Real OR AI And How Nikon Is Trying to Solve The Problem - New Firmware | Opinion Piece | Matt Irwin

[@LastXwitness]

Alright Matt honest question …. And a more pressing matter than that of Ai and our impending doom…. How much time did you spend adjusting and positioning that plant next to you till you felt you were good to go and hit record? That’s the real concern

[@MattIrwinPhotography]

LOL, about 2 - 3 seconds 🥀, it is a wonderful shade, is it not :) Next time I promise I will bring my 1/1000 scale model of the Enterprise D - Joking - or am I

[@LastXwitness]

@@MattIrwinPhotography you need to do something different each video it’ll become a game

[@izzieb]

​@@MattIrwinPhotographyEnterprise model please.

[@dominiclester3232]

Yes, I felt like we needed another distraction off right, because the orchid was pretty dominating? Is it me or did it get closer during the video...maybe it’s a Triffid?

[@MattIrwinPhotography]

@@dominiclester3232 Triffid 🍃

[@RaymondParkerPhoto]

It's a brave new world! It's great to hear Nikon is in it.

[@duncanwallace7760]

I'd like to see it. It's a little sad nowadays when I see a striking looking image, especially if it looks quite original, I wonder whether it's real or not. I like to think I can tell, but as AI gets better it will become more difficult to know. There is something wonderful about knowing an image really happened, that a split second of reality was frozen.

[@robertholloway6887]

Nice video Matt, Nikon user since 1976, F2 still taking pictures here in the UK Nikon Z9 and Z6iii. Don’t let age drag you down.See you in the next one.😊😊😊

[@ringthane69]

Always a good morning here in the States when a new Matty video drops. Thanks dude! EDIT: meant to mention, this is a very important topic for me... glad to see Leica and Nikon taking this seriously.

[@uncledavesplace]

Happy to see Nikon take this serious. I am patiently waiting for this to "trickle up" to the Z8 and a I will update the firmware ASAP.

[@DJJDBass]

Hopefully they add that to a Z9/Z8 firmware updates in the near future.

[@greatwhite1958]

And of course post processing is also done in the darkroom with film and prints so photos have always been manipulated out of camera. The darkroom was Hi (human intelligence) rather than Ai.

[@MattIrwinPhotography]

Having personally hand printed 100,000 prints in a darkroom from 1990 - 2001, a darkroom is nothing on a 1990's copy of photoshop, and 1990's photoshop is nothing on photoshop today, and photoshop today, wont and cant do what some AI can do. We are a very long way from Kansas right now.

[@shortie8512]

C2PA has been included in both Lightroom and Photoshop this week, surprised you haven't picked this up in the video...

[@dw.in.michigan]

Yes, there needs to be some manner of authenticating an image. For contests and photojournalism, it should be mandatory to submit a base image along with the submitted image to establish that everything in the image was actually in frame. In the instance of news publication, I think it should be required to disclose that an image has been edited, and that there should be a link or a scannable barcode that displays the unedited image. Some people may say that's taking it too far. But the reality is that too many people may view an image and read a caption and then create a false narrative of what the image is depicting, either because they were intentionally pushed in that direction, or because they lacked enough information to have a more thorough understanding of what was depicted. Not everyone may choose to delve deeper, but at least there would be a greater degree of transparency on the part of the news organization. As far as purely artistic creation, I don't know how necessary any kind of authentication is. I think an artist who dabbles too much in fabricating images will eventually start to perish. While it may be a novelty to see realistic looking images that are completely fabricated, that luster is soon gone. People don't mind art that is obviously fabricated, but most people are eventually turned off of art that looks real but is artificially created.

[@LKN4WAR]

The Nikon D3 had authentication for forensic use IIRC. 17 years ago.

[@csc-photo]

Never has a species worked so hard to make themselves obsolete. I continue to fight our AI overlords 🤖💪🏻🙂

[@tedk2814]

Honestly, I feel that.way as well but I am 75 years old and that has much to do with how I feel. I don't understand why we all need AI, sorta like bit coin where you own it but can't hold it. Call me too old , thats OK. Truth is all important, we search for truth in just about everything. Now in the digital world we wonder if that is true. Hopefully this new firmware will make the truth not so elusive, at least for digital images.

[@kilianhrkm]

Why not do everything we can to make sure AI helps us elevate ourselves, not drag us down.

[@mortenthorpe]

Don’t worry about AI… it’s certainly far from being an overlord… more like overload - of incorrect generated content… if you have tried copilot for code, you’ll know what a disaster it is

[@MichaelHatsBarrow]

Matt, by extension you raise an interesting issue. Should I bother shooting RAW or should I go for the normal/standard jpeg version straight out of the camera and that is it with no processing. Which for me is what used to happen with my film camera. How much processing is too much. Mind you I still want processing for my milky way shots. :)

[@dominiclester3232]

As AI increases in popularity it’s obvious that authenticity becomes more relevant.

[@johnhjic2]

Hello Matt. Interesting thoughts. Question I shoot RAW and only post jpg. Is that editing an image, two when you set a camera digital to shoot in jpg the camera manufacture and their colour since or look to there jpg is that edited. Where as in the film days you got thr negative/positive and it was more down to the quality of the glass.

[@Nick-13]

Not there yet, by some way, with Content Credentials. Just tested Adobe's offering - as normal I exported edited files from Lightroom to Bridge, with the new Content Credentials, all fine at this point. Then as usual I add metadata, such as photo descriptions and also keywords, usually from a saved template I have created for each set of images. That then renders the Content Credentials 'tampered with' and invalid. I have never found a way of adding my descriptions and keywords from templates I create in Bridge as effectively. Lightroom just does not give me the same options. (I deal with thousands of images a week) And I am not going to export from Lr to Br, add metadata and then export from Bridge to Bridge to retain credentials And by the way - adding credentials when exporting from Bridge has to be setup each time an export is made, Bridge does not remember the export settings with Credentials ..... Happy to apply credentials, but it must work

[@ampmmbe1590]

Hi Matt, I have a question unrelated to this video. A few years ago, you mentioned having some difficulty viewing and editing photos from the Z8/Z9 in Capture One. I recall you used a workaround-could you remind me what it was? Also, is Capture One able to convert files to DNG?

[@ampmmbe1590]

I believe you may have changed the metadata

[@steveboys5369]

Hi Matt, call me naive if you like, but I'd like to see authentication in an image being the default and the absence of it being the indicator that an image is false. ... btw, how is Joe?

[@mba123-l8g]

Hey Matt, the stranger that you took a picture of here haha how can we get the picture?

[@robertwolfersteig4878]

Z-9 considered out-of-date already? My Z-7II must be considered a fossil by now. Moving on to the topic at hand, digital watermarks should at some point in the very near future be legally required. This important, as you stated, for both the artist/reporter and for the persons viewing it. It's election season here in the United States and there are so many suspiciously generated images and videos appearing that truth is now malleable.

[@MrJason8957]

I keep wondering how easy it will be for AI tools to just fake the authentication.

[@gamerw1zz]

Here's a wild thought, in the same way over time people cared less about photoshoped images, then digital editing of photos, people will care less about whether an image was created by AI or not as long as the image is compelling. The only place it will probably matter is in Journalism and similar where the "truth" of the image matters.

[@csc-photo]

Documentary / photojournalism, I agree that's non-negotiable. That must remain raw / unaltered, nothing beyond basic crop / light / color. Outside of that, I think everyone will have their own personal line in the sand. I definitely have mine, and with my background being photojournalism, you can guess where I lean. I love using Lightroom and it's instant masking tools (amazing) but I draw the line at adding fake sh** to my images. That's not photography, it's digital art. Different things. There's a purity to photography that needs to be respected IMO. Well I should stop there before I really ramble on here. 🙂

[@selectiveimagery]

Hi Matt hope you are well, while I understand the need for this technology my brain is saying is it a somewhat moot point, why do I say that ? With so many manufacturers now claiming that they have an AI chip in the camera to improve its functionality or imbedded AI Noise reduction features being done in camera how can one claim now that any image is AI free? How can one prove an embedded AI feature was not used by the camera for any particular file, it's not like you can turn it off.

[@MattIrwinPhotography]

To me, the first frontier, is in regards to the changing, removing etc of pixels. An image that is not the same as the one that is captured. In regards to AI being used for auto focus, that does not affect the pixels in regards to AI being used for noise reduction, I would argue. We are still seeing a representation of the original image, just cleaner. The idea of images being composites, and some of those layers or elements being artificially generated, in other words the pixels we see in the image, there was never a version of those when the image was originally taken, that’s what I am talking about, and that is the first frontier of major concern I believe.

[@selectiveimagery]

@@MattIrwinPhotography I understand your logic, I think use of the term AI is overly used for the most part, the camera is only as smart as the programming done by the engineers and the use of algorithms .

[@codyanderson4132]

I appreciate their effort but I am having a hard time seeing how this would actually be helpful to the general public and combat AI missuse. The problem is that random AI images pop up all over social media, not the news or other outlets that do any sort of fact checking/cross referencing. The average Joe isn't going to start trying to dig into the metadata of a random internet photo to determine if it is AI. About the only area I see this doing anything would be photography contests... but even that is pushing it as a lot of them also require the raw file be included with the submission. Its a case where any solution "feels" better than no solution... but really it is just a false sense of security. Kinda like the duck and cover days of the cold war.

[@FramesTM]

It's funny that the feature will be exhibited at an ADOBE event. I attended 3 Adobe workshops/ conferences this year completely dedicated to AI. AI seems like a cheap solution. Cheap in terms of time and convenience, more than money.

[@MattIrwinPhotography]

Yeah it is interesting Adobe are both creating AI products and working for authenticity also.

[@viktorpaulsen627]

There is no "fi" in "authenti cation".

[@jacekkasprzak9478]

Or maybe in the future, blockchain technology will be used to secure photos and films and each photo from the camera will be like an NFT? Time will tell

[@MattIrwinPhotography]

Interesting

[@MuveeNubee]

Vote for the Enterprise, too 😊. BTW get my email?

[@BR-2049-1]

After Nikon releases this start the clock on when hackers and state actors break Nikon firmware update protections. And we could have a false sense of security.

[@mikewinburn]

Hhhmmm…. I’m trying to figure out why it will matter in “artistic” settings. Photojournalism - i get it. no post processing - exactly as shot. But almost every photog i know, and videographer exposing their images to get as much info in the file as possible, and then, in post use editing software to bring the image to represent their ideal presentation. (This usually involves either healing, cloning…etc.) This work processing is already included when uploaded in the exif info. So… yes, despite this new digital photo authentication software, we will still edit the raw files. Unless the new software will allow a viewer to “click a button and see the original shot image”, what good will it really do? Not sure if see its usefulness. Anyway, I’m sure as soon as the software is created, those who want to make money on fake images will find a way to break the software. (Remember copy protection for VHS and CDs, DVDs, and Blur-ray? Yep, people use software to “rip” riles for personal use pretty easily…even after the billions spent to copy protect those mediums….

[@MichaelRothman1]

Have you forgotten how much image manipulation occured with darkroom printing?

[@michaelbierbaum-z5x]

Hi Matt. I think we should be able to see the difference between out of camera, post-processed or AI pic. Why should we not show it, do we have anything to hide? The bad against a good, the lazy against diligent fotographer? Too lazy to walk 5 meters to get a better shot? Why should I do that, I can modify in post-processing or AI. People are getting too lazy our days, just make it as easy as possible, dont do more than you have too. There is nothing wrong with modifying or editing images I do it myself, so why not show that it is? We all know that in advertising or commercial images nothing is real they are all post processed. I just dont like to look at images that are fake, for example; Streching Mountains in a pic to make the look more impressive, I think thats bull_hit. If you cant make a propper pic or you are too lazy to make 2-3 steps byside then leave it, and stop fakeing around to impress people. Or should we make a difference and call us fotographer or foto art creator, because thats what it really is, both are okay but show it.

[@stevethompson8154]

When will they put firmware in all cameras that have a way to lock them down like a cell phone so they are useless to thieves? A simple password to access the unit.

[@saifalneyadi2955]

Hi I Matt you at Friday

[@enricomarconi8358]

The Rocket was real...? Mah... I've my doubts.... In any case the problem does exist. Who's authenticating the authenticators though?

[@Mr1Spring]

Can you get rid of the apple logo on your laptop? Make it into e.g. a Pear!

[@natedagreat90]

Original raw files can prove it

[@thomaseriksson6256]

I shoot one frame/ mounth

[@veivoli]

Auththentification? Really?? What's wrong with using the perfectly good English word *authentication*? However, the point about AI versus reality will haunt us for a long time, until it quietly becomes mainstream like many other things that have been raged against in the past. Personally, I like my images to reflect what I saw. But then, I've been using a camera off and on (mostly on) since the late 1950s. What could I possibly know?

[@davidlcaldwell]

Matt Irwin is not real, he’s just pixels on my iPad screen.

[@geraldhewes]

Quite boring listening you read a press release

[@MattIrwinPhotography]

Use the chapters.

[@Digmen1]

AI is over rated, its only more powerful chips being used by clever programmers

[@standclear23]

Ai, really Nikon! How about you pay a little more attention to your DX lineup, it deserves a little more attention for it is far better than the competition at least. Ultra-wide, fast lenses, and bodies with ibis would be nice…

[@carlosandreviana9448]

Remember when I said the Zf was already obsolete and forgotten and you told me to have patience, that a firmware would come? Unfortunately, I was right. The Zf is another z6ii. Reported problems are ignored and no major firmware was released, unlike all other cameras.

[@gamerw1zz]

What problems are you experiencing with your ZF? I haven't come across a single issue (Small or Large) I'd complain. Maybe that's because I'm coming from a Fuji X-T4 so my opinion is more skewed as it's way better than my experiences with Fuji

[@carlosandreviana9448]

@@gamerw1zz I have and also read many complaints from other users that the VR to focus point feature returns randomly blured images. Not out of focus but blured. Also, features like the return from zoom with half shutter press were added to other cameras and ironically not to the Zf, which was the first camera with subject detection in manual focus mode. Not to mention other features added in major firmware to those cameras a few months after being released and zero to the Zf after one year. Extremely disappointing I currently own the 2 most ignored cameras of Nikon

[@gamerw1zz]

@@carlosandreviana9448 Unless I'm thinking of something else, half shutter press works fine on mine. As for VR to focus point feature, I can't say I've encountered this issue, or even if I did, I'm not sure how I would say it's the VR feature, my own doing or some fault of something else and entirely unrelated to VR. I can empathize with the issues you're having or your need for an update to receive features but Nikon isn't the only company slow to add features, fix them, or even break previously working features, just ask Sony A1 users, or even Fuji users. Enjoy what you currently have, find workarounds and don't worry so much about what you don't have, that would be my humble suggestion, otherwise you'll be plenty unhappy about many things. I hope you get your updates soon, you never know 🙂

[@gamerw1zz]

@@carlosandreviana9448 Unless I'm thinking of something else, half shutter press works fine on mine. As for VR to focus point feature, I don't know how I'd truly say VR is the cause vs something I did or something else entirely unrelated. I empathize with you wanting more features via firmware but that is not uncommon, just ask the Sony A1 users. It could be much worse, find workarounds, enjoy your tool, or purchase something else. When I got tired of waiting for Fuji to solve their Continuous AF issues I sold my gear and moved on.

[@csc-photo]

I use the hell out of my Zf and I can assure you it's not obsolete. In fact I'll grab my Zf over my Z8 in quite a few scenarios. The only update I'd really like to see is a pretty simple one - make the ISO dial disable Auto-ISO, once it's moved off of "C" to a manual ISO setting. And maybe add Cycle AF Mode. Hardware side, I would have liked IBIS lock when the camera's off. Outside of those minor wants, it's easily one of the best bodies I've ever used in decades of photography.