Photography AI Art Analogy

Photographers don't simply push buttons.

Couldn't the same argument be made for photography? You aren't making the image, the camera is doing all the work.

Sorry, I misread as “photography” in general.

A human is still involved with the camera. Just a different set of skills, and absent manipulation in post, the things being photographed tended to actually exist. Now we need neither photographer nor subject.

"photography is a novelty abused for attention, it's not ready for primetime and cannot replace a great painter"

It sounds like you're creating art works using photography. Photography isn't necessarily better, but it is different.

It's not like everyone needs to make photographic reproductions, why not delegate the task to photorealistic painters? Now that we've gotten used to the convenience of having a camera in our pocket, who would suggest banning photography?

Why paint a picture when cameras exist ?

I'm not saying people no longer enjoy taking photographs. I'm saying that photography is no longer an art. Like I enjoy making a good cup of coffee in the morning. I grind the beans, use a Chemex, measure the temperature, etc. It's taken a long time to master. But, ultimately, my cup of coffee isn't fundamentally different than any other cup of coffee. It tastes slightly better. Making coffee in the morning is a hobby, not an art. And the same thing goes for photography. It&#

You're making an assumption that the goal of photography is to perfectly capture an existing scene. I and other photographers I know don't view it that way. The camera is just another means to be creative. The skill is creating something. It's also why cell phone, dslr, mirrorless discussions typically seem superficial to me. The best photographers I know can take any camera and create art.