Uploaded February 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Is photography getting too polished for its own good? In Episode 679 of The Grid, Scott and Erik dive into the rise of intentional imperfection—sparked by a widely discussed article from AI founder Matt Shumer about how fast artificial intelligence is evolving (and what that means for all of us). While it isn't about photography, the implications hit hard: AI can now edit, restore, generate, and even show signs of “taste.” As flawless, AI-smoothed images risk feeling sterile, more photographers are leaning into grit, grain, nostalgia, and authenticity. They unpack presets vs. learning, Gemini inside Photoshop, AI-powered restoration, and the bigger question—what makes a photo feel real in the first place?
ABOUT THE GRID PHOTOGRAPHY WEBCAST
The Grid is a live weekly talk show for photographers, featuring practical Lightroom and Photoshop tips, gear talk, plug-ins, and plenty of hot takes on the latest photography trends and industry news. Each episode mixes real-world advice, creative inspiration, and lively conversation with special guests. Watch LIVE each Wednesday on KelbyOne.com, YouTube, or Facebook, and join the discussion anywhere with #TheGridLive.
Visit: https://kel.by/thegrid
ABOUT SCOTT KELBY
Scott is a photographer, award-winning author, and the original "Photoshop Guy," as well as the CEO of KelbyOne, an online educational community for Photographers, Photoshop, and Lightroom users.
ABOUT ERIK KUNA
Driven by a passion for creating inspiring images, I work with artists and media focused on creating photos, animations, motion art, and videos that communicate the story and capture the beauty, wonder, and amazement of space exploration.
TIMELINE
00:00 Intro
01:20 The rise of intentional imperfection
04:54 What AI is really changing
09:07 Can AI develop taste?
17:38 Nostalgia, imperfection & why it resonates
28:26 Viewer questions
32:50 Photoshop AI & restoration tools
33:43 Learning skills vs. relying on presets
35:31 AI: threat or tool?
40:06 Drawing your personal AI line
43:15 Google Gemini + Lightroom
53:33 The social side of photography
58:00 Final thoughts
Is photography getting too polished for its own good? In Episode 679 of The Grid, Scott and Erik dive into the rise of intentional imperfection—sparked by a widely discussed article from AI founder Matt Shumer about how fast artificial intelligence is evolving (and what that means for all of us). While it isn't about photography, the implications hit hard: AI can now edit, restore, generate, and even show signs of “taste.” As flawless, AI-smoothed images risk feeling sterile, more photographers are leaning into grit, grain, nostalgia, and authenticity. They unpack presets vs. learning, Gemini inside Photoshop, AI-powered restoration, and the bigger question—what makes a photo feel real in the first place?
ABOUT THE GRID PHOTOGRAPHY WEBCAST
The Grid is a live weekly talk show for photographers, featuring practical Lightroom and Photoshop tips, gear talk, plug-ins, and plenty of hot takes on the latest photography trends and industry news. Each episode mixes real-world advice, creative inspiration, and lively conversation with special guests. Watch LIVE each Wednesday on KelbyOne.com, YouTube, or Facebook, and join the discussion anywhere with #TheGridLive.
Visit: https://kel.by/thegrid
ABOUT SCOTT KELBY
Scott is a photographer, award-winning author, and the original "Photoshop Guy," as well as the CEO of KelbyOne, an online educational community for Photographers, Photoshop, and Lightroom users.
ABOUT ERIK KUNA
Driven by a passion for creating inspiring images, I work with artists and media focused on creating photos, animations, motion art, and videos that communicate the story and capture the beauty, wonder, and amazement of space exploration.
TIMELINE
00:00 Intro
01:20 The rise of intentional imperfection
04:54 What AI is really changing
09:07 Can AI develop taste?
17:38 Nostalgia, imperfection & why it resonates
28:26 Viewer questions
32:50 Photoshop AI & restoration tools
33:43 Learning skills vs. relying on presets
35:31 AI: threat or tool?
40:06 Drawing your personal AI line
43:15 Google Gemini + Lightroom
53:33 The social side of photography
58:00 Final thoughts
