- AI & Photography Interview Series, INTERVIEWS, Interviews, News, Photographic Practice, Photography & AI
AI and Photography Interview Series: Bonobo Stone on Authenticity, Evolution and Modern-Day Cave Painting
Introduction There are few artists embracing artificial intelligence as unapologetically as Bonobo Stone. While much of the conversation surrounding AI focuses on questions of authenticity, copyright and creative ownership, Stone approaches the technology from an entirely different perspective—not as a replacement for artistic practice but as a rich source of raw material to be transformed through collage, experimentation and human imagination. The works accompanying this interview reflect that philosophy. Combining bold black-and-white forms with echoes of cave painting, ritual masks, symbolic portraiture and contemporary graphic design, Stone creates images that feel both ancient and futuristic. AI serves as the starting point rather than the destination; generated elements are cut apart,…
AI and Photography: Gianluca Ricoveri on Truth, Memory and Presence
Introduction In this latest conversation for my ongoing AI and Photography interview series, I speak with Italian photographer and artist Gianluca Ricoveri, whose work many readers will already know through TheAppWhisperer and our print store, where I have the privilege of representing his collection. Gianluca’s photographs – from his contemplative Tuscan landscapes to his richly observed botanical studies – have long carried a profound sense of stillness, intimacy and emotional attention. That quality feels especially relevant within this discussion on artificial intelligence. Gianluca’s images are rooted in observation, patience and lived experience – qualities that increasingly feel at odds with the speed and synthetic fluency of AI-generated imagery. His work…
How to Edit a Photography Portfolio (2026)
How to Edit a Photography Portfolio (2026) Editing a photography portfolio is one of the most difficult parts of photographic practice. Making the work is one thing; deciding what stays, what goes, and what ultimately speaks for you is something else entirely. Over the years, whether preparing work for exhibitions, competitions, funding applications or postgraduate study, I’ve found that editing is often where the real shape of a project begins to emerge. A strong portfolio is rarely about showing everything. It’s about showing enough. One of the most common mistakes photographers make is overloading a portfolio with too many images. The instinct is understandable. We become attached to…
How to Write an Artist Statement for Photography Applications (A Practical Guide for 2026)
I have never met many photographers who enjoy writing artist statements. Most of us would rather make the work, edit the work, print the work, sequence the work – almost anything other than sit down and explain it. There is something quite uncomfortable about trying to put visual thinking into words, especially when the work may have begun from instinct, memory, frustration, curiosity or something much harder to name. But artist statements do matter, particularly if you are applying for an MA, a grant, a residency, an exhibition or any opportunity where someone is meeting the work without you standing beside it. The statement helps the reader understand what they…
“The Imperfect Human Hand May Become the Most Radical Artistic Gesture of All” — Jane Schultz on AI and Photography
Over the years, through TheAppWhisperer, I have had the privilege of not only publishing the work of some of the world’s most influential mobile artists but also forming genuine friendships with many of them. Jane Schultz is one of those artists. I first met Jane and her husband, Dave, in London some years ago, and what struck me immediately was her depth of thought, her warmth, and her unwavering commitment to authentic creative practice. Jane has long been one of the most respected voices within the mobile art community, creating work that is emotionally rich, layered and deeply personal. Jane is also one of the artists I represent through TheAppWhisperer…
From My Bookshelves: 10 Photography Books That Continue to Influence My Practice
Looking back through almost two decades of writing for TheAppWhisperer, reviewing photobooks, interviewing photographers and studying photography myself, I recently realised I had reached a rather practical problem: I had run out of room for my photobook collection. The solution was the installation of yet another set of bookcases, a reminder not only of how many photography books I have accumulated over the years, but also of how frequently I return to them. As I was unpacking and reorganising the shelves, I found myself revisiting old favourites and rediscovering books that had influenced my thinking at different stages of my photographic journey. The titles included here represent only a small…
What Happens When AI Starts Curating Our Memories?
What Happens When AI Starts Curating Our Memories? Yesterday, Apple unveiled what it describes as an entirely new generation of Siri, powered by Apple Intelligence. Far more than a voice assistant, Siri AI has been designed to understand personal context across a user’s devices, drawing information from emails, messages, photographs, notes and applications to provide more personalised and conversational responses. Among the most significant developments are Siri’s ability to understand what is displayed on screen, retrieve information from personal archives, analyse visual content, and assist with writing, editing and everyday tasks. Apple is also introducing a dedicated Siri app, allowing users to continue conversations across devices while maintaining…
Michelle Sank on AI, Photography, Truth and Authenticity
Michelle Sank on AI, Photography and the Future of Seeing Michelle Sank was one of the first photographers I thought of when I started putting this series together. Born in South Africa and later settling in Britain, her work has often explored questions of identity, belonging and displacement, examining how people navigate social, cultural and personal change. Over the years, Sank has photographed communities, families and individuals with a quiet sensitivity that allows stories to emerge rather than be imposed upon the viewer. Her projects have taken her from South Africa to the UK and beyond, often focusing on those whose lives lie at the edges of broader political and…
Best Photography Grants, Scholarships and Funding Opportunities in the USA (2026)
Photography has never been an inexpensive profession. Whether you’re funding a documentary project, producing a photobook, travelling for a long-term body of work or pursuing further education, the costs can quickly become overwhelming. The good news is that the United States remains one of the best places in the world for photographers seeking grants, fellowships, scholarships and project funding. Over the years, I have interviewed photographers who have used grants to fund everything from environmental projects and documentary investigations to exhibitions, publications and postgraduate study. Many of the opportunities below provide far more than financial support. They can also offer mentorship, industry recognition, exhibition opportunities and access to influential networks…
How Professional Photographers Build Online Portfolios in 2026
One of the questions I’m asked most often by photographers is whether they still need a portfolio website. After all, many of us spend a significant amount of time sharing work on Instagram, Facebook and other social media platforms. It’s where conversations happen, where communities form and where new work is often first seen. My answer is always the same: yes. Social media is useful, but it isn’t a portfolio. It never has been. Over the years, through TheAppWhisperer, I’ve looked at thousands of photographers’ websites. I’ve interviewed photographers and mobile artists from around the world, reviewed portfolios, judged competitions and followed the development of artists at every stage of…



































