How clear is your vision?
This month I reflect on clarity, the birth of 33punt, and why integrated creativity isn’t a luxury but a necessity. If you want to know what we’re building, and why it matters, this one’s for you.
Posts
Featured
Photography in the Age of AI (2025): Lessons From 25 Weeks of Experimentation
Over 25 weeks, I tested whether AI can match the emotion and imperfection of human photography. The results? AI is fast and functional but still sterile. Here’s what this experiment reveals about the future of photography in the age of AI.
Building a daylight studio
This one is for my Amersfoort folks. It goes Tjommies, OostWest 1, OostWest City, Van Zanten, OostWest, Van Zanten, OW, VZ, OW, VZ, Tjommies, OW, VZ, OW, VZ, OW, VZ
Covering
Walking every street of my hometown, Amersfoort, while photographing every nook and cranny. Documenting the things I see along the way.
It's all out there, right now
A good beach has white sand, they tell you. Preferably as finely grained as possible. Like a powder that's sprinkled on the edges of the land. The frosting on the cake, if you will.
The glorious, life-invigorating act of walking
When I first landed on Craig Mod's website and read he describes himself as a 'writer, photographer, and walker,' I was a little confused. What the hell does it mean to 'be a walker'?
My six favorite Fujifilm film simulation recipes
I think we can all agree that Fujifilm's film simulations are amazing. That's why I have created six film simulation recipes that have been living on both my Fujifilm X100V and X-Pro3 for the better part of a year now.
2025 Recent writing
✦ June
Closer #010
SHOCKER: Asking AI for a direct replication of your work will give you a direct replication of your work. But does it really?
2025 Recent writing
✦ June
Building a daylight studio
This one is for my Amersfoort folks. It goes Tjommies, OostWest 1, OostWest City, Van Zanten, OostWest, Van Zanten, OW, VZ, OW, VZ, Tjommies, OW, VZ, OW, VZ, OW, VZ
2025 Recent writing
✦ June
Closer #009
Learning that it's the imperfections of our actions causing things to feel real is one of this week's biggest take-aways. And that's something I think we should ponder on for some time.
2025 Recent writing
✦ May
Closer #008
Eight weeks in. Time to evaluate early results and recalibrate accordingly. What other directions should we take this experiment in?
2025 Recent writing
✦ May
Closer #007
Not to ruffle someone's feathers but a little birdie told me to continue this newsletter until the pecking order between us, beautifully flawed and inherently creative humans, and AI, the ever logical mimicker of life, has been determined. Who comes out on top this week?
2025 Recent writing
✦ May
Closer #006
By popular demand, ChatGPT gets pushed aside to give Midjourney its chance to shine. This is also the first time I'm using a self portrait as the base image. What do I look like according to AI?
2025 Recent writing
✦ May
Wandering with wonder
Four cities, thousands of images, endless new impressions, one additional newsletter. April, 2025, was a rich, full month that allowed me to tap into my wanderlust as well as organize my thoughts a little.
2025 Recent writing
✦ May
Closer #005
What happens when an image is described super accurately, to the point that you can picture the thing in your mind with ease? Does AI have the same skills?
2025 Recent writing
✦ April
Closer #004
On the surface, things seem to be looking good. But look more closely, and you'll find that fiction is, thankfully, still stranger than reality.
2025 Recent writing
✦ April
Closer #003
I purposely chose to share a relatively complex black and white image with ChatGPT for this week's entry. Lots of layers and many things going on in the frame. The black and white edit also provides the AI with less context. How does it perform?
2025 Recent writing
✦ April
Closer #002
Although AI perfectly describes my input photograph, it somehow isn't able to reproduce an image that's the same as the original.
2025 Recent writing
✦ April
Closer #001
A surprising start to this new experiment. Using one of my favorite portfolio images from 2023, ChatGPT both accurately describes as well as impressively generates an image based on my original work.
2025 Recent writing
✦ April
Subscribe to my new weekly newsletter: Closer
Closer is a weekly newsletter where I take one of my photos, ask AI to describe it, then see what kind of image it can generate from its own description—an ongoing experiment in the capabilities of AI, and what that means for humans.
2025 Recent writing
✦ March
A weekend in Antwerp
Surely a city with many flaws, but none that I personally witnessed and/or impacted me during this trip. This city treated me well.
2025 Recent writing
✦ March
How to pack light for a weekend
Packing for a weekend trip? Less is more. In just two days, you won’t need half the things you think you do. This guide breaks down how to travel light, choose the right bag, and pack only the essentials—so you can move freely and focus on the experience, not your luggage.
2025 Recent writing
✦ March
Minimalist travel made easy: how I overcame overpacking and found freedom
I ditched overpacking for minimalist travel. Discover how I learned to pack light and travel freely, and find the tips that helped me simplify my journeys.
2025 Recent writing
✦ February
Could a simple tap help ease anxiety? This app idea says yes
I haven't made an app. I'm pitching the idea of an app. One that doesn't exist currently (to my knowledge) but could exist. Using the iPhone's Back Tap functionality to alleviate and 'track' anxiety
2025 Recent writing
✦ February
Capturing a writing camp: my friends make music, I take photos
The second edition of my Doe Gewoon writing camp photo essays. Is this going to be a series?