AI still has a way to go… but it’s interesting

I have been very busy these last few weeks. Too busy, in fact to pay attention to this blog so I thought I’d cheat this time and ask Microsoft CoPilot AI to help me out by reviewing an image I took of our dog waiting in the sunlight on the top of the stairs of the AirBnB in which we stayed recently.

The resulting prose is interesting, sort of impressive, in a pseudo-philosophical way, and of course totally incorrect. See what you think, and roll your eyes:

Me: “write a blog post about the following image: https://reevephotos.com/featured/patience-richard-reeve.html”

CoPilot:

Title: “Patience: A Reflection on Time and Stillness”

!Patience

In the quietude of a sun-dappled forest, where time seems to stretch and fold upon itself, we find “Patience.” This captivating photograph by Richard Reeve invites us to pause, breathe, and contemplate the delicate balance between movement and stillness.

The Scene

The image transports us to a secluded woodland clearing. Shafts of golden light pierce through the canopy, illuminating the moss-covered ground. A gnarled tree stands sentinel, its twisted branches reaching skyward. The air is thick with anticipation, as if the very leaves hold their breath.

The Essence of Patience

What is patience? It is not merely the absence of haste; it is an active surrender to the rhythm of existence. In this tableau, time slows down. The tree’s rings whisper stories of centuries past, and the ferns unfurl their delicate fronds at their own leisure. The sun, too, takes its time to caress each leaf, casting intricate shadows on the forest floor.

Lessons from Nature

As we gaze upon “Patience,” we are reminded of nature’s wisdom. The tree teaches us resilience—the ability to withstand storms and seasons, to bend without breaking. The ferns teach us persistence—the gradual unfurling of potential, even in the darkest corners. And the sunlight, filtered through leaves, teaches us presence—the art of being fully here, now.

Stillness as a Gift

In our fast-paced lives, stillness is a rare gift. We rush from task to task, our minds perpetually racing. But here, in this forest glade, we glimpse the beauty of quietude. The tree does not fret about tomorrow; it stands rooted in the present. The ferns do not compare themselves to others; they grow at their own pace. And the sunlight, unburdened by clocks, bathes everything in its gentle glow.

A Call to Contemplate

“Patience” invites us to linger. To sit on the fallen log, feel the rough bark against our palms, and listen to the rustle of leaves. It asks us to release our grip on time, to let go of urgency, and to embrace the stillness that surrounds us. Perhaps, in doing so, we discover that patience is not a waiting game—it is a way of being.

So, dear reader, take a moment. Look at the photograph once more. Imagine the cool breeze on your skin, the scent of damp earth, and the whisper of leaves. Let “Patience” be your guide—a silent mentor in the art of living fully, one moment at a time.”

So, what do you think? Are we safe from the inexorable march of the machines for a little bit longer?

~Richard

Farewell to Stumpy: A Symbol of Hope and Sacrifice

We visited Washington, DC last weekend to catch sight of the early cherry blossoms. As we were enjoying a walk around the Tidal Basin near the Jefferson memorial we saw this withered cherry tree with flooded roots yet clinging to life sufficiently to put out some glorious blossom.

This is Stumpy, the beloved cherry tree that had apparently captured hearts as a symbol of resilience in the face of climate change. And s/he is bidding us farewell. The National Park Service announced that Stumpy, along with 158 other cherry trees, will be cut down to facilitate vital seawall repairs in the Tidal Basin and West Potomac Park.

Unfortunately, despite the emotional attachment to Stumpy, logic dictates the necessity of this decision. The deteriorating seawall poses a significant threat, leading to daily flooding that imperils not only the trees but also nearby monuments and public safety.

While the loss is poignant, there’s a glimmer of hope in Stumpy’s sacrifice. The removal will pave the way for the planting of 274 new cherry trees, ensuring a more secure future for this historical park. Stumpy’s legacy will also live on through cuttings ensuring that the tree’s genetic lineage continues.

Though his physical presence may fade, his spirit will endure as a reminder of the need for action in the face of climate challenges.

I took several photos and processed them in a variety of ways here but I am glad to have spent several hours creating this selective color version which I think emphasizes the beauty of Nature in adversity.

~Richard

Las Setas de Sevilla

Seville is an ancient city, but nestled in the old quarter there is a remarkably bold, newer piece of architecture. Las Setas (the mushrooms) is a spectacularly large, organic, wooden structure which earns its name because it resembles several parasol mushrooms connected together. The sculpture is the largest wooden construction in the world, covering 3,500 cubic meters, and is lit up at night with multicolored lights and an accompanying sound show. There are walkways across the top which allow visitors to enjoy not only the building but also an aerial view of the city. At certain places on the roof visitors can even influence the pattern of the lights on the whole structure by interacting with a camera, although not many visitors know this!

Despite the colorful evening show, in reviewing the photographs I had taken on out trip to Seville I thought I would show one here which I processed into dark monochrome. To me it emphasizes the wonderful composite wooden structure which resembles the pores/gills seen on the underside of a mushroom. What do you think?

~ Richard

The Apocalyptic Four

I’ve been a fan of abstract and surreal art and architecture for many years and I was fortunate to visit Barcelona a while ago and to spend a couple of days admiring several of the works of the great Antoni Gaudi. Some of his buildings are architectural derring do are just truly breathtaking in their audacity.

Recently I have started looking through the photographs that I had taken and started to upload a few to my art website reevephotos.com. Some of the photos I have left in their “natural state” while with others I have felt the urge to create new imagery.

One such image is that of the 4 ventilation chimneys atop the Casa Milà building, constructed between 1906 and 1912. These structures look out over Barcelona from an area of the rooftop known as the Garden of the Warriors.

Given the name and their obvious symbolism, I thought it only fit to also give them a short story too, only 3 sentences long:

They had dismounted and now stood together. Staring intently at the citadel. Was it with menace or indifference?

Let me know what you think of the imagery and/or the accompanying prose.

~Richard

Vertigo Glitch

Glitch art typically refers to visual glitches, either in a still or moving image, made by either “capturing” an image of a glitch as it randomly happens, or more often by artists manipulating their digital files to produce these “pseudo-errors.”

In my case, this image was a totally natural phenomenon whilst walking along a street in Valencia in the summer of ’22. I hadn’t known I had taken this image until I uploaded the contents of my memory card to my laptop as part of my daily ritual. I was pleasantly surprised with this serendipitous imagery and accompanied it was a short, study-like caption, as is my wont… 

As the world spun, all the color drained from it too. What on earth was happening to him?

So, what do you think of the image? Have you any glitch art (either real, or perhaps contrived through image manipulation?) Let me know.

~Richard

Escheresque

On our recent trip to Montevideo, Uruguay we stumbled across the weird and wonderful Castillo Pittamiglio, a brick building with a ships prow pointing rather conspicuously between two nondescript apartment buildings on La Rambla Mahatma Gandhi.

There’s plenty to see in this oddly constructed edifice, built by the eccentric (and wealthy) architect and alchemist Humberto Pittamiglio. The self-paced guided audio tour makes for an interesting hours or so wandering through the “universe of the alchemist” with its overt and often hidden symbology.

I hope to post a few more images as I process my photos form the trip but one that I particularly liked was taken form the outside balcony looking through to the courtyard. I was inspired to develop this as a monochrome image, based on the style of Man Ray’s solarization process. The resultant image reminded me even more of an M C Escher composition.

Image of stairways at Castillo Pittamiglio, Montevideo, Uruguay reminiscent of an M C Escher drawing

~ Richard

New York Bocce Volo

Last month we visited New York City and were lucky enough to have unseasonably warm weather and no snow. At lunchtime we were sitting in Bryant Park, behind the New York Public Library on 5th Avenue and I watched there three older gentlemen also outside enjoying the weather with a game of bocce volo. These guys were good, clearly having played for years.

170307_NewYorkBocceVolo.JPG

~Richard

A Commerce Drive

We are at a junction. Which path should we take to drive commerce and make us all as rich as Croesus, left or right?

Better make the decision soon as those lights don’t stay red forever…

170305_ACommerceDrive.JPG

~Richard

#r2bcheerful58 – Coming out of chokey

If you are sane enough to be naughty (see #r2bcheerful23) you may end up enjoying some time at Her Majesty’s Pleasure in the chokey (prison). Getting out of chokey would then be a real Reason to be Cheerful!

This image is of one of the spur corridors at the now disused Easter State Penitentiary in the heart of Philadelphia. This is indeed a cold, grim place and one that any inmate would have been glad to get out of prior to its final closure in 1971…

170115_r2bcheerful25-Choky.jpg

~Richard

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