The Pitfalls of the Information and AI Era: Why Learning Photography Is Harder Than Ever | Focus #531
Cover photo by つばさ製作所
With the advancement of smartphone technology, the rise of social media, and AI-powered auto-editing, photography seems more accessible than ever. However, from a learning perspective, the difficulty of photography education has actually increased.
Clickbait-style shallow tutorials, trend-driven content, and the algorithmic trap that buries accurate information have made it harder than ever to discern the knowledge that truly matters. The ability to identify essential information is now more critical than ever.
The Flood of Information and Decline in Quality
As of 2025, the internet is saturated with countless photography tutorials and courses. However, many of them are designed solely to attract views, lacking depth and technical accuracy.
Photo by mar00ram
In the past, the limited availability of content ensured a certain level of quality. Today, however, misinformation and biased techniques are rampant. Beginners, in particular, are exposed to an environment where it is difficult to discern what is accurate.
Entertainment Over Education
Social media algorithms prioritize “viral” content over “educational” content. As a result, visually appealing tutorials gain attention, while genuinely useful content often gets buried.
Photo by 写真家 原田涼太
Furthermore, with AI-powered auto-correction becoming the norm, the importance of learning manual techniques is often overlooked. While the visuals may look polished, opportunities to develop the essence of photographic expression and creativity are being lost.
The Loss of Space for Individuality
Chasing trendy styles alone does not nurture one’s personal “photographic vision.” Beginners often find themselves swayed by the number of “likes,” prioritizing validation over genuine creative intent.
Photo by 小原絃達
True learning involves time and trial and error. Staying focused on your interests and sensibilities, rather than being distracted by superficial success, is the most important approach.
