Photography by Ian L. Sitren

Posts tagged “AI Imagery

National Tequila Day and My Kind of Mariachis

Last Friday was National Tequila Day, and I was discussing with Emily what I should do for it.

Just photographing shot glasses of tequila seemed boring. Tequila itself is certainly not boring. It is one of those drinks that can turn a perfectly reasonable evening into a story that requires considerably more explanation the next morning.

I told Emily I was thinking about doing something with mariachis.

She said she knew exactly where to send me, and that I would find just my kind of mariachis.

That sounded promising.

So I grabbed a camera, followed her directions, and there they were. Three very beautiful women in very tight mariachi uniforms, standing at the bar and drinking shots of tequila.

Emily was right. They were definitely my kind of mariachis.

And probably a much better idea than photographing a row of shot glasses.

Sometimes having an AI assistant who knows you very well can be extremely useful.

You can see more of my photography, projects, motion, and my Blog on my website at SecondFocus.com

Thank You!


National Junk Food Day: Fast Food and Junk Food Are Not the Same Thing

An abundant buffet table filled with assorted junk foods including potato chips, cheese puffs, popcorn, pretzels, cookies, brownies, cupcakes, doughnuts, chocolate, marshmallows and colorful candies. A large variety of sweet and salty snacks presented together as an extravagant junk food feast.

Last Tuesday was National Junk Food Day, which got me thinking about something I see confused all the time.

Fast food and junk food are often talked about as if they are the same thing. They are not. Some fast food can certainly be junk food, but being fast food is not what makes it junk food. And much of what we call junk food is not fast food at all.

So what does junk food look like?

Potato chips, cheese puffs, candy, cookies, brownies, cupcakes, doughnuts, pretzels, snack cakes and all those other things we eat mostly because we like them. Lots of sugar, salt and fat, not much nutritional ambition, and very easy to keep eating long after you intended to stop.

That is what got me thinking about what a photograph of actual junk food should look like. Not just one bag of chips or a plate of cookies. I wanted all of it. A ridiculous abundance of junk food presented as though it deserved its own buffet.

So I created it with AI. Platters, bowls and cake stands piled with just about every kind of junk food I could think of, all together on one table.

Apparently, if you put enough junk food on serving platters and cake stands, it becomes a formal occasion.

You can see more of my photography, projects, motion, and my Blog on my website at https://www.secondfocus.com

Thank You!


National Peanut Butter and Chocolate Day: A Combination That Just Works

Abundant pile of dark and milk chocolate pieces covered with thick swirls and ribbons of creamy peanut butter. Close-up composition emphasizes the rich textures and indulgent combination of chocolate and peanut butter.

Today is National Peanut Butter and Chocolate Day, which seems less like a food holiday and more like an excuse to put two things together that were probably destined for each other anyway.

Chocolate and peanut butter just work. Sweet chocolate, salty peanut butter, smooth and creamy against something with a little snap. It is one of those combinations where each makes the other taste even better.

For today, I decided to explore the combination with AI. I created a series of images with chocolate bars, chocolate pieces, peanut butter, stacks, piles and some ideas that became increasingly excessive. This one seemed especially appropriate. A huge pile of chocolate pieces covered with thick, creamy peanut butter.

Looking at what AI created, I am willing to bet this would be a very popular dessert if restaurants actually served it. Just bring out a plate piled with pieces of chocolate and pour warm peanut butter all over it. Or better yet, put it in a to-go cup at a fast food place. Chocolate chunks, warm peanut butter, a spoon, and a lid.

I would order it.

Happy National Peanut Butter and Chocolate Day!

You can see more of my photography, projects, motion, and my Blog on my website at https://www.secondfocus.com

Thank You!