I haven’t done a post like this for a while, but last weekend I saw a photo of a lovely cabin in the snow next to a pond. The light was fading and there were lights on inside the cabin.
In my mind the image seemed perfect and I wondered if it was created by AI or not. It got me thinking, what if I used the ideas in that picture/image to see if I could create something myself using AI in Photoshop? Out of all the AI image creators that I have used I like Photoshop the best. I like that in many ways I have more control over what I can get, plus the size and orientation.
I opened up a new file and then went to Generate Image to ask my question.
Create an image of a winter haven set in the snow with a cottage with lights on inside next to a pond in the woods at dusk.
You have wait a while and PS gives you 3 images or options every time you want to do something.
Here are those 3 images.
I was impressed with what was generated. They could be real, to my eye. I don’t know much about snow, I’ve only seen it a few times in my life, but I thought it was a good start.
Then I wondered, what if I changed the request to say lake inside of a pond?
Create an image of a winter haven set in the snow with a cottage with lights on inside next to a lake in the woods at dusk.
Again, another 3 images were generated.
I thought these were fairly decent too. They could be real. I think if I saw one these on someone else’s blog I would be impressed and probably think it was real, same with the first three.
Once again, I wondered if I changed what I was asking for and said sunset instead of dusk. What would I get?
Create an image of a winter haven set in the snow with a cottage with lights on inside next to a lake in the woods at sunset.
Another 3 images.
However, I don’t think these look real at all. They look like they are AI generated completely. There is something about them that is really fake. I thought I would also get more of a sunset, or don’t you get brilliant sunsets in winter? I just don’t know. They are almost chocolate box images if that makes sense.
I like playing with these and seeing what you can get. You really have to think about what to ask for that’s for sure.
I’m going to leave you today with a video I found on YouTube that is bringing alive famous people from the past from photos and statues using AI. It is quite interesting.
I agree, the final set of images is terrible — yet I am equally unconvinced by the earlier sets. To my eye, they are all generic-looking, they are all too pretty-pretty, with the gold too golden and the reflected light thrown too far and too precisely into tree trunks, the skies are too velvet… I’ve seen a lot of real log cabins by lakes in a forest clearing, both in person and in photos, and they’re… I’m not sure of vocabulary for this…: The real photo of the real thing is somehow crisper, more granular, more textured, less super-saturated, less creamy-smooth. All that said, I have to allow for the fact that I knew going in that all the images were all AI-generated, and that may have predisposed my eye. You’re a skilled, experienced photographer: what functional use do you make of AI in your own work? Does it have a regular role in your work and, if so, what are your criteria for appropriate functions for AI and the functions you want to guard for your own human self?
Well of course they are generic Penny, that is what I was going for. I wanted them to be that kind of winter haven that we sort of dream about. I was really impressed with the first two lots, I thought a computer did well. Pretty maybe, but it is how I would picture it. I guess the question is if I just put them up and didn’t say they were AI would you really have been able to tell.
There is a lot of functional use for AI in my photography, I use it a bit actually on my photos. These arguments remind me of photography 30 years ago, digital photography is not real photography, you can’t use photoshop on photos, because then it isn’t real. So yeah I will keep an eye on AI and see what can be done with it. I think it is amazing. Would I ever say images created with it were mine, no, I think that is wrong. but I do like how many AI functions in PS make my processing a lot faster.
I’m not a luddite about AI, I watch for that tendency in myself, and that’s why I’m curious about how skilled creative people use new tools. What you say about AI making your processing a lot faster makes total sense to me. I remember my own joy at switching from a typewriter to a computer, where I could make deletes & edits on-screen and didn’t need to spend (literally) days typing a “fair copy” of a book translation I’d just completed. I believe in a both/and approach to life, not either/or. What AI does best in my own field (words) is what I love to do for myself (summarize, draft, edit, fine-tune…), so for me personally, it is not yet broadly attractive. All about balance, eh? Welcome and explore new technologies, but don’t worship them uncritically. (As for those AI photos… I’m pretty sure I’d’ve known them for AI, even if you hadn’t said so. Either AI, or “real” but worked to the point of stamping all the life out of them.)
I totally agree Penny. I like playing with it in creating images, but they are more an experiment to see how good it is, but that is all they are. I use some things on my own images, as I said, but really sometimes it isn’t worth the hassle. You still don’t get exactly what you want. I also what to keep up to date with it, because I want to know what they are doing with it, I think it could be really scary, and be used for evil, as the saying goes. So I don’t want to stick my head in the sand about it. But hey, if you don’t want to use it, you shouldn’t. I would never use it for writing my blogs, because then it wouldn’t be me or my experience. I’m glad you came back and explained. I get get a bit hot headed sometimes. I have been going off on a lot of things this week. I need to destress really. lol
Words are a limited medium, especially when in a stand-alone message, not as part of an interactive exchange — no visual expression, no aural resonance, to provide context and further information. Also, words are code, and we each decode the same words differently, through our own culture/experiences/sensitivities. Best advice to self, when upset by a message, is, “I may be misinterpreting.” Of course, best advice to self, when we like it, is, “Darn right!” And BTW, I think you are “darn right” about staying informed about AI, precisely because it is so powerful, so that we may make selective use of its strengths and better protect ourselves from its evils.
Interesting take on it Penny, I just write what I want and leave AI for my photos. I’m glad you agree with me about keeping an eye on AI. I just hope that that it never becomes too evil. Maybe the planet will destruct before that happens.
Hmm. Every single image looks chocolate-boxy to me. And to answer your question – sunsets in winter are often wonderful, and appear when you are most likely to be able to see and appreciate them. The video was interesting, but as an exercise. It didn’t really serve any purpose, I thought. You can see I’m not yet much oif an AI fan!
I think it must depend on where you live for sunsets in winter. We get them, but Donna was saying they don’t get them. I think the purpose was to see if they could bring to live historical figures. I don’t think we can be so against AI all the time. You are probably seeing far more of it than you think Margaret. Most movies these days use it. Thanks.
I can’t be against AI. It’s becoming daily a fact of life. But it’s still worrying, though it can be used for both good and bad purposes.
I totally agree Margaret it is a worry and we have to keep up with what is happening with. I also agree it can be used for both. I’m only interested in what it can do for my photography.
And that’s one area where I don’t want its prying fingers. I’ll mess up on my own if I want to!
Hahaha, We should all do what we are comfortable with. One of the things I always loved about digital is that has helped me get the shots I wanted, and AI helps that even more.
But when does it stop being your shot, and become AI’s?
It is always my shot because it is my vision. Do you call paintings not real or drawings. All I’m doing is using tools to help me create the vision I have.
I see. I think that probably points up the difference between those who (like me) see the shot that’s been taken as a finished product, and those (like you) for whom it’s a jumping off point. Both are valid. Just – different.
Yeah, exactly Margaret. I get my images and what goes through my head is what can I do to this image. You are right the initial shot is just the beginning for me.
Very interesting! Seems like AI is good when the parameters are fairly simple. Makes you wonder now how many pictures out there on social media are actually real.
I don’t know about that, I’ve done experiments where I have just keep adding to them and it has performed okay. Well that is the question isn’t it. You will always know when I do it, because I will tell you. However, I do use some AI on my photos from time to time, I don’t always fess up to that. Thank you Linda.
The video is amazing!! So is the cabin on the pond, Leanne!
Isn’t it, I thought so too. Not perfect, but still amazing. Thank you so much John.
You are welcome, Leanne. 😊
Leanne, I really like your experimenting with AI and the images you are creating. Like you, I believe that Generative AI is a tool that we can use – together with traditional photography – to create artistic images. I invite you to see some of my experiments with AI, https://joannemasonphotography.com/6011-2/. I’ve been using the AI to create an image – often after many iterations and many prompts – which I then edit using Capture One. For example, my recent post, https://joannemasonphotography.com/contemporary-home-2-new-a-i/. (I don’t use Photoshop.) This is the reverse of your approach, apparently, since you first produce the photograph and then apply the AI. I like Midjourney as the AI and I’d encourage you to check it out. Midjourney allows you to add a photograph of your own as the basis for generating more images. You’ve inspired me to try your approach.
Thank you Joanne. I agree, I don’t see anything wrong with using it, as long we say we have used it, well especially for these images. I use it a lot on my photos, especially to get rid of things I don’t want. It can be challenging though sometimes. Photoshop allows you to do the same, you can either create a whole new image, or use it on your photos, I’ve done that a lot.
The first ones have the right amount of light and look natural.
Thank you, that’s good to hear.
you’ve done well with it, it does look cozy
Thank you Beth.
Nice post 🌅🌅
Thank you Satyam.
AI is truly scary. It’s also amazing.
It really is Anne, I heard they are trying to get it to have emotions, that is something I don’t want to see. Thank you.
That’s why many here get seasonal depression. Lack of light bums a lot of people out.
I was just saying that. lol.
In winter we usually have thick clouds. So, no, we don’t have brilliant sunsets. Most days we don’t see the sun at all. It’s obscured by the clouds, and it’s lower in the sky not directly overhead.
Oh well, that would be depressing, I get that. I remember when we were living in Denmark it was the same really, I can remember when spring hit and I saw spring fever for the first time. It was incredible. Thanks for that Donna.