Google’s Whisk: How AI Ruins the Art of Photography
Published: December 18, 2024
A new AI tool called Whisk promises to revolutionize photography by allowing users to mash up images to create unique digital works of art. Input a subject, a setting, and a style, and Whisk blends them together, producing anything from stylized stickers to surreal scenes. On the surface, this seems like a leap forward for creative expression, but is it? Or does it dilute the human artistry that photography once represented?
To understand what’s being lost, let’s rewind to 1948, when photographer Philippe Halsman captured the now-iconic Dalí Atomicus. This surreal masterpiece, featuring Salvador Dalí levitating amidst flying cats, splashing water, and suspended furniture, was not the product of automated tools or digital manipulation. It was the result of 26 painstaking attempts, involving precise timing, human ingenuity, and, most importantly, the chaotic creativity that defines art.
The vision behind Dalí Atomicus
Halsman’s photograph drew inspiration from Dalí’s painting Leda Atomica, visible in the background of the image. The painting, a 3D-like depiction of a woman, water, and a duck, inspired Halsman to create a photographic equivalent. Initially, Dalí suggested a duck explosion—thankfully vetoed by Halsman, who settled on the concept of airborne cats to achieve the desired surrealism.
Executing the photo was anything but simple. Assistants tossed cats and buckets of water while furniture was propped up with wires and hands. Each take required adjustments—sometimes the water missed its mark, or Dalí was splashed. Halsman would rush to develop each shot, fine-tuning the process with every iteration. When the perfect frame was captured, Dalí himself painted swirls onto the photograph, completing the collaboration between two of the most imaginative minds of the 20th century.
What made Dalí Atomicus remarkable was its commitment to physical artistry. Every element was tangible, every effort deliberate. The photograph wasn’t a mashup of ready-made parts; it was a dance between chaos and control, a reflection of Halsman’s belief in revealing the essence of his subjects through surreal experimentation.
Can AI replace the human touch?
This brings us back to Whisk and its promises of effortless creativity. By automating the process, tools like these risk erasing the labor, spontaneity, and imperfections that make art meaningful.
Halsman’s surrealism was rooted in his hands-on technique, his "jumpology" philosophy, and his collaboration with Dalí. It was art because it demanded effort, ingenuity, and heart.
But let’s not be too harsh. Not everyone has the skills or resources of a Halsman, and tools like Whisk can democratize creativity, offering an entry point for those who might otherwise feel excluded from the art world. In the end, whether you’re tossing cats into the air or dragging a cursor across a screen, the essence of art lies in the intent and the effort you bring to it.
Art is life, life is art
The story of Dalí Atomicus reminds us that creativity isn’t about perfection or convenience—it’s about passion. AI might offer shortcuts, but the true magic of art lies in its imperfections, in the sweat behind the scenes. So don’t be discouraged if you don’t have a Dalí or a Halsman by your side.
Whatever medium you choose, remember: anything you pour your heart into can be an art form. Life is art, and art is life.