The selfie was never the problem. But somewhere along the way, it stopped saying "I was here" and started saying "look at me." In this episode I look at how that shift has played out in Bali — where the place has become a backdrop, the ceremonies have become content, and we've become more interested in proving we were somewhere than understanding why it mattered. I talk about photographing a dawn offering ceremony — no crew, no audience, just an ordinary morning that's happened every day for generations — and ask a simpler question than "will this get attention": does this photograph honour the place I'm standing in?

The companion article and photographs from Bali are at petegeorge.com.au.

AI has its place.

I use it myself for research, writing and sorting ideas.

But when it comes to photography, AI can't breathe.

It doesn't feel the cold air before sunrise. It doesn't wait for the light to change. It doesn't understand why a moment matters.

In this short Lens & Life reflection, I share why I believe photography is about more than creating an image. It's about presence, patience, experience and recognising what's worth keeping.

AI can replicate a look.

It can't live a moment.

Because we breathe.

It doesn't.

Do you remember Curly from City Slickers? Episode one of Lens and Life starts there. Pete George reflects on forty years behind a camera, a man in Bali with a bike full of cardboard, and what photography eventually taught him about paying attention.

About five minutes. Take a breath before you press play.