head shots for their CD inserts, I posted ZZ Top at the Beacon pg 3 here, and some head shots pg 4. In those days I was using a Sony R1, no IS, aps-c sensor, P mode, with just enough flash to avoid blur.

Since 2013 I learned S mode, no flash, 'just fast enough' or 'as slow as possible'

https://www.dpreview.com/forums/media/users/elliottnewcomb.1017962/page-3

rx100m6, Lyle Lovett and John Hiatt; many ISO 6400

https://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/4371620

RX1r, small music club

https://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/3985851

@elliottbnewcombjr - Thank you for sharing, Elliott - those are some nice photos. I was also an amateur - I was never on assignment and none of my work was being published anywhere, just for my own jollies. In the 70's, nobody cared what kind of camera gear you brought into a venue - they were more concerned about people sneaking in tape recorders. And I've got some pix of John Hiatt, too! If the admins here are good with it, here is a link to my concert photo website; it's display only, I don't sell anything on there. 

https://mypixrock.format.com/