In The Synthetic Eye: Photography Transformed in the Age of AI, Fred Ritchin offers a profound reflection on the transformation of photography in the era of artificial intelligence. He examines the new forms of generated images as well as the epistemological, social, and ethical issues raised by this “synthetic vision.” While photography has long been regarded as proof of the real, the rise of generative systems now disrupts this trust. Ritchin reminds us that falsification has always existed, but AI radically democratizes the production of deceptive images, forcing us to reconsider our relationship to reality. Between the risk of a complete collapse of confidence and the possibility of creative renewal, he sees in AI a potential partner—provided that ethical control is maintained. Through examples such as ThisPersonDoesNotExist and the controversies surrounding Amnesty International’s AI-generated imagery, Ritchin highlights the aesthetic and political challenges of this new era. His book stands as an essential guide to understanding the stakes of photography in the age of synthetic images.
Reference :
Jessica Ragazzini « FRED RITCHIN. THE SYNTHETIC EYE: PHOTOGRAPHY TRANSFORMED IN THE AGE OF AI | THAMES & HUDSON », Musée Magazine, Vanguard of Photography culture, November 2025