AI and the Outdoor Industry: What’s Real Anymore?
AI and the Outdoor Industry: What’s Real Anymore? I shot my first real photographs on film—printed by hand, developed in a darkroom that smelled like fixer and focus. From there, I learned how to scan negatives into digital files, watching the craft shift beneath my feet. Then came the full digital revolution. Suddenly, photography wasn’t just what you saw through the lens, but what you shaped afterward—through Photoshop, Lightroom, and whatever new tools arrived next. Editing, for me, was never cheating. It’s always been part of the process. I've used Lightroom and Photoshop for over 20 years now, refining and evolving right along with the tools. I’ve never understood the “digital purist” crowd who insist that cropping or color correction is sacrilege. But even I have to pause and ask: Where’s the line now? Because like it or not, we’ve entered the age of AI—and it’s changing everything. Lately, I’ve seen outdoor ads that feel…off. Perfect light, perfect symmetry, perfect e...
