Photography Weekly Brief: July 29–August 4, 2025
From seriously futuristic gear announcements to necessary debates on AI’s role in our field, this week was a busy one. We also saw powerful reminders of how a simple photograph can preserve stories that were almost lost to time. Here’s a look at the key moments you might have missed.
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The Human vs. The Machine: Fstoppers Tackles the State of AI Art
A must-read piece from Fstoppers this week takes a deep, honest look at the complicated relationship between working photographers and generative AI. The author argues that the core concerns from a few years ago—the economic threat to artists and the ethics of training AI on copyrighted work—are more relevant than ever. As AI-generated images become almost impossible to distinguish from real photos, the article suggests we’re at a crossroads where human and AI art must find a way to coexist, a shift that will likely reshape the creative market for everyone.
Published: July 29, 2025
Where We Stand With AI-Generated Art in the Current Moment: 2025 Edition | Fstoppers -
Your Workflow, Evolved: Adobe Drops July Photoshop Update
Adobe rolled out its monthly update for Photoshop, continuing its mission to weave AI deeper into our daily workflows. This release beefs up the “Remove” tool with a more powerful AI model, and you can now find it right in the Contextual Task Bar for quicker access. Users can also now choose between different Adobe Firefly models when using Generative Fill and Expand, giving you a bit more control over the final look of your generated content.
Published: July 29, 2025
https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/using/whats-new/2025-7.html -
A Hidden History: “Casa Susanna” Photos Reveal a Secret World
A powerful story from The Guardian brought a hidden piece of history to light through a collection of found photographs. The article explores Casa Susanna, a secret 1960s haven in the New York Catskills for a community of cross-dressers, all documented in snapshots discovered years later at a flea market. These images are a moving testament to the power of everyday photography to preserve intimate stories and entire communities that might have otherwise been forgotten.
Published: July 30, 2025
Casa Susanna: inside a secret and empowering cross-dressing community in the 1960s | Photography | The Guardian -
Nurturing the Next Generation: Illinois Announces “Cream of the Crop” Winners
Shifting focus to the future of the craft, the Illinois State Treasurer’s office announced the winners of its 2025 Cream of the Crop Photography Contest. The program encourages students aged 8 to 18 to share their perspectives on agriculture, awarding the top nine young photographers with college savings scholarships. The winning images, set to be displayed at the Illinois State Fair, are a wonderful celebration of farm life and a great example of how to support emerging creative talent.
Published: August 2, 2025
State Treasurer Michael Frerichs Announces Winners of 2025 Cream of the Crop Photography Contest | MyRadioLink.com
Tools & Tips
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Narrative Select
If you’re a wedding or event photographer drowning in photos, you know that culling is half the battle. Narrative Select is an AI-powered tool designed to speed up that process significantly. It scans your images for critical focus and closed eyes, groups similar shots, and helps you make faster decisions without taking away your final creative control.
https://narrative.so/ -
RawTherapee
For those looking for a powerful RAW editor without the monthly subscription, RawTherapee is a fantastic open-source option. It’s a feature-packed, cross-platform program that gives you pro-level control over your images. It has a bit of a learning curve, but if you’re willing to dive in, it’s a robust and completely free alternative to the big names.
https://www.rawtherapee.com/
Fun Fact
Did you know there are 12 Hasselblad cameras still on the surface of the Moon? During the Apollo missions, astronauts had to abandon their camera bodies to save weight, which was needed to bring back precious moon rock samples. Only the film magazines made the return trip to Earth, proving that sometimes, the picture is more valuable than the gear that took it.
Facts About Photography: Surprising Insights 2025 | Skylum Blog
We’d love to hear from you!
Have you experimented with any new AI photography tools, or have you been out shooting with new gear? Share your experiences or insights with us—we’re featuring selected community voices in next week’s edition.