Many serious photographers have pulled out their pitchforks regarding AI due to widespread arguments about how AI models are trained; At worst, it's full-scale copyright theft and at best… well, let's save that discussion for another day.
After reading some of the discussion about how photographers would lose out from AI image generation, it got me thinking about how photographers could turn the tide and benefit from AI, without image creation or editing being part of it. the equation.
Wanting to get the best information possible, I sat down and spoke with an expert, Claude.ai.
“In addition to image generation, manipulation and editing, what are some of the ways AI can benefit photographers?”
I already knew the type of answers I could expect, so I wasn't surprised when the answers included “Write model releases and other documents” and “Write captions for images on social media.” However, one suggestion caught my attention enough to investigate it further.
'Create detailed location scouting reports combining weather, lighting and timing data'
This was something so obvious, but one I had never considered. I had seen numerous articles about how people asked AI to suggest their next vacation spot based on their demands, and even make them an itinerary, but it had never occurred to me that the same could be done with photography.
Give advice
Intrigued I asked him,
'What considerations would you make if you were a photographer and wanted to visit a place to take photographs at the best possible time? I want you to think about the needs of a landscape or travel photographer? (The irony is not lost on me that the AI could have asked that question much better.)
The list of considerations I received was comprehensive; He had apparently thought of everything. I'll spare you the written answer and put it as an image; otherwise I will exceed the word count of this article. However, it covered everything expected, such as sun position, sunrise and sunset times, typical weather, etc., but impressively included local weather phenomena, wildlife migration patterns, season flowering/foliage of plants, tide times, peak tourist seasons, religious and cultural aspects. ceremonies, road conditions, avalanche risks… the list went on and on.
So I thought I'd test your knowledge by asking you what the best time of year is to visit somewhere on most photographers' bucket lists: Jökulsarlon in Iceland. Having visited there myself, I have some knowledge of the location and was interested to see your response.
'Late August, specifically around 4:30-5:30 am'
That wasn't the end of course, Claude.ai explained their findings with 26 different reasons. Leaving aside climatic considerations, among the most interesting reasons were that the tourist crowds would be smaller, the roads would be completely accessible, there would be possibility of sunrise and aurora within the same photography session, birds and seals would be active in the area . and August has a good flow of ice from the glacier.
However, I was not satisfied. I wanted a exact date and time for the year 2025.
'I estimate that August 23, 2025 at 4:45 am is the optimal time, and here's why:'
Again, there was a huge list of explanations, including all of those mentioned above. He even mentioned that the morning low tide was best for photographing the ice formations at nearby Diamond Beach. He also mentioned that “pre-weekend hours mean fewer morning photographers”, but this was not entirely correct.
AI is not infallible. As a language model, it basically involves looking at words and making a calculation about which word comes next. It turns out that while all the information was generally correct and logically sound, some of the details were wrong. First of all, August 23rd of next year is a Saturday, so it can't be a “previous weekend.” He also said that sunrise would be at 5:39 a.m., which is close, but it's actually 5:21 a.m. Additionally, he suggested that the moon phase would be in the first quarter, but that day next year is actually new moon, so even though it's technically in the first quarter, it will be barely visible, which will actually make it ideal for astrophotography. . The suggested average temperature of 9°C (48°F) was accurate, as was the suggestion that the chance of rain would be less than in September. The suggestion that the tide would be low was also reasonable, given that the exact low point will be 7:57.
Everything that was most logical was well thought out; It would still be in the summer travel season so Iceland is easy to get to and around, however the season would be winding down and the lagoon would be much quieter at that time of the morning before the tour buses start arriving. around 8 am. . This also means that the parking lot will be quiet. He also said it would allow photographers to capture the first light of icebergs and capture multiple compositions as the light changes during sunrise.
Claude AI vs ChatGPT
For balance, I also did the same experiment with ChatGPT. He gave me a different date,
“A great date and time to visit Jökulsárlón in 2025 would be Thursday, March 27, 2025.”
He gave me less reasoning related to logistics and I focused solely on the photography and the timeline he suggested. '…favorable conditions with a balanced partial moon, optimal aurora visibility and manageable weather for winter photography.'
Back at Claude AI, I corrected him in his errors and he revised the suggested date to 4:00 am on Thursday 21, 2025. I then asked him for an itinerary, which you can see at the end of this article.
Although the information they gave me was not perfect, it was close enough and, more importantly, so was the logic behind their 'thought'. We may not be there yet in terms of being able to trust AI 100%, but as AI gains more access to APIs and relevant websites, we're probably less than a year away from being able to simply ask which It is the best time to take photos and get accurate live data. Especially since you can train the AI to learn your preferences for weather, lighting, and locations.
I've already started using AI to help me plan the best time of year to take certain photos here in the UK, and while I ran into some inaccuracies, it's also opened my eyes to things I hadn't even considered. when visiting a place.
Planning a photography trip will never be the same again.
The itinerary:
Here is a detailed itinerary to photograph Jökulsárlón on Thursday, August 21, 2025:
4:00 am – Departure
Depart from nearby accommodation (staying in Höfn or closer is recommended)
Checking the weather and aurora before departure.
Checking equipment, including extra batteries (morning temperatures around 8°C/46°F)
4:30 am – Arrival and initial setup
Park in the main lot while it is dark.
Quick scan of lagoon conditions and ice positions.
Set the main camera for dark sky/aurora if conditions allow
Check tide times for access to Diamond Beach
4:30-4:45 am – Dark Sky Photography
Focus on any auroras or star reflections in the lagoon.
Use higher ISOs in the dark (probably 3200-6400)
Consider light painting some icebergs in the foreground.
4:45-5:00 am – Blue hour before sunrise
Switch to lagoon compositions
Begin longer exposures of water movement.
Look for ice formations by catching the first light
Consider panoramic sequences
5:00-5:21 am – Civil Twilight
Go to the previously explored primary composition
Capture the colors of the ice that emerge
Keep an eye out for wildlife (seals, birds)
Consider Graduated ND Filters as Light Increases
5:21-5:45 am – Sunrise
Captures direct light on the ice.
Go to secondary compositions
Focus on backlighting through ice.
Watch for rays of light passing through ice structures
5:45-6:15 am – Early morning light
Quick move to Diamond Beach
Capture ice on black sand at first light
Work with wave movements around the ice.
Consider both wide-angle and telephoto compositions.
6:15-7:00 am – Golden Hour
Return to the lagoon to enjoy different angles of light.
Capture reflections in calmer waters
Detailed shots of ice textures in good light.
Broader final compositions with established light.
7:00 am – Conclusion
Final shots before the tourist arrives.
Consider sticking with a different light if conditions are exceptional.
Head to breakfast while reviewing images.
Key team considerations for this timeline:
Wide angle (16-35mm equivalent) for dark sky
Mid-range zoom (24-70mm) for main compositions
Telephoto lens (70-200mm) for details on ice
Sturdy tripod for long exposures
ND and polarizing filters.
Waterproof boots for work on the beach.
Headlight with red light option
Weather protection for equipment