The Lens, The Brush, and the Algorithm

There was a time not to long ago when creativity was considered untouchable too human, too spontaneous, too emotionally rich to ever be replicated by a machine. Creativity was our masterpiece, a uniquely human spark in the dark, lighting up everything from poetry to painting, from music to photography.

But here we are.

Artificial Intelligence, particularly generative AI, is no longer science fiction. It's in our apps, in our workflows, and dare I say it in our art. It’s reshaping what it means to create. And for those of us in visual storytelling photographers, designers, filmmakers there’s a question that now lurks in every conversation: Is AI a threat to creative roles, or a tool that unlocks even more imaginative possibilities? Spoiler Alert: I lean toward the latter.

Growing up, I was obsessed with anime. I’d watch in awe, imagining if I could ever bring Nairobi to life in that soft, pastel-colored, whimsical style. But there was one small problem—I lacked the patience to draw it.

Fast forward to today: I revisited some of my street photography from Nairobi and ran them through an AI tool that transforms photos into anime-style art. What came out was... magic. It wasn’t just a filter. It was a reimagination. AI helped me do something I had long dreamed of, without replacing me. The soul was still mine. The vision, still mine. But the execution? That was a collaboration—with a machine.

Here’s the thing: AI isn’t here to steal our jobs. It’s here to do the boring stuff. It drafts, it suggests, it automates. It gives us back the time to be human again to focus on storytelling, emotion, mood, originality.

Think of AI as your behind-the-scenes editor, your brainstorming buddy, or your post-processing assistant that never sleeps. It’s not the artist, but the brush. And when used wisely, it can help you paint more vividly than ever before.

What this means for us (yes, you too) is that the creative future isn’t man vs machine. It’s man with machine, but that means you have to adapt:

• Use AI. Play, experiment, create. You can’t master what you don’t use.

• Learn prompt engineering. Talking to AI effectively is the new Photoshop skill. The better you prompt, the better the result.

• Structure your ideas. Codify your creativity. The value of knowledge isn’t just in having it but in organizing and sharing it across platforms, teams, even generations.

• Expect disruption. AI might just be the printing press of our age, and like in 1439, revolutions don’t come quietly.

So, the question is, will You Still Be You? Absolutely, but you’ll be you with superpowers a creative who leverages tools, understands the shift, and rides the wave rather than resisting the tide. Photography is about capturing the world through your lens. AI doesn’t take away the eye. It enhances the vision. So go ahead dream bigger, shoot bolder, and imagine your work not just as a product of today, but a glimpse into the creative future we’re all helping to shape.

What are your thoughts? Is AI the End or a New Beginning for Creatives?

A Rainy Season Revelation

Amboseli—land of giants, where elephants roam with Mount Kilimanjaro towering in the background, this has always been one of my favourite places to visit as a photographer. I envisioned golden light, herds of elephants marching in dust clouds, and that iconic shot of a tusker with snow-capped peaks behind him. But nature had other plans. The rains had arrived early. The landscape, lush and glistening, was beautiful—but eerily quiet. The elephants? Nowhere in sight.

 

It had been quite a while since my friends and I were out camping, so this was a trip for us to remind ourselves of the good ol’ camping days and what to do and carry. The trip started off well, but late, and we were arriving at the park gate around 16:40 and clouds were beginning to gather. We quickly proceeded to make payments and checkout the campsite before heading out for a game drive.

Just as we were kicking off our game drive, eager to catch a glimpse of the wild, we heard this suspicious thud-thud-thud from outside the vehicle. We slowed down, only to discover the classic safari curveball—a puncture.

Now picture this: we're in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by who-knows-what, debating our next move. Do we channel our inner heroes, step out, and risk becoming a lion’s appetizer or an elephant’s accidental speed bump? 

After some calls to the rangers (and a few nervous glances at the bushes), we got the all-clear. Tools out, tyre changed—while constantly looking over our shoulders like we were in a horror movie. Eventually, with adrenaline still pumping, we headed back to camp and decided we’d earned ourselves a solid dinner.

Camp was setup, and it was dinner and vibes into the night as we planned to redeem our time lost the following morning.

Sunrise at camp

The next morning, after breakfast, we embarked on our game drive. We were fortunate enough to witness breathtaking views of Mount Kilimanjaro throughout the day, while only encountering a few elephants. 

One of the only elephants we saw on this trip.

As you can see, we had a great time with Mount Kilimanjaro. Afterward, we headed to camp for the evening as the sun began to set. The next morning, we woke up early and prepared for our second morning game drive before checking out. However, as we were about to leave, we discovered a second puncture. We couldn’t help but laugh and decided to cancel our game plans. We asked KWS for a rescue service to help us fix our tires. While the camp rangers came to fix our two damaged tires, we had a relaxed morning. We enjoyed breakfast, watched the sunrise over Kilimanjaro, and finally set up camp.

All in all, this was a fantastic trip. We may have missed out on seeing elephants, but we certainly got a great treat from Mount Kilimajaro. Now, it’s time to plan our next adventure. Thank you for indulging me in this. Please don’t forget to comment below and show some love.

See you in the next blog!

Reintroducing Myself

Hey there!

I'm Steve Kitots – and whether you've been following my journey from the beginning or you're just discovering my work, welcome (or welcome back!)

Over the years, I’ve had the honor of capturing moments that speak louder than words — quiet sunsets, explosive joy, powerful stories told through frames of light and shadow. But as seasons change, so do we. I’ve grown, refined my vision, and reconnected with the why behind my work.

So today, I’m reintroducing myself — not just as a photographer, but as a storyteller, a creative visionary, and a passionate believer in the power of visual narrative.

A Bit About Me

I’m a Kenyan creative, deeply inspired by everyday moments, culture, and the raw beauty of human connection.

Photography, for me, is more than just a skill — it’s a way of seeing. It’s about capturing truth, beauty, and depth — whether in a quiet portrait, a bustling street scene, or the stillness of a landscape.

"Every frame has a heartbeat, and my job is to make it heard."

What’s New?

You may have noticed some changes here on stevekitots.com. This reintroduction is all about clarity. About owning the space I’ve carved out in the creative world — and making sure my work reflects not just where I’ve been, but where I’m going.

Here’s what you can look forward to:

Fine Art Prints: Explore my curated collection of prints now available here. These aren’t just photographs — they’re visual poems for your space.

Creative Collaborations: From brands to fellow artists, I’m open to working on visuals that matter. If you’ve got a concept that needs a thoughtful, artistic touch — let’s talk.

Behind-the-Scenes & Stories: Expect more content that pulls back the curtain on my creative process — the mood, the method and the moment behind each shot.

Let’s Stay Connected

This blog is just one of the many ways I want to stay in touch with you.

• Follow along on Instagram

• Or simply get in touch

Thanks for being part of this journey. Here’s to fresh starts, deeper stories, and more beauty ahead.

The Road to Aberdares

The beauty about Onetouch Live is that its a great opportunity to explore, learn from a bunch of amazing guys and practically freeze to death or literally boil in extreme heat. On this very day the roads led us to Aberdares, I mean I figured this place is cold but not that cold ... boy were in for a surprise. I had always dreamed about going to Aberdares, so naturally I was stoked for this adventure.

As is custom for OTLive trips, we started off early and naturally we made our first stop at Kinale Forest. The aim was to be in Aberdares early to enjoy the sights. After shopping for the necessary things for the 2 nights we would be there ... It was time to start heading up the hills into the Aberdare ranges.

I chose to dabble in a bit of macro photography while there, the morning dew on the grass provided the perfect opportunity to do this. Decided to follow some bees as well 😬 ...

One of the many waterfalls in the Aberdare Ranges ...

I hope you enjoyed a few of the images I got to capture. 

See you in the next post.

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