Added Nov 24, 2024
Magnum photographer Carl De Keyzer has published a revolutionary photo book that redefines the relationship between photography and reality. In a bold departure from traditional techniques, his work raises profound questions about the nature of his craft. De Keyzer was initially tempted to inscribe the text "This is not a photograph" on the cover of the book, but eventually decided against it, believing it to be "too obvious". His decision to design the book exclusively with AI-generated images, however, sparked a furore and flooded his inbox with criticism. De Keyzer, known for his captivating visual stories, has shifted his artistic focus. Instead of documenting the world as it is, he explores the ease with which it can be imagined or invented. None of the images in this collection come from the lens of his camera. Instead, they are the product of artificial intelligence, with De Keyzer's primary role reduced to the click of a mouse.
For an audience rooted in an era when photography meant authenticity, this shift feels disorienting. De Keyzer breaks through the comfort of photography as unequivocal truth. His work sharpens the disturbing realisation that images, once sacred vessels of truth, have lost their reliability. The old adage "Seeing is believing" no longer holds true. The era of relying on images as evidence is over and has been replaced by deep scepticism. De Keyzer's AI experiments not only challenge the credibility of photography, but also force us to face a world where truth itself feels malleable. Amid rising fake news and disinformation, his work underscores the fragility of visual journalism. The manipulated image, increasingly indistinguishable from reality, signals a societal shift where trust dissolves into doubt. De Keyzer's collection is not nihilistic, but a sharp reminder of vigilance in a rapidly changing visual landscape. He calls us to question both the images presented and the intentions behind them. For without truth, deception becomes power - a reality as oppressive as his lifelike, AI-created images.