The reasons you describe are exactly the reasons why I stopped blogging and posting my photographs. Before that my brain was in constant overdrive, working, commuting, photographing, selecting, editing, posting, sleep, and repeat. Every day for so long, until the moment it drained me last fall. Instead of keeping my momentum I started to select photographs for one or more books I have in mind.
I know you wanted me to post on substack too, but I haven't made my mind up so far. I don't know what I want to do with my blog on Wordpress too. I just don't want to think about it. I'm glad you keep on going, love the Lada Niva photograph, and it kind of motivates me picking up my camera again.
It is funny when you say that, because I recently thought for a second about you not posting and I thought you probably were in the same situation.
Maybe it is because, when we engage in something like "365 photo project" it turns into a duty. "I have to process and post till Sunday".
It should be fun, but it isn't always.
Reason why I keep going? Still want to shoot. Still fun. And I want to do something with my photos. And posting online is simplest and fastest. Maybe book or zine would be good, but I feel so overwhelmed, that only fast edit and posting online is maximum what I feel I am capable to do.
It is a pity you are not creating (or showing photos online). I mean, there are millions of photos uploaded daily, but I miss yours.
I will want to finish my 365 days project, when I get to photos from March 2026 - it will be full year. And than I will see. I wanted to get digicam o rjust something small, have it in my pocket, and take a photo when something speaks to me.... will see.
Hey Pavel, I'd prefer us having to explain things to one another in our not-so-perfect English to reading the "AI improved" version of what you have to say any day. You're one of the people I rely on to discuss things honestly. That doesn't need any improvement!
PAVEL!!!! These are absolutely sublime. AND YES - it's better this way. I had AI do a few last year... and I still feel weird about it. I started seeing my writing and thinking degrade - so while I still use AI for research (speaking into my phone and asking it to research something while I drive for hours is AWESOME) - but I'm done with using AI for my writing, at least. Thanks for this post, Pavel. I feel less lonely and more connected already.
Thank you, Jerred. I see some peole are more risistant to new techologies like AI and some are adapting faster or too much sometimes. Maybe thre best is the middle way as always, or often, that works....
100% no AI. You are better than whatever some artificial, polished, computer garbage version of you could ever be. If I don’t understand, I’ll just ask. 😜
Pavel, mate I am glad that you came out and asked.
We all need to reflect. For me writing is part of my growth as an artist. I am hearing many others feel the same.
Having said that English is my second language. My English has gradually improved after I migrated to Australia nearly four decades ago. I love reading, speaking and writing in English. Moreover writing is what I always liked since childhood.
I can't say my English is immaculate. Also at my age sometimes words don't come easily. I still make grammatical errors, use a wrong word here and there and so on. But I do trust goodwill of people who are reading my notes. From my name they know my background. I know they won't be judgemental. I trust they would focus on what I am trying to communicate.
Pavel, one of the best things that happened to me was I came across this book some time ago: "On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft" by Stephen King. This book literally changed my writing. I can't recommend it enough. It is highly digestible, not aloof.
I am an engineer too. I have been retired for about two years now. I definitely relate to digital anxiety. I have some means to combat it. I don't have social media other than substack. I do force myself to write on a paper notebook with handwriting everyday, despite arthritis pain. Even if it is meaningless two paragraphs, that's fine. It reminds me I am human. That's why I value such activities and I try to fulfil them. I occasionally print my photographs. I love the tactile nature of paper, its grain, its reflections, its touch, its feel. I love visiting art exhibitions, not just photography.
But above all I value slowing down. When I go for a photowalk, I ask one good photograph not more. If even that doesn't turn up, I pat my shoulder "that's ok mate, there is tomorrow".
When it comes to AI I adhere to my own guidelines. I am not saying these are universal. Here I am just sharing them to inspire others. They can be tailored to suit individual needs.
1) Predominantly I use Google search box for a simple dictionary search and slightly more elaborate things like "Compare the words X to Y", "Is X is a better word than Y in context Z".
2) I don't use AI chatbots to fix my own writing. I did once, privately out of curiosity. It turned out the results were too polished and screaming "it's not me". I am a firm believer making mistakes is the best way to improve one's skills. AI chatbots (specialised ones for writing) sabotages that. Not only it feels dishonest but its outcome is wrong.
3) Sometimes I use AI response for factual information that I want to quote. The reason being I wouldn't word it differently. So why waste time? But when I do so I quote it and at the end of my writing I put a disclaimer below for my readers like this:
Disclaimer: I used Internet (browser search bar) to help me understand Field of Vision and Peripheral Vision concepts as I am not an expert in those areas. Under the covers my search engine used Gemini LLM. Whenever I did so I quoted the wordings with a suffix ‘- Internet’. All remaining text is mine.
4) When I feel AI hallucinated I double check and verify its response by other means.
Pavel, I hope I didn't sound like an annoying schoolmaster. But overall this is what I know and what I do. I just shared them in the hope they might be useful.
In a nutshell my advice for anyone (not just you) is:
1) Trust the people; they will not judge you, we all make mistakes.
2) Read the book "On Writing" by Stephen King.
3) Your English doesn't need to be perfect. Mine isn't.
4) Learn by writing more, and by making mistakes. I still do.
5) Use AI judiciously but only to share brief, supporting and factual information and always attribute/quote that you did use it.
6) Avoid using chatbots to improve your text en-masse. Your readers deserve authenticity, not AI-authenticity (which is an oxymoron).
Hello Ergun, thanks for sharing your experience and thoughts. I feel you are right. I mean, I am not a big writter even in my native language. Actually I think I wrote more text in english during the years.
I wrote this pice few days after I read note form Michale Wriston notining more and more people are using AI on Substack and it is sad.... I felt guilty.
All good man. You shouldn’t feel guilty at all. We learn and move on by focusing on what we do best. I am a huge admirer of your photographs. They are beautiful, meaningful and authentic. You reached to a level only a few could. Please keep up the good work. 💐
I have been feeling more and more like I don't want to be anywhere near a computer and I a)quite like computers and b)don't work in an office. You're not alone!
I never use AI. Humans are at the heart of artwork, and tbh society. You cannot outsource yourself and be authentic. And I think people respond with more interest and loyalty when conversation comes from a human brain, not some machine that dies if you cut off the electricity. Anyway, your photos speak enough - you should not feel obliged to write at length about them.
Thanks for your words. In art I absolutely hate when I see using AI to create something. You are right, I should not feel obliged to write at length. But I do. As I see I have a few subscribers, so I thought I should write something...sending photos without text (since it is called newsletter) feels discrespectfull. But, thinking now, using AI also is kind of discrespectful.
But a newsletter can still contain minimal wording - as in succinct, the right words and no more - if the story is in the photos. Your photos are evocative, and your writing can be too, rather than explanatory. Maybe a few descriptive words about the day you explored a particular place, why you went, and how it made you feel. And then let the reader get the rest of the information through what the photos tell them. Substack has originally been utilized by writers, who are not visual artists, their stories are told purely through words. But this platform is expanding to other kinds of artists. So your newsletter is the visual kind, and that is perfectly legit.
I think I am already doing minimal writing. It is that I don't have much to say about the photos usually, because they are mostly just from around my home or during commute. Same thing. So I usually write text that is unrelated....
For example...in January and Februry we had a lot of mist, ˇand I shoot daily. So there is not much to write about. Photos are what they are.
Either way, I honestly think it's a burden to visual artists to have to add words to what they're doing, unless that's part of their work. When does a viewer ever get the chance to contemplate a visual work in silence, taking it all in intuitively and without having immediate explanation/analysis/additional background? Doesn't that make an image unable to stand on its own as an experience without words?
Yes, this is my philosophy. Forme every single image should speak on its own. I am a big beliver in brief titles stating just "place,date" going with photo. Been doing that ever since.... And yes, I feel here this is a burden for me to write something. Maybe I chose wrong platform, because Substatck is built arround text as you mentioned.
It's a good platform, but since I don't share here but only follow/read, I don't know what kinds of templates they have for visual artists. It would be great if they offered a virtual zine template!
The reasons you describe are exactly the reasons why I stopped blogging and posting my photographs. Before that my brain was in constant overdrive, working, commuting, photographing, selecting, editing, posting, sleep, and repeat. Every day for so long, until the moment it drained me last fall. Instead of keeping my momentum I started to select photographs for one or more books I have in mind.
I know you wanted me to post on substack too, but I haven't made my mind up so far. I don't know what I want to do with my blog on Wordpress too. I just don't want to think about it. I'm glad you keep on going, love the Lada Niva photograph, and it kind of motivates me picking up my camera again.
It is funny when you say that, because I recently thought for a second about you not posting and I thought you probably were in the same situation.
Maybe it is because, when we engage in something like "365 photo project" it turns into a duty. "I have to process and post till Sunday".
It should be fun, but it isn't always.
Reason why I keep going? Still want to shoot. Still fun. And I want to do something with my photos. And posting online is simplest and fastest. Maybe book or zine would be good, but I feel so overwhelmed, that only fast edit and posting online is maximum what I feel I am capable to do.
It is a pity you are not creating (or showing photos online). I mean, there are millions of photos uploaded daily, but I miss yours.
I will want to finish my 365 days project, when I get to photos from March 2026 - it will be full year. And than I will see. I wanted to get digicam o rjust something small, have it in my pocket, and take a photo when something speaks to me.... will see.
Hey Pavel, I'd prefer us having to explain things to one another in our not-so-perfect English to reading the "AI improved" version of what you have to say any day. You're one of the people I rely on to discuss things honestly. That doesn't need any improvement!
To be honest I sometimes used AI even for comments as you say to "improve" my English. Yes, now that feels silly.
Pavel, you are real, authentic and do not require spellcheck! I like it this way.
Well, I think I need spell check, at least that kind which was built in Microsoft Word :). Thanks.
Don’t worry, if it sounds right, we can figure it out… 😉
I like you’re words better
Thanks, means a lot!
PAVEL!!!! These are absolutely sublime. AND YES - it's better this way. I had AI do a few last year... and I still feel weird about it. I started seeing my writing and thinking degrade - so while I still use AI for research (speaking into my phone and asking it to research something while I drive for hours is AWESOME) - but I'm done with using AI for my writing, at least. Thanks for this post, Pavel. I feel less lonely and more connected already.
Thank you, Jerred. I see some peole are more risistant to new techologies like AI and some are adapting faster or too much sometimes. Maybe thre best is the middle way as always, or often, that works....
100% no AI. You are better than whatever some artificial, polished, computer garbage version of you could ever be. If I don’t understand, I’ll just ask. 😜
Thank you, Liza. (this is 100 % non AI reply) :)
Pavel, mate I am glad that you came out and asked.
We all need to reflect. For me writing is part of my growth as an artist. I am hearing many others feel the same.
Having said that English is my second language. My English has gradually improved after I migrated to Australia nearly four decades ago. I love reading, speaking and writing in English. Moreover writing is what I always liked since childhood.
I can't say my English is immaculate. Also at my age sometimes words don't come easily. I still make grammatical errors, use a wrong word here and there and so on. But I do trust goodwill of people who are reading my notes. From my name they know my background. I know they won't be judgemental. I trust they would focus on what I am trying to communicate.
Pavel, one of the best things that happened to me was I came across this book some time ago: "On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft" by Stephen King. This book literally changed my writing. I can't recommend it enough. It is highly digestible, not aloof.
I am an engineer too. I have been retired for about two years now. I definitely relate to digital anxiety. I have some means to combat it. I don't have social media other than substack. I do force myself to write on a paper notebook with handwriting everyday, despite arthritis pain. Even if it is meaningless two paragraphs, that's fine. It reminds me I am human. That's why I value such activities and I try to fulfil them. I occasionally print my photographs. I love the tactile nature of paper, its grain, its reflections, its touch, its feel. I love visiting art exhibitions, not just photography.
But above all I value slowing down. When I go for a photowalk, I ask one good photograph not more. If even that doesn't turn up, I pat my shoulder "that's ok mate, there is tomorrow".
When it comes to AI I adhere to my own guidelines. I am not saying these are universal. Here I am just sharing them to inspire others. They can be tailored to suit individual needs.
1) Predominantly I use Google search box for a simple dictionary search and slightly more elaborate things like "Compare the words X to Y", "Is X is a better word than Y in context Z".
2) I don't use AI chatbots to fix my own writing. I did once, privately out of curiosity. It turned out the results were too polished and screaming "it's not me". I am a firm believer making mistakes is the best way to improve one's skills. AI chatbots (specialised ones for writing) sabotages that. Not only it feels dishonest but its outcome is wrong.
3) Sometimes I use AI response for factual information that I want to quote. The reason being I wouldn't word it differently. So why waste time? But when I do so I quote it and at the end of my writing I put a disclaimer below for my readers like this:
Disclaimer: I used Internet (browser search bar) to help me understand Field of Vision and Peripheral Vision concepts as I am not an expert in those areas. Under the covers my search engine used Gemini LLM. Whenever I did so I quoted the wordings with a suffix ‘- Internet’. All remaining text is mine.
4) When I feel AI hallucinated I double check and verify its response by other means.
Pavel, I hope I didn't sound like an annoying schoolmaster. But overall this is what I know and what I do. I just shared them in the hope they might be useful.
In a nutshell my advice for anyone (not just you) is:
1) Trust the people; they will not judge you, we all make mistakes.
2) Read the book "On Writing" by Stephen King.
3) Your English doesn't need to be perfect. Mine isn't.
4) Learn by writing more, and by making mistakes. I still do.
5) Use AI judiciously but only to share brief, supporting and factual information and always attribute/quote that you did use it.
6) Avoid using chatbots to improve your text en-masse. Your readers deserve authenticity, not AI-authenticity (which is an oxymoron).
Hope these help. If not let me know.
Cheers
Hello Ergun, thanks for sharing your experience and thoughts. I feel you are right. I mean, I am not a big writter even in my native language. Actually I think I wrote more text in english during the years.
I wrote this pice few days after I read note form Michale Wriston notining more and more people are using AI on Substack and it is sad.... I felt guilty.
https://substack.com/@michaelwriston/note/c-248050326?r=1preno&utm_source=notes-share-action&utm_medium=web
Again, many thanks for your tips.
All good man. You shouldn’t feel guilty at all. We learn and move on by focusing on what we do best. I am a huge admirer of your photographs. They are beautiful, meaningful and authentic. You reached to a level only a few could. Please keep up the good work. 💐
Thank you, Ergun!
I like it more when is not “100% correct”
Thank you, so than I should reply with mistake. :)
I have been feeling more and more like I don't want to be anywhere near a computer and I a)quite like computers and b)don't work in an office. You're not alone!
Thanks! It is tricky since this hobby is tied to computers. I know it doesnt have to be that way.
I never use AI. Humans are at the heart of artwork, and tbh society. You cannot outsource yourself and be authentic. And I think people respond with more interest and loyalty when conversation comes from a human brain, not some machine that dies if you cut off the electricity. Anyway, your photos speak enough - you should not feel obliged to write at length about them.
Thanks for your words. In art I absolutely hate when I see using AI to create something. You are right, I should not feel obliged to write at length. But I do. As I see I have a few subscribers, so I thought I should write something...sending photos without text (since it is called newsletter) feels discrespectfull. But, thinking now, using AI also is kind of discrespectful.
But a newsletter can still contain minimal wording - as in succinct, the right words and no more - if the story is in the photos. Your photos are evocative, and your writing can be too, rather than explanatory. Maybe a few descriptive words about the day you explored a particular place, why you went, and how it made you feel. And then let the reader get the rest of the information through what the photos tell them. Substack has originally been utilized by writers, who are not visual artists, their stories are told purely through words. But this platform is expanding to other kinds of artists. So your newsletter is the visual kind, and that is perfectly legit.
I think I am already doing minimal writing. It is that I don't have much to say about the photos usually, because they are mostly just from around my home or during commute. Same thing. So I usually write text that is unrelated....
For example...in January and Februry we had a lot of mist, ˇand I shoot daily. So there is not much to write about. Photos are what they are.
Either way, I honestly think it's a burden to visual artists to have to add words to what they're doing, unless that's part of their work. When does a viewer ever get the chance to contemplate a visual work in silence, taking it all in intuitively and without having immediate explanation/analysis/additional background? Doesn't that make an image unable to stand on its own as an experience without words?
Yes, this is my philosophy. Forme every single image should speak on its own. I am a big beliver in brief titles stating just "place,date" going with photo. Been doing that ever since.... And yes, I feel here this is a burden for me to write something. Maybe I chose wrong platform, because Substatck is built arround text as you mentioned.
It's a good platform, but since I don't share here but only follow/read, I don't know what kinds of templates they have for visual artists. It would be great if they offered a virtual zine template!