AI, duh; make it personal (and analog)

ai photographer
The competition

When Artificial Intelligence-generated images win photo contests, should we oppose that?

I just think the developments of AI are telling us to do things differently, to stand out. AI has become the competition (and maybe just a tool), just like all other photographers are. So, we have to treat AI as competition, too. You can try to deny this reality, but you can also look at how you, as a photographer or artist, can differentiate yourself from this new collegue/competition.

Ideas:

  • Stories instead of single images. Combine with text.
  • An analog version of your work: a print, a book, wallpaper, toilet paper, t-shirts, quilt covers, printed bags, whatever.
  • Combine your photos into a video.
  • Handmade books.
  • Collages.

Personal and analog distinguish you from the aggregated, statistically generated products of AI.

To Ullapool via Eilean Donan castle and Midge Bite

Eilean Donan castle
Eilean Donan castle

First, we drive to Eilean Donan Castle, originally a thirteenth-century castle that was restored and opened in the 20th century. This famous castle turns out to be a huge tourist trap. We are not the only ones who refrain from visiting, and from the other side of the river, we take some pictures of this castle and the stream of people entering it. There are two rooms in the castle to visit, sic!

Achnasheen, The Midge Bite
Achnasheen, The Midge Bite

To Achnasheen, The Midge Bite where we were before and once again drink a fine cappuccino. Tent lives up to its name. And it’s low season, in terms of midges, and thus bites, too. In the car, we terminate a few more midgets before they can make their move.

Next, we pass Loch Maree, a three-star lake according to Michelin, and the old Caledonian forest—exclusivity largely hidden from us behind roadside bushes.

Gairloch
Gairloch

Gairloch is a nice coastal town where we stretch our legs and eat our sandwiches.

Corrieshalloch Gorge National Nature Reserve, Schotland
Corrieshalloch Gorge

At the waterfall Corrieshalloch Gorge National Nature Reserve, we get out again to stretch our legs and conquer vertigo in a deep gorge with a suspension bridge.

Then we went to Ullapool. We walked into town, which is small but nice. It’s much smaller than we thought, even smaller than Thurso, but also nicer.

Elgol, Broadford, and icy water at Torrin pools

Elgol
Elgol

Via Broadford – for some shopping – to Elgol.

There, the locals walk with mosquito nets in front of their faces. We soon notice the reason: very small midgets—fortunately not much trouble. We make a small along the coast over not very well-trodden paths.

To Torrin pools. Here, a river flows from the steep slope into Loch Slapin. The walk along the cascades of fast-flowing water is very pleasant. Some try to bathe in the small pools below the falls. The icy water almost hurts from shrinkage.

Back to Broadford. Walked to the pier. There is not much more to see than breathtaking views and fishermen—enough to do it for.

In the bar, Gabbro, we have a beer. Make plans for tomorrow.

Schotse Hooglander
SOmewhere between Elgol and Broadford

Ons Dorp en de Europese verkiezingen

In Nederland wachten we op een regering voor ons dorp, terwijl de Europese verkiezingen voor de deur staan. Je hoort er nauwelijks iets over. Toch wordt zelfs in het regeerakkoord op hoofdlijnen van Wilders wordt meer dan vijftig keer naar Europa of Brussel verwezen. Want daar worden echt de zaken geregeld die de rechtse partijen in ons dorp denken te kunnen veranderen.

Omdat ik hier nu toch al mee bezig was vul ik de stemwijzer in. Geen verrassingen, ik moet D66, Volt of PvdA/GroenLinks stemmen. Altijd lastig aangezien ik het nog steeds lastig vind om Samsom’s PvdA en Pechtold’s D66 het leenstelsel te vergeven (om niet te spreken van het schandalige verhogen van de rente op schulden in leenstelsel door D66! minister Dijkgraaf, professor, dus zelf afkomstig uit het onderwijs). Toch maar Volt?

Trouwens, verrassend te lezen in het hoofdlijnenakkoord dat de nieuwe regering tegen Geert gaat optreden:

Er wordt daadkrachtig opgetreden tegen degenen die zich schuldig maken aan discriminatie, racisme, antisemitisme en moslimhaat, zowel op straat als online.

Hoofdlijnenakkoord 2024 – 2028 van PVV, VVD, NSC en BBB

Portree, Shakespeare in McLeods castle, sheep

Breakfast is barely inferior to dinner.

Portree

First, we go to Portree, the main town of the Isle of Skye. It is a nice, small, partly very colorful port town (where not colorful also equals concrete gray). We look around in the drizzling rain.

portree
Portree scotsman

On to Dunvegan castle of the MacLeods. Painted portraits on the wall of the Chiefs van de MacLeod clan show stout men with thick sideburns. However, the last scion of the MacLeods family to be portrayed here is a sweet old lady, Chief Dame Flora, who has managed to bring the feuding chiefs back together.

dunvegan castle
dunvegan castle library

The castle has an extensive library, where I discover Shakespeare and our own Grotius (Hugo de Groot).

We check out the bay by the castle and the garden.

We drive back home through the rain, and we still have to get out of the car to take pictures, among other things, of stubborn sheep complainingly bleating as they cross the road.

dunvegan castle
dunvegan castle
portree
portree