Smile for the AI Camera – The Creative Intellect of Luke Nugent
London-based creative Luke Nugent is on the surface a photographer who through his lens shares intimate, flamboyant, and energetic set pieces that invite emotion and response.
More recently though he has been dipping his toe into the metaverse of AI and its digital capabilities.
Through his talents behind the lens paired with his creative vision, Nugent has enhanced his work by tapping into the potential of AI software, and together the two powers intertwine and are creating truly intriguing and unexplored grounds when it comes to photography.
As an astounding photographer already, creating campaigns and looks that transport us into a new reality but still remain grounded in their narrative, the UK-based photographer distills this same notion into his AI work but with invigorated charm and curiosity. It’s clear to see in his AI work that he is a professional in the real world of photography as angles, compositions, sets, and styling are all immaculate.
The content produced by Nugent is nothing short of amazing: enticing, peculiar, and ghoulish. His work transports us into a sense of nostalgia with hints of the 80s/90s style, but also alludes to a plane of non-existence; sci-fi melts together with pop culture as we are left looking into something we feel like we’ve seen before but can never reach the point of putting our finger on where. This method of conjuring up emotions of discomfort and uncertainness whilst also simultaneously being mesmerized is exactly why Nugent’s work is so impressive to us.
The signature traits of AI renders are well present in his work, and although usually deemed as ‘faults’ such as elongated features, incorrect number of fingers, and surreal facial expressions, this only adds to the entire picture. Nugents digitalized models truly feel like they are looking at you, not the camera, and their piercing eyes create a sense of uneasiness that is unmatched by traditional photography.
