Closer #001

Welcome to Closer,

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. This is edition #001.

For this first edition, we're starting with an image from my portfolio that I've taken September 2nd, 2023 in Amsterdam. We start with the input: a prompt and my image. Followed by AI's description of that image, a prompt to generate the image, and the final output. Prompts are in the grey callout boxes, the AI description is cursive.

LLM models used

GPT-4-turbo for image interpretation. DALL·E 3 for image generation.

The input

The output

We are looking at the inside of a vintage bus or tram through a large, clean side window. The camera is positioned at an angle, capturing both the glass surface and the interior details, which are also partially reflected, creating layers of visual information.

The vehicle’s exterior frame is a vivid red, trimmed with white or light beige around the window. The window itself is slightly tilted due to the perspective, emphasizing diagonal lines and a sense of depth.

Inside, we see dark blue seats — most likely leather or vinyl — arranged in rows. The seats have a subtle texture with vertical stitching, and they all feature curved, chrome armrests that gleam softly under diffuse light. These armrests loop gracefully over the seats, contributing a sense of rhythm and repetition.

Because the window reflects the interior as well, we get multiple overlapping views of the same elements: seats, armrests, and vertical support bars. This creates a dreamy, layered effect — you’re never quite sure what’s real and what’s a reflection, but it feels calm and intentional rather than chaotic.

There’s no visible human presence — just objects designed for people. The absence invites attention to form, material, and light. You can almost hear the faint creak of the old seats and imagine the quiet hum of a vehicle waiting to depart.

The image is sharply focused and thoughtfully framed, leaning into abstraction through repetition, symmetry, and reflection — but it never loses its grounding in the real, physical world.