THE EVOLUTION OF POST-PHOTOGRAPHY ART IN AN ERA DOMINATED BY AI IMAGE SYNTHESIS

Swati Shivkumar Shriyal; E. Senthil Kumaran; Divya Mishra; Ayush Gandhi; Yagna B. Adhyaru; Saraswati B; Srimathi N

doi:10.29121/shodhkosh.v7.i4s.2026.7476

Authors

Swati Shivkumar Shriyal Department of Artificial Intelligence, Vishwakarma University, Maharashtra, Pune, 411048, India
Dr. E. Senthil Kumaran Assistant Professor, Department of Visual Communication, Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Dr. Divya Mishra Associate Professor, Department of Computer Science and Engineering (AIML), Noida Institute of Engineering and Technology, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India
Ayush Gandhi Centre of Research Impact and Outcome, Chitkara University, Rajpura- 140417, Punjab, India
Mr. Yagna B. Adhyaru Assistant Professor, Faculty of Engineering, Gokul Global University, Sidhpur, Gujarat, India
Saraswati B Assistant Professor, Computer Science, Meenakshi College of Arts and Science, Meenakshi Academy of Higher Education and Research, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600080, India
Srimathi N Assistant Professor, Meenakshi College of Arts and Science, Meenakshi Academy of Higher Education and Research, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600080, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.29121/shodhkosh.v7.i4s.2026.7476

Keywords:

Post-Photography, Artificial Intelligence Art, Image Synthesis, Generative Models, Algorithmic Creativity, Computational Aesthetics

Abstract [English]

The advent of image generation via artificial intelligence has drastically changed the basis of the visual culture and modern day art practice. Historically, photography has served as a tool of recording reality, where optical capture and physical cameras are used to capture visual data provided by the outside world. Nevertheless, more recent developments in machine learning, especially generative models like Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs), diffusion models or neural rendering systems have made possible the production of exceptionally realistic images by pairing this technique with no physical photographic capture. In this technology change, post-photography is a conceptual and artistic paradigm where images are produced, altered or synthesized by a computation instead of being captured using conventional photographic processes. Artists in this new paradigm are starting to work more and more closely with AI systems, whereby algorithmic tools are used to discover new aesthetics, generative workflows and creative human-machine hybridity. Democratization of image creation has also been enabled by the availability of AI based visual tools and people with minimal technical expertise can create advanced visual arts

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