Wildlife Photographer Brings Photos From Best-Selling Book to Life With AI

AI is transforming photography faster than any technology in history. What once took days of travel, planning, and waiting for the perfect light can now be generated in seconds — by anyone, from anywhere, with just a few keystrokes.

You don’t need a crystal ball to see where this is going: Soon, AI-generated images will be virtually indistinguishable from real photographs. No expensive gear, no long-haul flights, no missed shots — just instant perfection.

This poses a serious challenge for professional photographers. AI artists don’t need to invest in equipment or experience, wait for the right weather, or spend time or money on traveling — they can produce vast volumes of work at a fraction of the cost.

So what happens to the art of photography — and the people behind the lens?

These questions have been at the top of my mind for a few years.

AI is the fifth revolution mankind has ever experienced. Most people still don’t grasp what it can do or where it’s going. Some are excited, and others are deeply concerned. I am both.

AI is a serious threat to our profession.

“Many of my colleagues hate or fear AI, and I understand that. It poses a real danger to our work. However, focusing only on the negative is short-sighted. AI will create millions of new artists and galaxies of new art. That’s exciting to me — even if it’s also uncomfortable.

Wildlife and landscape photography isn’t just about creating a beautiful image; it’s also about the experience — scouting the location, watching animals behave, waiting for the light to change, and enjoying the outdoors. AI can never replace that.

But AI is inevitable. It will touch every aspect of our lives. So instead of treating it as an existential threat, I’ve explored what it can add.

Last month, I immersed myself in the world of AI-generated video.
Using images from my best-selling book MOTHER – A Tribute to Mother Earth, I began experimenting with bringing my most popular photographs to life. The process was new and a little intimidating at first, but the results were compelling.

I quickly got the hang of it and was blown away by what AI could do. It’s far from perfect, but it's mind-blowing for something still in its infancy.

I chose a method that gave me complete creative control: writing prompts to guide the AI.

It’s like directing a film. You pre-visualize a scene: What is the subject doing? Is the camera moving or static? What are the conditions like? How does the light shift? What’s outside the frame if I pan left? Writing those prompts became addictive — it was creatively stimulating in an entirely new way.

I kept the style simple and natural, like I do with my photography, but added a few winks. For most scenes, I started with the original image and worked from there; for other scenes, I used the original image to work towards. After a couple of days, I edited the best results together, added music and sound effects, and there it was: my photographs, brought to life.

I’m not an AI expert, but I'm thrilled with the result. It’s added a new dimension to my work — one I never thought possible — and I love it.

I am not giving up traditional photography. I will still travel, shoot, and lead tours. But I now see AI as a powerful tool in the creative arsenal — not a replacement but an extension.

I hope you like my experiment.

To be continued.

All original images were shot with Nikon cameras and lenses.

Marsel | squiver.com