Here is the Facebook post I uploaded on Friday, May 19th, 2023. I used ChatGPT to summarize my spoken word. I used Whisper to transcribe the 10-minute talk – man, that software is awesome! I think my spoken word has more of a slice-of-life feeling compared to what I posted on FB.
Time for a fun Friday update on my image creation process! Long post today, but looks like Fonzie approves!
So here’s the deal: I can’t get enough of the breathtaking landscapes in Nantou County and Taichung County, and I’m always armed with my phone to capture the magic. Nowadays, with everyone having a fantastic camera in their pocket (thank you, smartphones!), snapping pictures has become a popular hobby for many. So during my week in central Taiwan – I take a lot of photos.
Once I’m back home in Taoyuan on Friday afternoon, I enjoy the process of going through my photos and doing some casual editing. While I’m no professional photographer, I truly appreciate the incredible AI tools that have emerged over the past couple of years. They make editing or should I say image manipulation a breeze and add that extra touch of magic to the process.
Now, let’s dive into my Friday afternoon sessions, which I’ve been doing for about two years. As a long-time Linux user, I’ve always favored open-source software like Krita and Gimp for my image manipulation needs. There are plenty of awesome tools available for Linux that allow me to layer, touch up, and even draw on my images.
The advent of AI technology has opened up new doors for everyone. I’ve always loved those comical images where, say, a giant cat walks through a city shooting laser beams from its eyes. It’s a bit like the fantastic and larger-than-life images artists used to create with Photoshop, even back in my high school days.
So here’s what I do on Fridays: I select an image from the ’80s, often an iconic TV character or Hollywood star, and create a silhouette by removing the background. Then, I blend this image with one of my own photos, placing it in various settings like the mountains of Nantou or some cityscape in Taichung. Sometimes I add a touch of action or a hint of contrast, and other times I focus on capturing the beauty of the image itself, or whatever~
I have a couple of rules for these Friday sessions. First, I don’t let them eat up my entire afternoon. It’s meant to be a quick and enjoyable process. If I spend too much time on it, it can either turn out amazing and become a weekend project, or it might end up being a flop. And you know what? That’s okay! Failures happen, and they’re part of the creative journey.
Many people have appreciated the nostalgic value of these images and left lovely comments. It’s heartwarming to hear others reminisce about their favorite TV shows or movies.
Now, let’s talk about the exciting intersection of AI and creativity. I’ve been exploring Python and using libraries like Pillow, CV2, NumPy, and even dabbling with TensorFlow. While I’m not yet delving into heavy generative AI programs, I’m amazed at the possibilities they offer. It’s a deep dive, and sometimes I need a little help from Stack Overflow or ChatGPT, it’s all part of the learning process – I reckon, while scratching my head, navigating AI, ha it is a constant evolving monstrosity these days…
Admittedly, I have mixed feelings about the more advanced AI techniques. I want to maintain the essence of my photography and keep it personal. Adding effects like a Van Gogh or Picasso-style deformation to an image is cool, but I’m still on the fence when it comes to full-blown generative AI. It’s incredible, no doubt, but I’m not sure if it aligns completely with my vision.
To wrap things up, I must say that creating these images has been an absolute blast! I’ve built up a fantastic library of my creations. There’s no one-size-fits-all method; I’ve embraced the freedom to experiment and try different approaches. Staying fresh and avoiding stagnation has been key to keeping the creative energy flowing.
If you’re curious to read/see/hear more, I will upload this debriefing to my blog as a short podcast – the link will be in the comments soon. It’s been a wild ride combining AI, photography, and my little bit of imagination in this Friday image session. Easy does it!~
