Aiello Studios

06/04/2026

A simple botanical photograph became something quite different. For our latest "How We Made It" article, we walk through the transformation of Golden Barrel Cactus DA78, from a straightforward cactus photograph to an abstract, pastel-inspired digital artwork using Flux Kontext Pro, Photoshop, and ON1 Photo RAW.

The process demonstrates how image-to-image AI tools can be used to reinterpret a photograph while still preserving its original structure and character.

The article includes the original image, the AI-generated version, intermediate steps, and the final result.

Transforming a straightforward botanical photograph into a more abstract interpretation.

05/27/2026

Here's our latest article on AI Photography Training. Starting with a straightforward botanical photograph, we explored how subtle AI-assisted edits and creative effects could transform the image's mood without losing its photographic roots. I hope you check it out.

https://aiphotographytraining.substack.com/p/how-we-made-chilicote-2387t

How We Made Chilicote

05/20/2026

Photographers occupy an unusual place in the AI discussion. We increasingly use AI tools in editing, enhancement, and transformation workflows, yet our original images, creative decisions, and visual experience remain central to the process.

Lately, there have been signs that broader AI policy discussions may be starting to recognize that relationship in Washington. That doesn’t necessarily mean new protections are coming, and it certainly doesn’t mean the technology is slowing down. But it may mean creators are becoming harder to ignore, particularly when it comes to training AI datasets.

Our latest article explores what this possible shift could mean for photographers and why provenance, authorship, and participation in the conversation may matter more than ever.

A subtle shift in AI policy discussions suggests photographers and artists may no longer be treated as invisible inputs to AI systems

05/14/2026

AI and copyright debates are no longer staying inside tech circles and lawsuits.

The U.S. Trade Representative recently included AI-related copyright concerns in its annual Special 301 Report, signaling that issues surrounding AI training data, creator rights, and intellectual property are increasingly becoming larger policy discussions.

For photographers, this raises important questions:
• Were our images used in training datasets?
• Will licensing systems eventually emerge?
• How do we balance innovation with creator rights?

At the same time, many photographers are using AI responsibly within their own workflows for editing, cleanup, restoration, and reference-based transformations. That is a very different conversation from the large-scale scraping of copyrighted work without clear consent or transparency.

In our latest AI Photography Training article, we take a practical, photography-first look at what this development may mean for the future.

https://aiphotographytraining.substack.com/p/the-us-government-ai-training

05/04/2026

There’s something about Watson Lake that invites you to slow down and look a little longer. But being there at the “right” time isn’t always an option. Now, that may not be the limitation it once was.

This photograph was originally made in the afternoon, but I revisited it later using a context-aware AI tool, namely Nano Banana Pro via Leonardo AI, to shift the light toward sunset. The goal wasn’t to reinvent the scene, but to stay true to what was already there, just seen differently.

Fine Art and commercial photography have always involved interpretation. This feels like a continuation of that, another way to explore light, timing, and mood after the moment has passed.

You can learn more about using AI as a tool at our AI Photography Training Substack; it's free.

https://aiphotographytraining.substack.com

04/22/2026

AI Imaging News — April 2026 is up.
This issue looks at where things are settling for photographers:
- Copyright is still centered on human authorship
-Editing tools are becoming more flexible and context-aware
-And provenance, how an image is made, is starting to matter more

The takeaway is simple. AI works best as a tool, not a replacement.

https://aiphotographytraining.substack.com/p/ai-imaging-news-spring-2026

Our periodic news roundup for photographers and visual artists working with, or considering, AI tools.

04/20/2026

What began as an intentional camera movement study of a branched pencil cholla gradually moved into something more interpretive. It was created from an original ICM photograph and further refined in Topaz Studio 2, a discontinued multi-layer editor (not to be confused with their new Topaz Studio service). No AI was used in this one.

The radiating lines extend outward in fine strands, suggesting structure, motion, and a sense of depth. The palette is restrained, with soft grays and muted tones, allowing the light to define the image.

This is one of those cases where the original subject is still present, but no longer the focus. Instead, it becomes a foundation for exploring pattern, movement, and transformation.