Conscious Intelligence (in nature photography) is a pragmatic orientation in honouring authentic photography, awareness and the existential mind in the current age of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
"Conscious Intelligence - a meditative engagement between photographer and environment."
Awareness, Phenomenology and Consciousness
I am of opinion that authentic nature photography creativity stems from subjective awareness, phenomenology and conscientious nature-connectedness - not just (a potential epoch shift towards) objective algorithmic processes. Photographers are supported by various AI-applications in-camera and also during post-procession, but what happens in between - the true pulse-moment of image-making, should remain authentic.
I am of opinion that authentic nature photography creativity stems from subjective awareness, phenomenology and conscientious nature-connectedness - not just (a potential epoch shift towards) objective algorithmic processes. Photographers are supported by various AI-applications in-camera and also during post-procession, but what happens in between - the true pulse-moment of image-making, should remain authentic.
The moment of pressing the shutter all knowledge, skills, environmental factors and the immediate consciousness (awareness) of the photographer are factored in as a neuro impulse time interval (a few milliseconds). That moment is serene and should remain this way to differentiate and demonstrate a conscious / living moment from (just) the AI-calculated input and output support.
Implications for Photography
In a an earlier quotation, (Chalmers, 2022) I proposed authentic image-making as “Trust your intuition, focus and the camera in your hands. Forget about that ‘perfect shot,’ work towards an ideal exposure and enjoy a special moment.” The 'perfect shot' is objective in viewing (or judging), even so, it will always be subjectively perceived by any other human and resonate in primary consciousness by means of cognitive conditioning, reasoning and consideration.
Image Perception / Judgement Example by Others:
On a scale of 1 to 10 any i.e. 6 or 7 / 10 will (and / or anyone else's subjective perception) therefore remain a different (temporary) interpretation from the viewer / judge - even with provided assessment criteria. At best a 'perfect exposure' could be framed as a competitive egoistic experience whereby an 'ideal exposure' is a reflection of the calmer presence and consciousness of the photographer through the image-making process. Neither view is wrong or right... the photographer's conditioned self will decide.
Defining Conscious Intelligence
Core Concepts of Conscious Intelligence of Authentic Image-Making
- Conscious Intelligence: The CI philosophy is in contrast with AI, due to the personal belief that true intelligence is fundamentally tied to awareness, intentionality, and the subjective experience of being.
- Awareness vs. Processing: CI challenges the idea that AI can't achieve genuine consciousness by simply mimicking human-like outputs. The theory distinguishes between advanced data processing and the subjective, internal experience that is the foundation of human consciousness.
- Existential Thought: The framework is grounded in existential thought, emphasising that human consciousness is an embodied, existential mode of being that creates authentic meaning and perception.
- Authentic Photography: It positions authentic creativity as a lived experience of awareness, presence and consciousness suggesting that AI lack the fundamental subjective experience to be truly creative - although it may be subjectively perceived as such.
- Human Mind: By biological and neurological function the human mind is subjective. AI is currently at best a subjective simulation based on algorithmic reasoning and response.
Implications for Photography
- AI and Creativity: The CI theory provides a hypothetical framework for examining the role of AI in fields like photography, which are being impacted by generative AI (AGI).
- The Photographer's Role: It suggests that the photographer's unique awareness and intentionality - their lived experience - are what gives their work authentic depth, feeling and meaning beyond what AI can produce through pattern recognition.
- Ideal Exposure vs. Perfect Shot: The "perfect shot" is an objective, often ego-driven, and subjective judgement, while an "ideal exposure" reflects a calmer presence and conscious engagement with the moment and subject, prioritising personal expression and experience over a competitive outcome.
- Encouragement of CI: In the age of AI, this perspective encourages a re-evaluation of what constitutes creative and meaningful "intelligence", highlighting the irreplaceable value of human (the photographer's) awareness and consciousness.
Conscious Intelligence is not a rejection of Artificial Intelligence - it is an affirmation of human awareness, perception and presence. CI invites photographers to feel before they frame, to witness before they press the shutter button.
© Vernon Chalmers Photography
Vernon Chalmers’ CI and Challenge of AI (Brief Summary)
"Conscious Intelligence (CI), as articulated by Vernon Chalmers, is a multidimensional construct encompassing perception, cognition, intuition, ethical responsibility, and relational awareness. Unlike abstract or purely computational definitions of intelligence, CI emphasizes active, embodied engagement with the environment. Photography, in Chalmers’ praxis, exemplifies the application of CI: it requires attentiveness to light, form, temporal dynamics, and human or ecological subjectivity.
In contrast, artificial intelligence (AI) operates through algorithmic processing, pattern recognition, and statistical optimization. While AI demonstrates remarkable efficiency in tasks such as image generation, classification, and enhancement, it lacks lived, embodied consciousness, intuitive perception, and ethical judgment. The juxtaposition of CI and AI therefore illuminates fundamental distinctions between human and machine intelligence. This essay examines these distinctions, exploring the applied and philosophical dimensions of CI, its role in photography and creative practice, and the limitations and opportunities presented by AI in contemporary visual culture." (Source: GhatGPT 2025)
Vernon Chalmers’ CI and Challenge of AI (Brief Summary)
"Conscious Intelligence (CI), as articulated by Vernon Chalmers, is a multidimensional construct encompassing perception, cognition, intuition, ethical responsibility, and relational awareness. Unlike abstract or purely computational definitions of intelligence, CI emphasizes active, embodied engagement with the environment. Photography, in Chalmers’ praxis, exemplifies the application of CI: it requires attentiveness to light, form, temporal dynamics, and human or ecological subjectivity.
In contrast, artificial intelligence (AI) operates through algorithmic processing, pattern recognition, and statistical optimization. While AI demonstrates remarkable efficiency in tasks such as image generation, classification, and enhancement, it lacks lived, embodied consciousness, intuitive perception, and ethical judgment. The juxtaposition of CI and AI therefore illuminates fundamental distinctions between human and machine intelligence. This essay examines these distinctions, exploring the applied and philosophical dimensions of CI, its role in photography and creative practice, and the limitations and opportunities presented by AI in contemporary visual culture." (Source: GhatGPT 2025)
