Human + Machine: Michael Childers Melds His Legendary Photographs With AI for a New Exhibit at Melissa Morgan Fine Art

Artificial intelligence …. friend or foe? Many creative professionals see it as a threat which will take away their livelihoods. Yet some, like renowned photographer Michael Childers and printer/photographer Stephen Baumbach, are embracing the new technology.

In fact, the two have collaborated with each other and AI—and the results can be seen in the AI Photography exhibition, on display at Melissa Morgan Fine Art at Palm Desert from Friday, April 5, through Friday, May 10.

“It doesn’t mean that Michael and Stephen used an artificial paint brush,” said Alec Longmuir, a director and partner at Melissa Morgan. “They combined the best of both worlds, welding them together. They are taking human figures and integrating them in an abstract environment.”

Childers’ original photographs were fed into the AI tool with text prompts, producing the generated images. Baumbach, a visionary known for combining traditional techniques with modern technology, brought his tech savvy to the party to create the cutting-edge images.

“AI is growing; it’s moving fast and continuing at a rapid pace,” Baumbach said. “While some may be wary about the use of AI in the creative arts, it is a valuable tool for photographers. It gives us new ways to explore our creative expression and push the boundaries of traditional photography.”

Said Childers: “I used my photographs from the past that I felt passionate about. It was an extension of all my senses. AI reads my mind and takes images—of what I’m feeling and thinking, like an encyclopedia of our brains, using my films and stills—and turns them into live images.”

Baumbach sees AI as a saver of time and resources.

“AI-generated images are not meant to replace human creativity. but serve as a tool for it,” he said, adding that by accepting the use of AI, photographers can push boundaries—and play an important role in shaping the future of photography.

An AI system can process and record up to trillions of images. It can analyze large amounts of data and use what it “learns” to generate images that would be difficult or even impossible for humans to create.

Steven Biller, the longtime editorial director of Palm Springs Life, will moderate the “AI Photography Tea and Talk” at Melissa Morgan from 1 to 3 p.m., Sunday, April 21.

“It’s a great collaboration between Michael and AI,” Biller said. “He combines his sense of fantasy and reality that separates him from the other artists. The photos are provocative and have a sexiness to them. It’s groundbreaking work. … It’s really exciting to see older artists like Michael embracing AI and will inspire a lot of artists to collaborate with all the new technology.”

Even so, some photographers still see AI as an enemy that steals published works and could replace the human portion of photography, making it merely a technical process. Baumbach counters that the best AI-generated images are a collaboration between human and machine, saving the photographer’s time and allowing them to focus on their creative vision.

“Don’t fear it; it won’t hurt you,” Baumbach said. “You need to jump out there, or you’re going to miss out. It’s all good. It’s not gloom and doom.”

Michael Childers’ AI Photography exhibit will be on display from Friday, April 5, through Friday, May 10, at Melissa Morgan Fine Art, 73660 El Paseo, in Palm Desert. An opening reception takes place from 4 to 7 p.m., Friday, April 5. The “AI Photography Tea and Talk” will take place from 1 to 3 p.m., Sunday, April 21. To RSVP for the talk or get more information, visit melissamorganfineart.com.