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‘My Photos Are Warm and Full of Imagination – That’s Something AI Could Never Achieve’: Yuan Li’s Best Phone Picture

The Guardian

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Date Published
13 Dec 2025
Priority Score
1
Australian
Unknown
Created
14 Dec 2025, 09:26 pm

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This spectacular image taken in Sakrisøy, Norway, triggered accusations that it was simply too good to be true

Summary

The article features Yuan Li, a photographer, who argues that AI cannot replace the warmth and imagination captured in his photography. Li's photograph of Sakrisøy, Norway, raised suspicions of being AI-generated due to its striking quality. The debate touches on the broader discourse of AI's capabilities in creative fields, as Li maintains that AI cannot achieve the human touch in art. This discussion is relevant to the ongoing conversation about the limitations and risks of AI in creative industries but does not contribute directly to existential or catastrophic AI risks.

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Yellow House, 2025, shot on Vivo X200 Pro. Photograph: Yuan Li/ 2025 Türkiye Mobile Photo AwardsView image in fullscreenYellow House, 2025, shot on Vivo X200 Pro. Photograph: Yuan Li/ 2025 Türkiye Mobile Photo Awards‘My photos are warm and full of imagination – that’s something AI could never achieve’: Yuan Li’s best phone pictureThis spectacular image taken in Sakrisøy, Norway, triggered accusations that it was simply too good to be trueYuan Li splits his time between two careers: in the winter, he works as a ski instructor; in summer, a photographer. When he took this image, Beijing-based Li was visiting Norway and Iceland with friends, on a trip focused on sightseeing and photographing the aurora borealis. He captured this picture while exploring Sakrisøy, a small island in Lofoten, Norway. In the foreground sits this distinctive yellow homestay; in the background, Olstinden mountain.‘The flowing red saree on the bank of the Ganges was incredibly striking’: Divyanshu Verma’s best phone pictureRead more“It had snowed heavily all day,” Li recalls. “As I was setting up to capture this scene, the snow stopped and the sun came out, which made the perfect environment for taking photos.”Li used his phone to take this shot, later enhancing the colour of the house and mountain peak. “The contrast is the most important thing about this photo. The warm yellow colour of the foreground buildings contrasts with the cool colour of the background mountains, while the triangular eaves match the triangular mountain peak perfectly,” he says.When Li shared the image on social media, some claimed it was AI-generated. “I’m not worried,” he says. “AI will never replace my photography, because my photos are warm and full of imagination. That’s something AI could never achieve.”Explore more on these topicsPhotographySmart shotArtfeaturesShareReuse this content